E30 just died while going to movies.

[qualityoregon]

Last week was on my way to see a movie, and my 90 325i just died in the middle of the road... Wouldn't start, so i towed it home... last year, same style of thing happened, and it was fuel pump, so i figured the used one i put in went bad, put a new one in, and still nothing... i tried swapping the fuel pump relay for the abs relay, still doesn't start... i connected 30/87 on the relay main harness, and i could hear the pump running... but it still doesn't start when its in. We pulled a plug today, and hooked it up, no spark either... so now i don't know what to think... maybe ECU went out ? The Car when i turn the key, sounds like it does normally when its going to start, but it never does... A friend said perhaps my ECU went out ? Or the coil went out ? Any idea of things to check, would be great, thanks gents.

[MacBudd541]

Where in oregon are you? many of us have spare parts and wouldnt mind letting you borrow an ecu to see if thats it.

[ThaiRacer]

Did u try throwing it in gear once it shut off?

[White325is]

Sounds like a crank position sensor.

[SEdgell]

Try the #2 relay, it's next to the fuel pump relay. Pull the relay and look to see which one is the "30" and run two jumpers into it and run one into the "87" and the other one into the "87a" slots on the harness where the relay goes and see if it starts. That's what was wrong with mine, and it sounds like yours is doing the same thing mine did. The #2 relay or main relay turns the ECU on and also powers the fuel pump relay. Worth a shot...good luck.

[StereoInstaller1]

Try the #2 relay, it's next to the fuel pump relay. Pull the relay and look to see which one is the "30" and run two jumpers into it and run one into the "87" and the other one into the "87a" slots on the harness where the relay goes and see if it starts. That's what was wrong with mine, and it sounds like yours is doing the same thing mine did. The #2 relay or main relay turns the ECU on and also powers the fuel pump relay. Worth a shot...good luck.

You are describing the main relay, but with an issue: there is no 87a(N.C.). If there were, you would never jumper it and 87(N.O.) at the same time...SPDT vs. SPST.

But yeah, once again, main relay is the #1 culprit. I bet the tach died (and jerked around a bit) when the motor crapped out, right?

If it were the CPS, the fuel would still work on a late model ('90, right?), so no, it is not the CPS.

Does the "Check Engine" light come on when you turn the key on? If so, one of the two contacts on that main relay works. You can jumper (look under the relay) from RED to RED/WHITE and the car should start.

This relay is the forward-most relay in the group of 3 on the left strut tower.

GL!
Luke

[SEdgell]

Is the main relay different from an 86 model to a 90 model? Mine has both an 87 and an 87a and there's 12v running to each when working properly.

[StereoInstaller1]

I don't think so: my '87 325is is the same as any other late model I have fixed

[qualityoregon]

I'm from tualatin, right off exit 290 off I-5.

The relay that i pulled off and jumped, was the middle of the 3 relays that sit by themselves... there are 2 orange, 1 silver, i pulled the middle one (which i was told was fuel pump) and connected 30 to 87, and i could hear the pump running...

Again, i' don't believe the fuel pump is turning on, as well there is currently no spark.

I will try jumping the other relays as advised above, and get back to you gents later today.

When the car died... it just Died... I didn't jerk around, i didn't see the tach or anything dance around, it was just idling fine, then just shut off, and it was in neutral.

[SEdgell]

If it is the main relay it would just die, it would cut the power to the ecu. I wasn't getting any spark either.

[StereoInstaller1]

Exactly, that why I asked if the check engine light came on with the key.

[RickSloan]

if what luke is saying doesnt fix it check your grounds.

hook a jumper cable to your drain plug and then to your strut tower and see if that starts the helps when you turn it on. If it does make a better main ground strap

[qualityoregon]

The Check engine light DOES Come on when it turn the key to on... I tried jumping the Main relay from solid red to red/white and still nothing... So then i tried again jumping 87/30 on the #2 relay, the fuel pump, and still nothing...

[nando]

You are describing the main relay, but with an issue: there is no 87a(N.C.). If there were, you would never jumper it and 87(N.O.) at the same time...SPDT vs. SPST.

But yeah, once again, main relay is the #1 culprit. I bet the tach died (and jerked around a bit) when the motor crapped out, right?

If it were the CPS, the fuel would still work on a late model ('90, right?), so no, it is not the CPS.

Does the "Check Engine" light come on when you turn the key on? If so, one of the two contacts on that main relay works. You can jumper (look under the relay) from RED to RED/WHITE and the car should start.

This relay is the forward-most relay in the group of 3 on the left strut tower.

GL!
Luke

actually, without a crank signal, you don't get fuel or spark. you could run an engine (poorly) with no other sensors but the crank sensor, but you can't run at all without it.

[lennon]

crank sensor as others said or DME isnt working. not many things cause no spark or fuel. check the fusible link in rear of car from battery to DME.