1988 325I No start problem - BMW Forum

CVB302 · 01-18-2009, 10:11 AM

I'm pretty new to BMW's & my 528e was a great car, but i'm having problems with the 325i. It had a dead battery, we jump started it & it ran fine, the idle jumped up & down from 1000 rpms to about 1800 rpms at idle, but it ran. we replaced the battery & now it just cranks. No start at all. won't even start on starting fluid. We changed the spark plugs & the coil. still won't start. when you turn on the key the coil makes a small spark, but when cranking the engine over it makes no spark at all. The car is an automatic with 135k miles. Any ideas? I'm ok mechanically but not a bmw tech. haha.

witeshark · 01-18-2009, 10:53 AM

Have a look at the fuel pump and fuse. Might wanna have a look at the distributor and plug wires.

marti5 · 01-18-2009, 10:58 AM

check your fuses 1st, after that still no spark, camshaft sensor.

CVB302 · 01-18-2009, 01:02 PM

We've checked the fuses. if it was fuel related, wouldn't it still try to fire with starting fluid? plug wires seem good, cap looks good. we drove it just a couple days ago. May have to try the cam sensor. Does the computer control spark on these or is it just coil, cap, & rotor? Thank you for all the help!

silversled · 01-18-2009, 09:36 PM

how can it jump down to 1800 from 1000 RPM?

CVB302 · 01-19-2009, 07:48 AM

the idle jumps up & down from 1000-1800 RPMS

marti5 · 01-19-2009, 10:51 AM

Take a read of this:

1985 325e intermittent starting, no spark - bimmerfest - BMW Forums

CVB302 · 01-19-2009, 11:41 AM

Thank you. I'll try that tonight after I get off work, if that doesn't do it then I guess the cam sensor is my next stop.

silversled · 01-19-2009, 06:35 PM

fuel pressure regulator is shot.....the engine will hunt for idle and won't find it cause there's probably something like 110 PSI going through..... plus it floods the engine and makes the plugs fouled, leading to a non-spark conclusion....I'd go with the fuel pressure myself, not lacking...too much...good luck

silversled · 01-19-2009, 06:55 PM

if not that then the idle control valve is shot or needs cleaning...the idle control valve can do that....but won't keep the engine from starting....this is not hard to figure out....I would say that if it was all (fuel pressure regulator, idle control valve and even the controller

bumpy · 01-20-2009, 02:28 PM

fuel pump?

CVB302 · 01-21-2009, 08:34 AM

we've got the little black box out & gonna try resoldering the connection, if that doesn't work then we'll move on to next step. Thanks everybody.

silversled · 01-22-2009, 07:04 PM

I would also try taking the idle control out and cleaning it with rubbing alcohol. before doing that cleaning thing though i would try to blow though the idle control valve (not pleasant, wipe the nozzles off) and see if it moves by that method. if it does the valve would not appear to be frozen. if it doesn't then proceed .... good luck....