86 325e wont turn over..starter?

[guitarhound]

Sorry if I posted on the wrong thread before..new here....
86 325e, running/starting fine..Go in the store, come out, turn the key and no response from the starter.....
Has juice to the solenoid...Tried jumping solenoid with a screwdriver,,,no response from the starter..tried tapping the solenoid and still nothing...
Maybe coincidence, but the power windows and sunroof dont work either all of a sudden...Good horn, lights, radio, wipers etc...HELP!!!
Thanks all....

[silversled]

did you hit the reset relay for the windows/s/r?

[silversled]

i bet if that doesn't do it, and i don't know why that would prevent the starter from engaging all of a sudden like, my next guess would be the starter lockout switch bit the dust, automatic? i believe the manual has something that prevents the car from being starting without the clutch engaged. i had an 86 535i with an automatic and the exact same thing happened...but i didn't lose the windows and sunroof too......how could that be related....hmmmm

[djlc]

Happened to my '86 325es a few times before the alternator went...

[guitarhound]

Thanks for the reply..I bet in my search to find the cause, I left the window relay button pushed..Duh...
I'm starting to think the starter went bad...Only 3 bolts to get it out..1 for the power lead and 2 holding it in...
Looks like getting to the head of the bolts that are right under the firewall will be tough to get to....any experience getting to them?
Thanks again

[guitarhound]

By the way it's a standard trans..I tried jumping the cut out switch at the pedal; nothing changed...
My battery is showing 12.5 volts..at the solenoid its 11.5..Probably low from repeated starting tries....But it seems like it should turn over even with slightly low voltage...
I did notice the alternator belt is worn and slightly loose...
Lately when I have the headlights on; all of a sudden the brights come on..I was thinking it was a bad hi/lo switch, but maybe it's voltage related from the alternator not performing up to par...
And thinking about it...I've been hearing the starter "whine" for just a couple of seconds after the car starts for the last week or two..
I'm betting starter...
Let me know what you think....
I'm probably pulling the starter tomorrow..If you've done it before, give me a clue how to get to the starter bolt heads that are up under the firewall...
THANKS!!! Great site.....

[silversled]

not that this matters, but can you push start the thing, you know, like dump the clutch in 4th gear and start the car? the way we used to do it on 2002's back in the day.....it may tell you something....probably not...but maybe

[silversled]

oh yes, on the brights thing...does it happen most frequently when you employ the turn signals? my 325i would do that from time to time but not all the time. i would be sitting at a stop light with my dims on and my left blinker on and all of a sudden the brights would come on. I finally got pulled over by a New Mexico State Trooper and given a warning. It was the turn signal switch. Problem went away....it's one of those chronic problems with 325s....all cars have their little things.....

[k.sidlosky]

run jumper wires from the battery to the starter and see if it does anything if not then its the starter for sure

[silversled]

i would not run jumper wires from the battery to the starter..I wouldn't myself
do that...too much draw.