3-Series (E21, E30)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1975-1983 and 1984-1991 line. Specific models: BMW 315, BMW 316, BMW 318, BMW 318i, BMW 320/4, BMW 320i, BMW 320/6, BMW 323i, BMW 320i. E30 Family models include: BMW 325e, BMW 325i, BMW 325is, BMW 325ix.
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Yesterday I took my car for a drive to the twin cities to look at another car. After looking at the car I jumped back on a 6 lane highway to go home(150 miles). When I merged on I seen a traffic jam so I got right back off and decided to find an alternate route. I stopped in a residential neighborhood and asked a guy for directions. When I got back into the car I went to start it and it acted as if it was out of gas(had 5/8 of a tank of gas). I tried and tried but the car would not start. I then called AAA and waited 2 hours for them to tow me. They call and said they were filling up the truck but would be there in 10 minutes. I then tried one more time and the car started. I called AAA to cancel the tow and jumped on the road again. I drove all the way home without shutting the car off. When I parked in the driveway I shut it off to try and restart it. It would not start again. Any ideas?
check your battery, run to autozone or the like and have it tested, then check your alternator. sounds like an electrical/charging problem to me. I've seen it where if you leave it as little as a half hour it will chrage enough to start the car.
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R.I.P fast 6
Two wheels or Four, I'm happy as long as the throttle is pinned.
don't take it the wrong way, have you checked the fuses?
Also, now with the new info, check your fuel lines, if you have a pinholein one, it could be leaking back and not getting enough prime to ignite. also, check your fuel pump by having someone turn the ignition on to the first position while you listen over the install panel. The access port to the in tank pumps is located under the back seat. If you have no power at your pump than start back-tracing the wiring.
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R.I.P fast 6
Two wheels or Four, I'm happy as long as the throttle is pinned.
Someone already mentioned the fuses, check them, also check your relays!
You need to establish if you are getting fuel and spark? If you get neither, it points you towards an ECU/electrical type issue.....power may not be getting to or from the relay to power up the coil and the ECU is not sending the right signals to the fuel pump(s).
You can link out the fuel pump relay and force the pump to run (assuming you have tried this with the relay in place and you get no fuel), remove the fuel hose that goes to the fuel rail and hold a can under it, if the pump runs, it will be obvious!
Button all that up and remove a spark plug, put it back in the HT lead and ground the threaded part. Turn the engine over to see if you are getting a spark?
Check all the earths you can find, make sure they are clean and secure.
Check the earth wire for the ECU is good!
On my car I sometimes have to resort to putting the key in position 1 and disconnecting the battery for 15 mins to reset the immobiliser?
I just went out now and pulled the back seat along with the cover to the fuel pump. If I turn the key one turn the pump isn't on. If I turn the key to turn the car over then it sounds like the pump is on.
The fuel pump is working. I pulled a plug out and it looked fouled out(really wet). I then had my wife turn it over. In 2 seconds of being turned over it the plug sparked twice... It should spark more then that right?
Yes sir, if you have spark it should be a real good sparkler fest! Its a good sign you have a spark! If its poor, now you should check the lead to the distributor cap, the dizzy cap and rotor arm and the HT leads. Then check plugs and gap! You must be close!
Yes sir, if you have spark it should be a real good sparkler fest! Its a good sign you have a spark! If its poor, now you should check the lead to the distributor cap, the dizzy cap and rotor arm and the HT leads. Then check plugs and gap! You must be close!
I would pull the cap and check the condition of the contacts. If they are decent and not totally corroded over then swap out the coil. I'm leaning towards a coil though as the cap and rotor wont have intermitten problems. Also, check to see if the two wire leads on that coil is tight.
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