Fuel Pump??

[woodsy5629]

early this summer i started my 1986 BMW 325es it started kinda funny i then moved my other car and moved the BMW back and turned it off. about 20 minutes later i went to start it and it wouldn't kick over, there was power behind but it wouldn't kick over. however, weeks prior to this it was running kinda funky. it would stall for a few seconds in first gear then like start right back up. when i drove it on the highway it would buck (or hiccup) when i switched gears. also, after it wouldn't start my neighbor took a look at the car for me and said that there was no spark coming from the engine. lastly, when we purchased the car we replaced the starter, altenator, and caytalic convertor and the battery, now the other day i went out to try to start the BMW again just hopin, and now the battery is dead, could there be a drain on the battery cause by the fuel pump, now would all these things point towards the fuel pump, any insight would be greatly welcomed thank you.

[joshh]

It sounds like you have more than one problem. The alternator charges the battery so you may have a bad one or a bad coil.
No spark to the motor??? From where to where? No spark to the plugs?
The fuel filter and pump are unrelated to the battery. With the exception that the pump needs power....

[woodsy5629]

i believe that there was no spark coming to the plugs is what he told me

[joshh]

Then its the alternator or coil. It may also be the distributor. When was the last time its seen a tune up?

[woodsy5629]

i dont know when it had its last tune up, but it was due for one and what stinks the most was in on its way in for a oil change and a tune up that week it died, but since i cant start it it didnt get one. im sorry i don't know much about cars what do you mean when you say a coil? and does that mean it isnt the fuel pump or it could still possibly by the fuel pump along with the coil or altenator? thank you again.

[joshh]

Well, if your not getting any spark to the plugs.....its not the fuel pump. I'm not saying your fuel pump is good either. But yes, they are unrelated problems.

You need to get the car tuned up. While its there have them check the alternator. If you cant get it there, you'll need a tow or you should quickly do some research so you can do some of the tune up yourself and possibly get it started yourself.

The 3 things I would look into
1. alternator
2. coil
3. distributor

It may simply be the rotor....go to www.howstuffworks.com. The car need a tune up first, then look into other things. The tune up may solve the problem.

[joshh]

Ignition system.

[woodsy5629]

joshh thank you and i will look into what you told me thanks for the site and all your insight thank you.

[joshh]

Dont rule out other problems.

[witeshark]

When I had that problem it turned out to be the fuel pump

[joshh]

No power to the plugs has nothing to do with the fuel pump....

[woodsy5629]

well still no luck i recharged the battery fixed the connections to the battery then replaced the plugs the distributer cap and the rotor but im still getting the same results it will not kick over. i know little about cars but i learn easy i was able to do the tune up without having someone else do it. how should i check the coil and altenator the altenator is brand new there shoudlnt be a problem with it and should i just get a new coil how can i determine if that is bad?

[whunter]

Originally posted by woodsy5629@Sep 6 2004, 03:48 PM
well still no luck i recharged the battery fixed the connections to the battery then replaced the plugs the distributer cap and the rotor but im still getting the same results it will not kick over. i know little about cars but i learn easy i was able to do the tune up without having someone else do it. how should i check the coil and altenator the altenator is brand new there shoudlnt be a problem with it and should i just get a new coil how can i determine if that is bad?

Question:
The engine is cranking but getting no spark to the plugs?

Assuming this is true:
#1. Buy a test light. = pro quality $25.00 or cheap Taiwan $5.00.......
#2. Attach the clip to a solid metal ground on the engine.
#3. Touch the + terminal of the battery to test the ground and light.
#4. Remove the cover from your ignition coil.
#5. Find the wire terminal with a + symbol by it.
#6. Hold the point of the test light on that terminal.
#7. Have somebody turn on the ignition, does it light up? = have power.
#8. Keep holding the point of the test light on that terminal, danger do NOT touch the spark plug wires.
#9. Have someone crank the engine, does it light up? = have power.

If you have power to the coil but no spark = bad ignition coil.

If you don't have power to the coil = bad wiring or controls.

Bad wiring or controls = possible broken or corroded wire, bad ECM, crank or cam position sensor, etc.

Check the starter wires, the coil gets power from one of the wires attached there, if it is corroded but not broken, or dangling broken = you found the problem.

Sorry I can't be more specific, loaned out my BMW library to a friend.

[woodsy5629]

thank u and i will try that