Need Help, Car Won't Start

[adidas_man]

i recently bought a 1986 325e bmw from a friend. previously he broke a timing belt and the pistons slapped the valves and did some damage. well he bought a new motor and put it in, and ever since then the car will start but for only about 2-3 seconds then it dies. this is what i've come up with so far, the fuel pressure is good, good compression, base timing is good, and it has good spark. i'm sure it's electrical somehow, but i just have no idea's. has anyone had this problem before with the car starting for a couple of seconds then dying?? or does anybody have any ideas i can try??

[sniady]

Check the mass air flow sensor. That will cause the car to start, and immediatly shut down.

[spiff325is]

good call, also i remember hearing that the 02 can have something to do with it.

[Kowalski]

Originally posted by spiff325is@Feb 28 2005, 10:31 AM
good call, also i remember hearing that the 02 can have something to do with it.

[snapback]300988[/snapback]

or a massive vacume leak put a vacume guage on it and see what your getting.

[rotaryrox]

Originally posted by adidas_man@Feb 26 2005, 06:02 PM
i recently bought a 1986 325e bmw from a friend. previously he broke a timing belt and the pistons slapped the valves and did some damage. well he bought a new motor and put it in, and ever since then the car will start but for only about 2-3 seconds then it dies. this is what i've come up with so far, the fuel pressure is good, good compression, base timing is good, and it has good spark. i'm sure it's electrical somehow, but i just have no idea's. has anyone had this problem before with the car starting for a couple of seconds then dying?? or does anybody have any ideas i can try??

[snapback]299965[/snapback]

Any luck with this problem? I have an 82 320 that has the same symptom. It will start run for a few seconds then die.

How do you test the mass air flow sensor?

[richb420]

I have the same problem on my 318i after just replacing the head gasket. I have been tyring to figure out this problem for the last 3 weeks. I just cant figure it out! ghead .
If anyone can solve this, please help!!
Rich

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by richb420@Apr 13 2005, 09:34 AM
I have the same problem on my 318i after just replacing the head gasket. I have been tyring to figure out this problem for the last 3 weeks. I just cant figure it out! ghead .
If anyone can solve this, please help!!
Rich

[snapback]331537[/snapback]

i doubt its the AFM, you can completely pull the wiring to the AFM and the engine shouldnt die. the check engine will come on, and if you hit the throttle it'll sputter and eventually die after 2-3 seconds of throttle, but if you dont touch the gas a bad afm/no afm will not affect idle.

afm maps are designed to map fuel off-idle.

to check: turn your key to "on" but do not start the vehicle, and then press and release the gas pedal 5 times (wot, let off, wot, let off...) then there will be a 2 second delay and then your check engine light will light up. and then it will start blinking. you can read the ecu trouble codes off how many times it blinks (blink, pause, blink blink, pause, blink blink blink, pause, blink = error code 1231). if its the afm i think it is code 1241? i dont have my manual infront of me at the moment.

if it blinks 1444 then there are no stored trouble codes.

start and then die after 2-3 seconds of running... check your fuel pump.
it might have enough go to pressurize your system with enough fuel to start but isnt pumping fast enough to keep it pressurized to run

just an idea, of where to start.

[joshh]

If you guys get the Bentley service manual, it covers many different thing it could be.

[richb420]

Its not the fuel pump. I have an adjustable fuel pressure regulator and can keep the car running if I set the fuel at 90 psi. This is however too much fuel and you can smell it coming out of the exhaust. The car normally runs on only about 30 psi.
From what year to what year will the gas pedal test work on. I have a 1985 318i.
Rich

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by richb420@Apr 13 2005, 11:36 PM
Its not the fuel pump. I have an adjustable fuel pressure regulator and can keep the car running if I set the fuel at 90 psi. This is however too much fuel and you can smell it coming out of the exhaust. The car normally runs on only about 30 psi.
From what year to what year will the gas pedal test work on. I have a 1985 318i.
Rich

[snapback]332139[/snapback]

1984-1995

have you pulled your spark plugs and checked their condition?

also, how many miles does your cat have on it? if its old, it can get plugged and only allow the engine to run a few seconds before it chokes itself out

[richb420]

1984-1995

have you pulled your spark plugs and checked their condition?

also, how many miles does your cat have on it? if its old, it can get plugged and only allow the engine to run a few seconds before it chokes itself out

[snapback]332214[/snapback]

I checked the plugs and they are terribly fouled due to the system being extremely rich. Cleaned them off and tried to start the car again. Still not go. Starts for 2 seconds then stalls. The cat is only about a year old with only 2000 miles on it and is not pluged because there is plenty of air coming out the tail. The only way to keep it runing is if I set the pressure on the regulator at 90psi. THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH FUEL HOWEVER! I am very tired from trying to figure this out . It seems that no one has ever had this problem!
Rich

[nukeduster]

Originally posted by richb420@Apr 14 2005, 10:42 AM

I checked the plugs and they are terribly fouled due to the system being extremely rich. Cleaned them off and tried to start the car again. Still not go. Starts for 2 seconds then stalls. The cat is only about a year old with only 2000 miles on it and is not pluged because there is plenty of air coming out the tail. The only way to keep it runing is if I set the pressure on the regulator at 90psi. THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH FUEL HOWEVER! I am very tired from trying to figure this out . It seems that no one has ever had this problem!
Rich

[snapback]332364[/snapback]

was the motor that was put in, a new motor or a junk yard pull? when swapped did yuo use the donors engine harness or did you put in a new one?

if so, do you have the old ecu?

[Kowalski]

Originally posted by nukeduster+Apr 14 2005, 12:48 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nukeduster @ Apr 14 2005, 12:48 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-richb420@Apr 14 2005, 10:42 AM

I checked the plugs and they are terribly fouled due to the system being extremely rich. Cleaned them off and tried to start the car again. Still not go. Starts for 2 seconds then stalls. The cat is only about a year old with only 2000 miles on it and is not pluged because there is plenty of air coming out the tail. The only way to keep it runing is if I set the pressure on the regulator at 90psi. THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH FUEL HOWEVER! I am very tired from trying to figure this out . It seems that no one has ever had this problem!
Rich

[snapback]332364[/snapback]

was the motor that was put in, a new motor or a junk yard pull? when swapped did yuo use the donors engine harness or did you put in a new one?

if so, do you have the old ecu?

[snapback]332399[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]

sounds like your injectors are plugged, and you need that psi to squeeze out enough fuel to keep the car running...

[richb420]

Originally posted by Kowalski+Apr 14 2005, 04:43 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kowalski @ Apr 14 2005, 04:43 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>

was the motor that was put in, a new motor or a junk yard pull? when swapped did yuo use the donors engine harness or did you put in a new one?

if so, do you have the old ecu?

[snapback]332399[/snapback]

sounds like your injectors are plugged, and you need that psi to squeeze out enough fuel to keep the car running...

[snapback]332504[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]

Hmmm, it might be the injectors. How do I clean those out. Or do I have to go and buy new ones??
Rich

[offabroadway]

Fuel System Cleaner. Providing your gas tank isn't full (it shouldn't be if you've started the car enough times :P ) put in a bottle of liquid Techron. That might do it. You may want to pull the injectors to get a good look at them though.