HELP! 95 BMW 318I Wont start - BMW Forum

LuvMyBeamer · 10-14-2010, 11:51 AM

My 1995 Bmw 318 i Wont start Please Help Me.
Changed spark plugs, Fuel filter, Battery, Fuel pump. What else can it be?

Before changing the fuel pump car was idling, and felt like it always wanted to take off when at a stop or going at a slow speed. Now after replacing all the above mentioned items the car wont start wants to start but just cranks. So Please help me????????

witeshark · 10-14-2010, 11:54 AM

How's the ignition system, like coil(s)?

LuvMyBeamer · 10-14-2010, 12:11 PM

fROM WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID THE IGNITION AND COIL ARE OK.

LuvMyBeamer · 10-14-2010, 12:16 PM

Do you know if a air mass sensor can cause the car not start? Iam not too sure about that man working on my car i dont want him to over charge me or take advantage of the situation just because i am girl.

LuvMyBeamer · 10-14-2010, 12:17 PM

fROM WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID THE IGNITION AND COIL ARE OK.Do you know if a air mass sensor can cause the car not start? Iam not too sure about that man working on my car i dont want him to over charge me or take advantage of the situation just because i am girl.

witeshark · 10-14-2010, 12:39 PM

AFAIK the airflow sensor would prevent it from starting, it just not run right. Maybe there is a blockage in the air intake? Is fuel confirmed to the injectors?

LuvMyBeamer · 10-17-2010, 10:56 PM

no its not running. We sprayed starting fluid it today and started for a couple seconds for a little bit then died again. =(

Frozen 318i · 10-18-2010, 12:33 AM

Did you check fuse it should be number 18 and relay? the relay is not in the fuse box it is to the left of it with it's own cover, if that checks out than check your ecu. The ecu commands the relay.

jameskeith · 10-26-2010, 11:54 AM

Also after you confirm what whiteshark said,You also might want to check and make sure that there are no cracks or splits in any of the vaccumm hoses that are in connection with the idle control valve. if there are any vucuum leaks depending on how bad, it can also prevent the car from starting.... Beamers, and mercedes are very particular when it comes to this type of thing.... if it does need new hoses, they are not very expensive. about $40 or $50 bucks for the two of them. but tricky to get to.... they are under the intake manifold.... This is of course, if the fuel pump and relay is working....

Torque · 10-26-2010, 11:58 AM

Have someone test the crank position sensor.

LuvMyBeamer · 10-26-2010, 09:03 PM

yeah the crankshaft position sensor was replaced this weekend and still the car doesnt start =( I am running out of options..

johnnyBgood · 10-26-2010, 09:10 PM

You are either not getting spark, fuel, or both......did your mechanic determine which one of these is not present?

jbg

p.s if you sprayed starter fluid & the car started, then it is a fuel issue......

LuvMyBeamer · 10-26-2010, 09:14 PM

yeah the car started with starter fluid. The fuel pump and filter were both recently replaced .

johnnyBgood · 10-26-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvMyBeamer

yeah the car started with starter fluid. The fuel pump and filter were both recently replaced .

There is fuel pump relay & fuse, he should double check those, if good, he should also check to see if there is fuel at the injectors or fuel rail when cranking the engine.......

jbg

jameskeith · 10-27-2010, 09:14 PM

When you sprayed starter fliud, which I would not recommend you do very often as this can damage the MAF ( Mass Air Flow sensor) if done too many times, did it start for literally 1 or 2 seconds then shut down?

If a fuel problem: The starting fluid will cause a slight rev of the engine for a moment assuming your foot was on the gas ped while starting it... If it did crank a few times then start for a second or two then shut down immediatly "without" any rpm revings with your foot on the ped then may be your ICV or a vaccum hose associated with it.

These cars a very picky when it comes to the vaccum associated with the ignition system, I've worked on 7 series and mercedes for about 15 years and that is the one thang about European cars, they don't like improper vaccum intakes

Even when my ICV was bad I "was able" to get the car to run for 1 or 2 sec. out of about 10 tries! I can't remember.... Did you verify that the coil pack is good?

Being that you have a new pump,you may also want to check the "fuel filter" If you let the fuel tank run low on a normal basis ( YOU KNOW, THE GAS LIGHT ON... GET GAS! HA!

this can cause an accumilation of water over a period of time due to condensation in the mostly empty tank.

Remember, the fuel pump is lubricated by the fuel.... Running out of fuel will burn out the fuel pump.

so if you checked the Crank case positioning sensor, and the coil pack is good, Spark plugs and the cables are good, and the fuel pump and the relay are both good, the fuel filter doesn't have water accumulated in it,
Then try looking at the MAS boot and ICV hoses. If they are all good then maybe you can or someone can remove the ICV and clean it with throttle body cleaner. you can also use throttle body cleaner to clean the Mass Air Flow, but let it completely dry for a while before trying to start (which is not a perm fix for the ICV)

I hope this was of some help... Let me know how you make out... Oh, almost forgot, did you check the dme (ECU). If you wash the car through a high pressure wash and the drainage ports get clogged then the water will run over and down below the windsheild cow and right on to the ECU. this will keep the car from starting as well...