update of "mind busting for you all"

[derek318i]

OK guys this is my problem: (starting) the car (1994 318i) always started fine since I bought it ( 2 weeks ago) but yesterday it rained and this is what I came to find.... I went in the car to start it up and nothing > battery was dead (but 7 hours earlier it started very well, it was not raining then) So I said to myslef "oh what the hell .... lets get a boost", I called the booster guy, he came and plugged his booster but the car REFUSED to start.
Ok ok ok, I removed the ecu (dme) and dried it nicely, placed it back, tried to start it .... same thing...no start. (with booster pack)

So, I took it to a garage, they pulled out the oil stick and it smells STRONGLY like gasoline. I left the place and said " fix it ". The car apparently was not giving any spark at all.


What the hell is wrong with that car?


Update:

I placed a brand new DME in the car today $1000+ and it got sparks but was VERY hard to start, it started only after we open the air filter box. I drove it home and it stalled a lot. Then it never started up again. ( it starts and gives up right away). What could be wrong now. Please help. I appreciate it a lot.

[Furious]

hmm im really not sure, at this point in time i would advise you to take it to a professional.. being an armchair mechanic, i really dont want to take the risk at guessing the wrong thing , when you have already invested so much into the fixing of it.

[mmclaren]

Fuel Filter???
If there isnt any fuel being pushed through, nothing to start with...

Open the Fuel Tank area "where u fill it"
get someone to start it and see if u can hear anything, should give u an indiction if it works or not

[vwk]

omg why you've bought the DME? You could have cleaned it.

Mine knocked out in the car wash the first day I've got my car.

Removed all of the corrosion, cleaned it with compressed air and still runs ever since.

[frank de jonge]

Common E36 problem that VWK describes there.

His car would't fire at all after he left the carwash.

Cleaned the DME and the rest where the DME is mounted on with a toothbrush..

Worked out perfect.
Car runs smooth again.

You can also check out the HFM. If that is defect car is stalling also as you describe under driving.

Btw the housing where the DME is in.... Its behind the black board under the hood.
VWK's one was totally fucked up so water could easily come in @ that point..

[97alpineM3]

Sounds like a dead battery...

If not that.. then its a dead battery with a dead dme...

Good Luck,

Les