[lonebmw]

my beloved e36 325 tds 1999 touring is causing me a headache.

everything was ok till this morning...unlocked the car with the fob, got in, put key in, waited for the glow plug light to go out, turned the key to start...nothing. not even a click click.

all the electrics work....

the key does spring back, to neutral position, but upon turning to start there seems no power to the starter.

the starter appears to be fairly new....

any help will be appreciated.... no wheels....it's awful.

 

[witeshark]

Can't hurt to check the battery and the starter.

 

[lonebmw]

witeshark - all the electrics work, fan, horn, wipers, lights etc...so it csan't be the battery...checked for current at starter....none..

i suspect ignition switch...

i want to know how to get to it, my e36 is an automatic.

cheers

 

[bmw1stvert]

Could be a number of things best bet would be to take the starter out and bench test unless you are for sure it is good. If you kow its good I would check the wiring to the starter with a digital multi meter to make sure the starter is getting power when the key was turned. Just had this problem in a Nissan truck all it was is a loose connection on the starter. Good luck with this.

 

[bmw1stvert]

My mistake just saw where you checked at the sarter and had no current. Sorry didn't catch that on first read. Also check to see if a starter kill was ever put on car. Another thing I would do before swapping out the switch is to turn the key to on and send 12volts to the starter wire, at the column after the switch. That way if it still doesn't start you know its a dang relay and then comes the fun of tracking one of them down.