Broken Car..again...need help. - United Bimmer Community

**Numark318i** · 02-06-2007, 05:49 PM

i think its th efuel pump.

anyone know which relay that is?

**Spieluhr** · 02-06-2007, 05:57 PM

not sure about the relay. but I do know that if you take out the rear seats, listen, and try to start the car, you should be able to hear the fuel pump engaging if its working.

**Numark318i** · 02-06-2007, 10:43 PM

well my battery is dead. But ill try to get another battery in there

**Numark318i** · 02-07-2007, 12:01 AM

ok so heres the whole story.

was driving my car, nothing to special, no hard driving just basic 4k shifts. Car starts to sputter. I keep driving. Car dies while rolling in neutral, I keep going. Car then dies while in gear at speed.

I could no longer pop the clutch..it would just roll with the gears engadged but no power to the engine.

wtf happend.

I am thinking fuel pump, but i dont know..cause this problems has been going on for a while(erratic idle every once in a while. ) so...whats the deal?

I also missed a math test review and homework time today...took me like 4 hours to get the car towed..only to have to lave for another class.

Car doesnt seem to be getting spark either(pulled it and grounded it to transmission.

so that might have somethign to do with it.

ideas? I commute 100 miles a day..our extra car is broken also...so i am gonna have no car after tomarow to get to class...so i need some discussion as to wtf might have happend?

**c1apton** · 02-07-2007, 01:11 AM

first get your battery back up - then when grounding to see if you have spark use something other than trans. (trans case is aluminum - not a good test spot) Look for bare or broken wiring (back of alternator, etc) I'm guessing it's an electrical issue - once battery is up to 12+ volts take off a fuel line in engine compartment turn key to "run" NOT crank and you should have gas flowing if not then pump or relay is suspect. But get a good (known good battery) in there.

**Numark318i** · 02-07-2007, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c1apton

first get your battery back up - then when grounding to see if you have spark use something other than trans. (trans case is aluminum - not a good test spot) Look for bare or broken wiring (back of alternator, etc) I'm guessing it's an electrical issue - once battery is up to 12+ volts take off a fuel line in engine compartment turn key to "run" NOT crank and you should have gas flowing if not then pump or relay is suspect. But get a good (known good battery) in there.

good point

battery is charged. waiting for me tomarow.

Ill try to take off the line, see what it does(flows or not)

as for the spark..good point. Didnt know the trans was made of aluminum.

i also need a new plug wire...mine broke in the process of checking the plugs (

)

maybe ill change the plugs while im in there(after i fix the problem)

fuel pump at bav auto is like 270$, ima price check another toamrow at a local parts shop see what they tell me.

ugh..annoyed at my car.

**c1apton** · 02-07-2007, 01:35 AM

pelican parts is better priced than that - Bav is getting pretty "up-pity" lately - they're forgetting who got them where they are today and that's going to be their downfall. A couple of their phone reps jacked a few of my guys around re: info just to make a sale and it didn't work. I called local BMW dealer & they were cheaper on parts we needed. Funny, Bav said their items were factory stuff (according to part #s = yes/ price NO)

**Dudesky** · 02-07-2007, 04:28 AM

I agree . . . don't even worry about a fuel pump until you get the electrical issues out of the way. I think it's a charging issue, or a ground fault. What's the weather been like over there? The cold tends to make car problems worse, particularly electrical stuff.

On the retailers- yea, Pelican is usually a better choice over Bav. Also check AutohausAz, sometimes their pricing beats Pelican.

**Numark318i** · 02-07-2007, 09:34 AM

weather was perfect yesterday. no clouds, 60degrees.

todays its raining..but idk.

gonna go see if i can get the fuel pump to even pump gas into a bowl.

**Numark318i** · 02-07-2007, 10:20 AM

ok. fuel pump is pumping fuel, so its not an electrical problem with the pump.

how can i now if its pumping enough?

i am trying to pull codes from teh car via the gas pedal diagnostic...doesnt work..anyone have a reasoning for that?

**Dudesky** · 02-07-2007, 10:52 AM

Does the gas pedal thing work for E30's?

Do you have the E30 Haynes manual? If not here's a piece of it that you need (right click on link and save link as . . ):

http://files.unitedbimmer.com/ub.c/D...st systems.pdf

**Numark318i** · 02-07-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky

Does the gas pedal thing work for E30's?

Do you have the E30 Haynes manual? If not here's a piece of it that you need (right click on link and save link as . . ):

http://files.unitedbimmer.com/ub.c/D...st systems.pdf

this is good.

although it doesnt really include my engine...Im sure most parts are the same.

**Numark318i** · 02-08-2007, 12:13 AM

ok so new problems. While checking my spark plugs on the side of the road i noticed Number 4 cylinders spark plug cap fell off...wtf.

I then realized tonight that the plug itself is loose..is was coming out. might explain the rough idle/surge at times...due o 1 piston not firing.

tht might have been my problem all along. either way i purchased a new fuel pump and installed it tonight.
Gonna go buy 4 new plugs (NKG..or however thats spelled) and hopefully have her runnning tomarow. If that was the problem.

**celsdogg** · 02-08-2007, 07:51 AM

ngk? i thought those were for japanese cars?

**Dudesky** · 02-08-2007, 08:05 AM

^^^No, NGK's are a valid replacement for Bosch, and are not specific to Japanese cars.