325e been sitting for 6 months - United Bimmer Community

**mcnowski** · 03-18-2009, 11:21 AM

Hello everyone, this is my first post.

I have a 1985 325e, for the most part it is in excellent shape. Only one thing wrong, is that it hasnt been holding a charge. So it was parked for about six months. I was going to move it. I put in a new battery. All electrical seems to be working, but when I turn the key I get nothing in turns of the engine turing over, no starter sound, nothing. I was going to maybe bump-start it. Any suggestions before I attempt to do so?

Maybe the gas is to old?

Big Evil · 03-18-2009, 04:11 PM

I've NEVER had bump starting work on either of my e30's, its also warned against in factory manuals. When you put in this new battery do you KNOW it was at full charge? (like check it w/a volt meter) Needs to be over 12.45 volts or its not fully charged. When you turn the key do you get any type of "clack" or clicking noise? Do you have a kill switch or alarm system? Are the battery terminals clean and tight? Aside from sitting has anything changed from the last time you started it (maybe a rodent got up in the engine bay and chewed the wires)? Check the basics first and find out WHY its not working, running one of these cars with no battery can fry the ECU, all kinds of stuff.

**mcnowski** · 03-18-2009, 06:06 PM

oh oh!

I ended up bump starting it. It took a few trys, and after a big cloud of old gas smoke, the motor turned over. But same problem when I turn it off. The starter is not getting power. I took a screw-driver and crossed the solenoid terminals and it did in fact turn the starter over! Which is a good sign I think. So now my problem is finding out why the starter is not getting power to it.

Im thinking a fuse or wire?

Thanks for your help, anymore would be great

Big Evil · 03-19-2009, 04:31 PM

Ok, maybe a dead key switch or bad starter relay. Next time try to start it w/a remote stater switch, they run about 10-15 bucks at like checker or autozone, it'll keep you from getting zapped w/the screwdriver trick until you find out why the rest of the system isn't working

**mcnowski** · 04-03-2009, 07:29 PM

I turn the key over. I hear pumps starting and a clicking noise under the hood, drivers side. The starter is still not getting power. I cross the solenoid terminal with a screw driver and the starter turns over and the car fires up.

And to top it all off, some kids pried the decals of in the night!!!

All the wires under the dash appear to be plugged in and working. All electrical in the rest of the car is working.

Big Evil · 04-05-2009, 10:25 AM

That still leaves you in the same place, bad key switch, bad relay. Loose wire to, from, or between one of those. Or, if your car is an automatic, you may have a bad neutral safety switch. It prevents the car from starting in anything other than neutral or park, if it goes it just won't start.

**mcnowski** · 04-16-2009, 01:00 PM

Thanks for the tips. Excuse me for for what might seem a dumb question, but I cant seem to locate the starter relay switch? I have been told it is in a fuse box under the hood, but none of the fuses is assigned "starter relay"?

Am I looking in the wrong spot?

What does it look like?

Any help would be great, thanks.

**railhead** · 04-17-2009, 03:53 PM

It should be under the cover of your center console up against your shifter.