E30 stroker wont start - United Bimmer Community

**Groob83** · 07-13-2009, 09:36 PM

This is my first post on here so please excuse any lack of posting knowledge. Ok I have a 89 325is that I just recently swapped motors in, I added the 2.7L eta Block and Kept the "I" Top end on it. The car is mostly stock aside from a Jet chip installed in the Ecu and Air intake. The problem I am having is that the car will not start, If I were to use starting fluid it will run as long as the fluid lasts. The fuel pump seems to be working properly with good pressure as far as I can tell. I have checked relay's and fuses, but it seems to be the injectors not letting the fuel into the cylinders. Is there anything I should test or check to fix this problem? I would greatly appreciate it as it is getting very frustrating.

Thanks,
Josh

Big Evil · 07-15-2009, 02:59 PM

Replace the fuel filter if you haven't already. When you crank the engine does the little engine light on the dash go out while your cranking? if not the CKP (crank sensor) isn't being picked up by the ecu, car won't start. Check your fuses, use a "noid" light to test the injector harness/electrical function, a normal low impedance test light will fry the drivers in the computer, so for gods sake don't use one. Check that first.

**ozzieman** · 07-23-2009, 10:22 AM

you seem like you know a little bit more about bmws then me but im having the same problem with my fully stock 318is can you help me it is an e30 1991

Big Evil · 07-23-2009, 10:43 AM

Well, what happened right before it stopped working? There are a lot of things that can make a car even as good as these head south. Jump starting CAN cook computers, more often than not just works fine as long as you hook on to the battery. Vac leaks in btw the MAF and throttle body, clogs in fuel lines/filters. Bad/no contact from the rpm (ckp) sensor. I can list for a hour and not even get close to what happened to yours. So what was the difference between working and not working? Something happened (usually small) and there will be the key to fixing the problem.

**ozzieman** · 07-23-2009, 10:55 AM

well i changed the spark plugs and it started right up then a little bit of smoke then it went away and it ran then i drove it around the block shut it off when i got back and no she wont start i have replaced the fuel filter already and it seems like the fuel pump is working its just now when you open the fuel injector chambers like your exceloration when im cranking the engine over and there is no fuel going into it so im so lost thats why i came here

Big Evil · 07-23-2009, 05:24 PM

These cars (and 99% of fuel injected cars actually) have what's called a "clear flood" mode. It's a throw back to the days of the carburetor. If you push the pedal to the floor and crank the engine, the fuel injectors will shut off because you're telling the computer that you need to clear a flood condition in the manifold. Stay off the accelerator pedal while starting, period. Is it doing anything else?

**ozzieman** · 07-23-2009, 10:32 PM

well there is gas going into the filter when the engine is cranking over but there is no gas to the lines that are in the engine bay all three when the engine is cranking over there is just nothing no fuel but if i hold the throttle cable and spray starting fluid into it it fires right up and the fuel system is kindof a two chambered lookin thing with two fuel lines going under it and one going into a canaster looking thing but i dont think its a pump

Big Evil · 07-24-2009, 09:07 AM

Ok, that clears up quite a bit. You have a blockage in the filter or line in sounds like. Did you replace the filter (think you did) is it in the right way around? Also check for kinked or bent fuel lines. If it's going into the filter and not going anywhere else.......there you go. The pump is working you can hear it when you turn the key on? May need to do a pressure/volume test to make sure its pushing enough fuel.

**ozzieman** · 07-24-2009, 09:17 AM

well i replaced the filter and the arrow is pointed towards the engine but when the filter was off i cranked the engine over and even when the end was clamped the pump had enough power to still squirt fuel out but i dont think that the line is bent because it was running great right before this happened and that flood how do you make it clear that like would disconecting the battery and re-conecting it help that?

Big Evil · 07-24-2009, 09:37 AM

Clear flood mode is wide open throttle while cranking the car at start up. A bad throttle position sensor could cause this. What I'm unclear on is exactly what's under your hood. It's obvious you have an engine that's been modified, should be a line from the tank to the pump/filter then to the injector rail. On the end of the injector rail you have a pressure regulator with a vacuum line attached and then the return line back to the tank, 2 fuel lines 1 vac line (is that the 3?). What you're describing is a fuel delivery problem I just can't nail down mechanical or electrical. How do you know the injectors aren't firing? and how are you checking for fuel in the rail? Is it possible this car has an aftermarket alarm system and the previous owner didn't give you the remote? That happened to me once it those dam things cause all kinds of hell.

**ozzieman** · 07-24-2009, 09:54 AM

well i dont think it has been modified il try to explain it better there is a line that goes to the filter and then a line that leaves the filter then that goes to these little gold colored little fuel lines then when those lines get to the engine bay then it transfers into 3 rubber lines two of those lines go under the fuel injector and then there is another rubber line that goes in the left side of the fuel injector and that line is conected to a black canaster made by bmw and in that canaster there is a fuel line in and a fuel line out and well if you open the throthle while shining a drop light into it you can see the back of the intake manifold and if you crank the engine over there is no fuel at all going through there?

Big Evil · 07-24-2009, 10:21 AM

Just went and stuck my nose under the hood of my is to see whats what here. The line with the black canister is the evap system, ignore it, not important to running/starting. That leaves the supply and return fuel line, A blockage in the return line will not keep the car from getting fuel or starting, it'll cause too much fuel and flooding, but it'll still start or at least try to. That leaves only the supply side. Could still be electrical or mechanical at this point. Looking into the intake, it SHOULD be dry. Fuel is injected in a very fine mist right at the intake valve, you shouldn't be able to see it. Now you spray ether into the intake and it starts? That means the crank sensor and sparks plugs work and are syncing up. SO pull the rubber fuel line at the fuel rail, stick it in a catch can and turn the car on see if you get fuel. If no then the problem is somewhere between the pump filter area and the rail. If yes then it's most likely an electrical issue affecting all (all is the key here, only one or 2 failing would be a misfire) of the injectors. Fuse, relay, or ecu. Check fuses and relays first, then move onto the ecu drivers. To test that you will need what's called a "noid" light, its a little led in a plastic housing that plugs into the injector harness and flashes when the injector pulse happens. You can NOT USE a test light for this, if you do you WILL FRY the drivers in the ecu and its new computer time. Check that stuff, there's no reason you shouldn't find the cause UNLESS there is an aftermarket alarm system and the wire it separates is the power for the fuel injectors.

**ozzieman** · 07-24-2009, 10:39 PM

ok well i just tried the catch can thing i disconected both lines and cranked over the engine and there was no fuel a all maybe a blockage? because the car does not have an after market alarm or any alarm for hat matter so maybe a simple blockage? could a filter leaning a little uneven cause this?

Big Evil · 07-25-2009, 12:44 AM

Ok, sounds like your on to it. You need to disconnect the fittings one at a time working your way back from the rail to the filter. As long as you know the pump is running and there's fuel in the tank for it to pump. You should be able to narrow it down to right where the blockage is occurring. The filter at an angle should not cause an issue, just as long as the flow direction is correct. You are sure there's fuel in the tank right? The gauge may read wrong.

**ozzieman** · 07-25-2009, 09:59 AM

yea i put about 4 gallons of new premium fuel so yea today il look for the blockage