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E36General discussion and technical help for (E36) 1992-1999 3 series cars. 318, 323, 325, 328.
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Your Ride: 1993 325is
1993 325is - not starting
A little background: car was purchased from my wife's parents last spring. Here in NH last spring we had turrential rains and flooding, and at the same time MTBE gas additive was replaced with ethanol. We though that there might have been a little water in the fuel. While driving it, the car started bucking, then stalled, then would nopt start. Had the car towed home, tried some new gas, nothing. Was going to tow the car to our mechanic 3 days later, and tried starting it, and it fired up, sputtering, stalled a few times, and then ran fine. Turned out the lower windshield cowl cover was garbage, and we think allowed water to access the ECU compartment.
Well, the same thing happened this past weekend, with the snow/turrential rains. I replaced the cowl cover, and dried out the ECU compartment (wasn't all that wet). Now it just cranks and won't turn over. I have a non heated garage, and we are headed for another cold spell (close to 0 deg. tonight). Does anyone have any thoughts? I have disconnected the battery, and when i get home will reconnect it, with hopes of trying to reset the ECU.
Try taking out the spark plugs and drying them off, they could be fowled. That happened to my 1995 325i every once in a while. After I got it started it seemed to run fine.
Location: SW corner of CO, live in country near village called Mancos
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Your Ride: 1992 325i & 2004 325xi
Fuel with ethanol will separate in cold weather, causing layering. Sometimes, water condensate will layer also. With water or pure ethanol in fuel line, you might want to consider draining line. This is tricky because the line is pressurized, even with motor off. Also, leaking fuel while draining is a sure fire hazard. If you want to try draining line, follow procedure as if changing fuel filter. Info can be found in Haynes or Bently manuals. Hope this is helpful. If not, I could write up a step by step procedure for you. But remember USE CAUTION.
James
03-05-2007, 03:16 PM
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