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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 BMW 325is
325is coupe-- new problem--fuel?
Hey I just got this car and I am now having a problem. The car was running fine, and then I pulled into a store. I shut the car off and went in for about 5 minutes. When I came out the car will not start. It fires but then it just sputters out....Help!!!
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Your Ride: 1993 BMW 325is
Its been running great, but Ive only had it for 5 days. It actually has 130k on it so not too bad. Actually I went back after work today (about 2 hours later) and it started right up. would that fuel pump/ or relay problem allow the car start back up?When it started my thought went to overheating? the thing is when it would not start or stay running I checked the temp guage and it was straight up.....hmmmm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3050rpm
I imagine this car has a few miles on it, so my first guess is the fuel pump, or fuel pump relay, if it had been otherwise running fine.
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Your Ride: 1995 325i
Astute diagnostician that I am , I think that once a fuel pump or relay goes, it doesn't come back to life, at least that was the experience when my fuel pump went, so that brings into consideration the injectors (leak down) and fuel pressure regulator. The only thing that bugs me about those possibilities is that if either went, the car would still start, but I think only after prolonged, or at least longer than usual cranking, and yet it started right up for you. Now I could be wrong in that assessment, but maybe the problem lies elsewhere, and not so involved. You're right, 130,000 isn't all that much, especially if the car has been well maintained, so do you know when was the last time the fuel filter was changed? Also, did this happen on a particularly hot day, my guess being a case of vapor lock, although I don't know if fuel injected engines are susceptible to that.
As to the temperature gauge, normal is straight up at the 12 o'clock position, maybe a touch to the right, so you're not having a problem there.
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Your Ride: 1993 BMW 325is
Thanks 3050rpm! Last night I thought of the fuel filter as well. I will pick one up and give it a try in the next day or two. AS for the vapor lock idea, It was very hot about 90 to 95. I really have no idea what vapor lock is and how to correct the proble though. Any thoughts?
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Your Ride: 1993 BMW 325is
Well I did a little research. I found although rare is is possible to have a vapor lock situation in a EFI engine. It also said especially on a hot day. I will give it a couple of days to see if the problem re occurs.
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Your Ride: 1995 325i
I've probably had a few occasions over the years when the car didn't catch on the first (sometimes the second) cranking on a hot day, and stumbled for a bit afterwards, so there might be something to the vapor lock (or other hot ambient temperature) effect on an EFI engine. So your fuel filter may be okay.
Nonetheless, if you don't know the maintenance history of the vehicle, it'd be a good idea to establish a baseline for yourself, by changing the fuel filter, as well as the oil and filter, air filter, microfilter (not a fun job), transmission and differential fluids, brake fluid (see recent DIY post, a nice job), and by doing a complete coolant system flush (radiator and engine block). Spark plugs too. Oh, 2-4 times a year add a bottle of injector cleaner to your gas. Happy miles!
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Your Ride: 1993 BMW 325is
Again
So after the car started back up it had been running great untill today. It is not hot or anything (about 72-75) so I do not believe that it is a vapor lock situation. but the car is doing the same thing again. It starts on the first crank but sputters right out. I tried starting it with the pedal wide open but it dosent seem to matter. sitll the same results the pedal wide open seems to have no effect on the rpms what so ever. I am stumped.
Vapor lock is old school and near impossible with these cars. My guess is a faulty fuel pump relay.
I tend to agree w/Dski, when the relay gets warm it's letting go. When it cools off, starts right up. Alot of the problem might not be directly related to external heat but to heat on the relay - like when under load or acceleration.
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Your Ride: 1993 BMW 325is
looks like the relay is good, now it is getting no gas at all????? I am starting to think it is the pump itself now! Is there 2 pumps in my car 1993 325is? how do I go about figuring out which if either would need to be replaced?
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Your Ride: 1993 BMW 325is
Hahaha ..... mission complete!!! fuel pump itself went bad. Threw a new one in.....and on the road again. only thing left to figure out is the tranny warning light. ( auto trans) I comes on time to time. puts the car into limp mode. If I kill the juice it will usually reset. Is tis connected to any of the relays? Im thinking that when the fuel pump went it also screwed up a relay....could this be related? or possibly a bad ground?
Last edited by justplainmitch; 06-29-2007 at 11:07 PM..
06-25-2007, 01:56 PM
(She's "schoolin'" the boyZ)
, I think that once a fuel pump or relay goes, it doesn't come back to life, at least that was the experience when my fuel pump went, so that brings into consideration the injectors (leak down) and fuel pressure regulator. The only thing that bugs me about those possibilities is that if either went, the car would still start, but I think only after prolonged, or at least longer than usual cranking, and yet it started right up for you. Now I could be wrong in that assessment, but maybe the problem lies elsewhere, and not so involved. You're right, 130,000 isn't all that much, especially if the car has been well maintained, so do you know when was the last time the fuel filter was changed? Also, did this happen on a particularly hot day, my guess being a case of vapor lock, although I don't know if fuel injected engines are susceptible to that. 
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