MAJOR PROBLEM - Starting Car!!!! HELP!!!

[projal147]

Hey guys I know I have not been on in a looong time... anyways I need major help. My car will not start here is a list of things I have checked.

The car will turn and the engine cranks but there seems to be missing that last step of the actual start of the engine. The check engine light is also on.

I have checked the following:

1) Battey, the voltage across the battery is approx 12V (I dont have a digital meter so the needle is at 12V)

2) The car code check returns 1444 which indicates no faults.

3) Removed the connector to the spark plug and put a screw driver into the connector and tried to start the car, there were sparks.

4) Fuses for fuel pump and fuel pump relay the fuses are not blow.

5) Jump the car. The engine still just cranks and wont start.

I have changed the following in the last day just before the problems started:

1) front breaks and wear sensor

2) air filter

I actually had a problem with starting the car on tuesday afternoon, it started idled for about a 5 seconds and then stalled. After 2 attempts of starting the engine, I tried starting it while pressing the gas pedal, and the car started right up and idled fine and drove fine. I drove the car for about 25 miles after that and stopped and restarted the car about 3 times later that day/night after the trouble.

This morning I go to start my car and I have the same problem. The car starts and then stalled after about 3 seconds. I try to restart but this time pressing on the gas pedal while cranking the engine. Nothing worked. The car did not start after repeated attempts.

Any thoughts.. HELP!!!

[witeshark]

My first guess is the fuel pump isn't working. This is how my car acted when that failed

[projal147]

^^ How can I test that the fuel pump is bad...???

[witeshark]

If you can get to where it is and hear if it runs for a second when you turn the key on. If it's like mine it's in the tank under the back seat

[projal147]

^^ yea mine is under the back seat... how loud is it?... i had put the key into the "on" position and tried to hear if the pump turned on but got nothing... tried it on my dad's car which has it in the trunk too and couldnt hear anything so i decided to ax that test...

how loud was it for you?

[witeshark]

Just a low wirr, very hard to hear not sure you can hear it without removing the seat

[xsperf]

if you have checked your ignition, and that is fine, then there almost 100% IS a problem with the fuel system, wherever it is

[catalyst]

You need to remove the rear seat and listen for the pump, only way to really know whether or not its running. Its located underneath a black panel that is screwed down for access to the pump.

I had a similar problem in the e34 a couple weeks back, it turned out to be the crank shaft sensor.

[Dudesky]

How much gas is in your tank? You can easily burn out the pump motor if you're constantly running a 1/4 tank or less. The sound of the fuel pump can vary, depends on how old it is; a healthy pump should sound like a constant medium to high pitched buzzing. But you'll definitely hear something in there if it's working. Here's more:

http://www.unitedbimmer.com/forums/t...placement.html

[projal147]

thanks guys... yea i think its a prloblem with the fuel system I removed the rear seat and put my ear to the area where the fuel pump is and dont hear anything. The ignition i believe works and I have 3/4 of a tank of gas with only about 75-80 miles on the current tank.... A BMW mech who is a friend of a friend is coming over tomorrow to look at the car for me as a favor.. will update later

[xsperf]

ok good luck

[projal147]

Update (9/5/06)

yea it was the fuel pump, got it fixed last week. only cost me the price of the part and a 12 pack for the mech's time.. lol its runnin great now... next thing I have to do is install new rear breaks, just did the fronts

[RSF5]

sweet good to hear^^