325i Crank but no start - United Bimmer Community

**ToddJ** · 10-23-2010, 12:48 PM

Hello to the BMW world. This is my first post so bear with me. I have a 2001 325i. I replaced the blower motor resistor which now works great, but now the car won't start (cranks over great). No power to the fuel pump or spark plugs. I swapped the horn relay with the fuel pump relay, still no power to pump. I can't get it to a shop for a scan. I looked carefully under dash where I was working and didn't see anything I could have knocked loose. Is there something I'm missing? Thank You.

**Manolito** · 10-24-2010, 09:44 AM

This is an unusual problem. Are all the lights in the dash illuminating normally?

I presume that you know that the fuel pump is not powered because you cannot hear it spin up, but how did you check to determine there is no power to the ignition?

**ToddJ** · 10-24-2010, 10:08 AM

All lights are on. I pulled the connector off the fuel pump and checked it with a volt meter and a light with the key on and in the start position. I took the coil off spark plug put a good plug in the coil boot, had someone crank the motor while I watched the plug next to a good ground, but no spark. I'm thinking this has nothing to do with the blower resistor and is just a coincidence.

**Manolito** · 10-24-2010, 11:05 PM

I presume that you have looked at all the fuses. The common denominator between the fuel supply and the ignition is the DME. The DME is powered by a relay, as I recall, so the next thing is to figure out if you have power in and out of that relay.

Big Evil · 10-25-2010, 05:07 PM

Does the check engine light stay on WHILE cranking? If so I'd be looking at the crank sensor

**ToddJ** · 10-25-2010, 09:33 PM

Thanks Manolito and Big Evil for the help. I don't know which relay is for the DME. I don't see the check engine light on during cranking. All fuses are good even under the hood fuses in the engine management compartment. It looks like I need to buy a Peak code reader since my wife and I really like this car and are planning to keep it until the next BMW.

Big Evil · 10-26-2010, 08:09 PM

Yup, Check it, see what you get and go from there

**ToddJ** · 10-29-2010, 05:25 PM

I purchased a Peak code reader and tried that. All I got was an E11. I tried resetting all the modules as instructed in the Peak manual by disconnecting the batttery. No luck, I’m at a loss.

Big Evil · 11-01-2010, 10:20 AM

That's a tough one, something in the anti-theft may have tripped.......
Might be time to take it in

**ToddJ** · 11-01-2010, 10:26 AM

I've read articles about bad hood switches, trunks need to be closed, foot on the brake, sitting in the seat, etc, before it will start. Are some or all of these true.

Big Evil · 11-01-2010, 10:35 AM

In the newer stuff, yes. E9x, E6X, F0x etc. Yours, not so much. However sitting in the seat with your foot on the brake is ALWAYS a good idea when trying to start anything......I'll tell you about some bozo at barrett jackson who smashed a 25th anniversary Countach into a primo Austin Healy infront of about 30 people some time.