Stumped

[5thseries]

Check your distributor, wires,
Search for any kind of build up on wires and coils

[frankzen]

There is no distributor in a 318. The wires are new, as is 2 of the coils.

[frankzen]

Dropped by the garage this morning and had a short convo with the alledged expert...he discounts the possibility the problem is a crank sensor...because there is gas...and a spark...he claims neither would be present if a crank sensor were dead ???
He appears to be leaning towards a weak fuel pump ?? or something that interferes with gas flow. I kinda doubt it as it never even TRIED to catch after it stalled.

Anyway may know more later today.

[propr'one]

did you try what i said? It litterally takes 10 seconds.

[frankzen]

Originally Posted by propr'one

did you try what i said? It literally takes 10 seconds.

No....but the "mechanic" did. He disconnected the pump....and cranked and cranked. No go. As I said he thinks the engine isn't getting enough gas for some reason. I still doubt it.

[propr'one]

how can the plugs be wet with fuel if its not getting enough fuel? that doesn't make sense to me.

[frankzen]

Doesn't make any sense to me either. If you ask me this "mechanic" is baffled. He claims 1) that the plugs were wet with gas, 2) there is spark, 3) there "seems" to be compression, and 4) if the crank sensor or camshaft sensor were dead...there would not be any spark. On this latter point I have no idea. I am not the "expert" here - The car has been at the garage since December 23rd....toughest time I have ever had getting repairs done to any car. Ask me if I am fed up with BMW. Ask me if I am fed up with poor service. BTW wish me a "happy" birthday - I am 68 today

[ShortShifter]

Happy 68th bday...don't be fed up with bmw...be fed up with that mechanic. Sounds like he's a bit of a joke. Good luck with it.

[frankzen]

Thanks for the wishes...I am fed up with that mechanic...as for the BMW, I've put 46 thousand clicks on it in 3.5 years...replaced starter (a horror show) alternator, MAF sensor, brakes all around ($1300!!!), plugs,coils,ICV, and on and on. I thought these cars were reliable. Maybe when they are new they are. But I bought mine with 165k on it and it now needs repairs which would total more than I paid for it. OK rant over. Thanks for all the suggestions and implied encouragement.

[frankzen]

Well just call a call from the garage. Car is "fixed". What was wrong I asked. Well he said...a bunch of little things. Injectors partially clogged...bad plugs...clogged fuel filter...and various and sundry other things. Not one specific item prevented it from starting...but he says put them all together and no start. So everybody was right and everybody was wrong. Except the crank sensor was OK as was the fuel pump, and while the plugs were wet he said there were not wet enough to be considered flooding.
All in all I say it was bad maintenance on my part.
Hope it runs OK now.

[propr'one]

glad you got it fixed bro

[ShortShifter]

Congrats...make a victory video doing circles in the snow...

[INFAMOU$]

I was gonna say to try spraying fuel into the throttle body... glad you got it fixed!

[frankzen]

Originally Posted by ShortShifter

Congrats...make a victory video doing circles in the snow...

Picked it up last night -- it **seems** to be starting and running OK...except the infamous "check engine" light came on as soon as I left the lot. It stayed on until just before I parked....then went out ??? I restarted the car an hour later and it was still out....well see what happens today.Weird.

As for victory circles in the snow....that'll have to wait...until I'm sure it's fixed
Although there soon will be plenty of snow in which to do circles !!

Again thanks to all...nice bunch of people here.

[ShortShifter]

Just watch your light...gl on getting it fixed.