need some serious HELP!!!

E36&8 · 01-21-2010, 09:39 PM

93. 325is

I drove home last night with everything running perfect and no problems.

woke up this morning and tried starting car but it just wouldn't start! (keeps on cranking)

never had this issue before whatsoever so it was kind of strange for the first time. As I started to troubleshoot I checked the battery (new), starter and alternator; all of these were fine. So my next thought was it would just be the fuel pump, so I went out and bought a new one. After installing the new fuel pump I thought it would start no matter what but it didn't

I'm really trying to figure out the cause of this problem, I would just get it towed to a mechanic but its going to be nothing less than $150 since it would require a flatbed. So before going ahead and getting it towed I wanted to make sure that I have checked for all the main possible causes.

so if you have any suggestions or tips please post them. I'm also willing to pay a pro from maxbimmer who can fix it

.

mahniak · 01-21-2010, 10:09 PM

Well i just had the same problem and you need to change your sparkplug. if you have gas and your starter and coils and working fine, then all you need to do is buy some sparkplugs and it should start fine .

E36&8 · 01-21-2010, 10:20 PM

I'm going to change the plugs first thing in the morning

autodrjr · 01-21-2010, 10:35 PM

im not sure if i would go there.... even a few bad plugs or coils it would spit and sputter when you try to start it. i would check the crank position sensor if it were in my shop. at least check it for spark first. make sure the fuel pump fuse is still live. but it realy does sound more like a crank position sensor.

E36&8 · 01-21-2010, 10:40 PM

I was going to change the plugs anyway, but I still think there is something more than that

Engine cranks but does not turn over.

Recent maintaince on the car included: Head gasket, water pump and thermostat.

autodrjr · 01-21-2010, 10:43 PM

well if you were gonna change the plugs anyway than go nuts... cheap insurance you know.

good luck. no starts are somtimes a bit of a pain to diagnose.
check it for spark though... good indicator most of the time

ScotcH · 01-21-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autodrjr

i would check the crank position sensor

Yup ... do this before anything else.

mahniak · 01-21-2010, 10:58 PM

Well you say it would not do that if it was only the plugs..but i had the exact same problem last week and All i did is change the plugs and everything worked. Try it and you will see. If it is not that then it might be the crank position sensor, but changing the plugs is a good thing to do anyways.

E36&8 · 01-21-2010, 11:17 PM

It really is a pain in the ass to find out whats wrong, it could be number of things; but i have eliminated the major ones.

you guys could be right about the c.p.s

Eurostyle · 01-21-2010, 11:34 PM

First of all check for the basics; fuel and spark...just because you put a new pump does not mean it cant be another problem, like a relay or wiring! Crank and cam sensors are very possible problems, so is the DME. Plugs alone wont do it, unless the car was badly fluded!

aaron320i · 01-22-2010, 12:08 AM

Have you had any problems recently such as the car stalling? Is so I would most likely guess its the cps. Although there are so many other reasons as t why it isn't starting, for instance check the basic as fil said such as: air, fuel, spark.

For fuel, since your already changing plugs change the fuel filter too.
Very common reason for bad fuel delivery.

E36&8 · 01-22-2010, 12:17 AM

all fuses and relays are good, so as the dme.
never had any problems in the past.

It really is hard to guess one thing as there are whole bunch of things that could go wrong.

will start by changing plugs and checking c.p.s. Any other things that I should look for?

aaron320i · 01-22-2010, 12:34 AM

That pretty much everything that you could do by yourself.
Normally compression is also a basic. Whats your mileage?

E36&8 · 01-22-2010, 12:36 AM

Mileage 242.xxx
don't really know what else would fail at this or some point

aaron320i · 01-22-2010, 12:41 AM

Honestly my mind is set on the fuel filter.
When was it changed last? I believe this is truly the cause, because your problem occurred over night. Not on the side of the road or anything so, the setimate in the filter may have set, fully clogging the filter.