E30 won't run, no spark, no fuel.

Stefan11 · 04-17-2012, 02:13 PM

I haven't done much to my E30 since fall and now it doesn't run. There is no fuel or spark. I jumped the fuel pump relay and I have fuel pressure. The car is an 86 with the sensors on the bellhousing. I swapped out the two sensors and nothing has changed. Before I delve into the car and its problem, does anyone have any quick ideas? What seems most important is that BOTH spark and fuel pressure are affected. One day the car ran, the next day it didn't......

Thanks in advance

Stefan

El Gato Liso · 04-17-2012, 03:43 PM

fuse 11

**T.Dot_E30** · 04-17-2012, 03:53 PM

Main Relay (engine bay)
Fusible Link
Fuse (Call all)
Bad ECU
Crank Sensor

These are potential issues that you need to troubleshoot and eliminate one by one in a no start case with no spark or fuel.

Basically ECU is not getting the signals it needs to send spark and trigger the fuel pump.

Ceeker · 04-17-2012, 04:05 PM

do you hear the fuel pump engage with the ignition on. Bad fuel pump will give pressure but maybe insufficient.

**T.Dot_E30** · 04-17-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ceeker

do you hear the fuel pump engage with the ignition on. Bad fuel pump will give pressure but maybe insufficient.

Wouldn't cause no spark if it was the pump...

Stefan11 · 04-17-2012, 04:29 PM

The fuel pump is okay, I have pressure when I jump the relay. I have changed the crank position sensor. I will search and find the main relay and fuseable link. Can I assume that the main relay is controlled by the key? Where in the circuitry is the fuseable link? I ask because I do have power to the fuse panel.

I am away from home and won't get back to the car until this week-end. It would be nice to have the 325 serviceable once again!

Stefan11 · 04-17-2012, 05:10 PM

I checked all the fuses however I will check fuse #11 again

matty.dc · 04-17-2012, 10:40 PM

It will most likely be your crank position sensor. I would start by checking the resistance on that sensor(supposed to be around 550ohms I believe). The symptoms are the same. It cuts fuel and spark at the same time. If you were to check your injectors for a pulse from the DME and it was absent, that would for sure tell you it is in fact the CPS.

InfiniteDice · 04-17-2012, 11:29 PM

Let's not forget that the sensors on the bell housing look for the little magnet on the flywheel. If that's missing it won't run.

But yeah, check the fusible link in the trunk, one quick way to do that is check for volts on the small lead that comes off the battery, disconnect it from the terminal under the hood on the passenger side firewall... then test to ground.

InfiniteDice · 04-17-2012, 11:30 PM

Also if it's automatic it could be the park safety switch.

Does it have an OBC with the start code flashing? lol

E30M42cab · 04-18-2012, 11:23 PM

Can you do a stomp test on a 86?

Stefan11 · 04-19-2012, 06:50 AM

What is a stomp test?

El Gato Liso · 04-19-2012, 07:35 AM

^^^^

turn key on into accessory

stomp on the gas pedal 5 times

and the Check Engine light on the cluster comes on, and flashes, the number of blinks it makes is equivalent to a number. it read out fault codes, if there are any.

its pretty cool...helped my dumbass out after cutting of my diagnostics port -_-

Stefan11 · 04-19-2012, 07:59 AM

I will try the stomp test this week-end......

Deetow · 04-19-2012, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Gato Liso

^^^^

turn key on into accessory

stomp on the gas pedal 5 times

and the Check Engine light on the cluster comes on, and flashes, the number of blinks it makes is equivalent to a number. it read out fault codes, if there are any.

its pretty cool...helped my dumbass out after cutting of my diagnostics port -_-

If it Returns 1-4-4-4 it means it has no saved faults.