Car Won't Start!!! Help!!!

[jeph23]

So, I am trapped at work with my car not starting. I can find a way home, that's not the deal, but, I was wondering if anyone could tell me what might be wrong with my car.

Okay, so I went to start it at lunch and it started, hesitated for a second and then quit. Did it again and same thing. From then on, it won't start at all. It turns over, but the car just won't start. I checked the fuel valve too. Took off the cap, pushed in the button and nothing came out. I have plenty of gas in it too. My thoughts are that the fuel pump is shot. I tried flooring the pedal with it wide open and cranking it for about 10-15 seconds and nothing. I turn over the key without starting it and I don't hear any buzzing from the fuel pump either, so, that's another reason why I think that is what it is. Does anyone know if my predictions are correct?

Also, I looked online since the stupid WOMAN at the BMW dealership wouldn't allow me to talk to anyone in the shop. So, I found the cheapest fuel pump that I could at $157.00. This is internal too correct? Anyways, Autozone wants $270 and it would take 2 weeks to get it in. I know I could drop the tank more then likely and do this myself. I haven't ever done this to a bimmer yet but I have done a full size Bronco and a Monte Carlo, so, it can't be much different. If anyone has any tips on this, that would be helpfull too. But, more then likely, this is going to take a few days to do and it is going to cost me an arm and a leg huh?

So, please, if ANYONE has any information on how the best way to go about this would be, PUH-LEASE let me know as soon as you can. Thanks so much for your time and help!

[mrnine]

I don't really know much about these except that Pelican seemed to be just a hair cheaper:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/catalog/shopcart/BE36/POR_BE36_fuelij_pg2.htm#item9

Couldn't it also just be a relay? I'd expect that would also be indicated by the no sound from fuel pump you're observing.

[weezer]

It has been known that the ignition cylinder lock could fail and sometimes burn out the starter. Or fail to even turn properly to start ignition.
Go to a mechanic to check it out. Better safe than sorry.

[jeph23]

Well, it turns over and everything. The starter is working too, so I don't think it is the ignition or anything like that. Like I said, the valve didn't let out any fuel either so more then likely it is the fuel pump. Just wanted to know if anyone has changed one of these out yet or not?

[jeph23]

By the way, how do I check the relay for the fuel pump? I don't have a manual with my car so I don't know where or which relay it is? Do you have any idea? Also, would I know if it is bad or not by looking at it or should I replace it and then see if it helps. They're only like $10.00 That's a LOT cheaper then $200!

[TiPerformance]

how old is the fuel filter? check the relay, does the engine just crank and crank?

If the fuel pump is out you might just be able to pull the rear seat and not drop the tank, not sure how the Ti's are.

[aceyx]

if you open the top of the fuse panel there will be an imprint showing you which is the fuel pump relay. to check if this is the problem you can probably temporarily swap it with another relay (of the same type) to see if it will start.

i'm just gonna throw out some possibilities:

1. fuel pump contacts are dirty. to fix, shake the car.
("Sometimes a fuel pump with a worn armature will not spin when the ignition is first turned on because the brushes are not making good contact with the armature. Sometimes if you shake or jiggle the car, the sloshing fuel in the tank will move the pump just enough so the brushes make contact and the pump starts to spin.")

2. bad crank sensor. to fix, wait until engine cools completely.
("Apparently, the sensor would stay within specs and deliver a normal crank signal while the engine was running. But when the engine was shut off, the crank sensor would absorb heat, get too hot and quit working. It would stay open and produce no signal when the engine was cranked until it cooled down. Then it would work normally again and generate a good signal to the PCM.")

if you end up doing the fuel pump, another place to get the part is here: autohaus (http://www.autohausaz.com/catalog/lookup_parts.cfm?SubcategoryID=6261&VehicleID=1011463&Qualifier=Intank%20Suction%20Device%20with%20Fuel%20Pump&CFID=334380&CFToken=30048173)

i agree with weezer though, best to get a professional opinion.

[jeph23]

Well, I will have to try shaking the car. I don't know if that will work or not cause I tried push starting it and it jumped around quite a bit from that so it should've cleaned it from that I am thinking. Another thing, the motor IS in fact cold. I live in Nebraska and it is like 11 out here right now. So yeah, don't have to worry about a hot motor. But yeah, I will get under the hood today and look at the relay situation. Hopefully that is all that it is. Granted, the fuel pump is pretty old and it should probably be changed anyways, but with Christmas right around the corner, it would be a lot nicer if it were just the relay! Thanks for the info guys. I will give everything a shot and see what I come up with. Oh, and I am pretty sure I have to drop the tank to get the fuel pump out. No going through the backseat. If anyone knows for sure before I start tearing into this thing this weekend, PLEASE let me know... Thanks so much!

[jeph23]

Well, I just went down to take a look at the diagram in my fuse box to see where the relay is for the fuel pump. It shows a diagram for the fuse's but not for relay's. Can anyone tell me which one it is? Unfortunately when I bought this car four years ago I didn't get a manual with it. It would be SUCH a help if someone could let me know where this is located. Thanks guys!

[hotdog19d]

I cant help much, but if I were you I would see if some of the NE guys on bimmerforums would help you out. Just check out the regional forums.

[jeph23]

I'll look into that, thanks man. In the mean time, if anyone knows where this relay is located in the fuse box, please let me know... Thanks!

[drrty byl]

Also, make sure that you have gas in your tank. This is a no-brainer, but something that might be overlooked..

[cooljess76]

jeph23, I noticed your last post was a couple of months ago. I hope you've figured it out by now, if so please enlighten us. Yesterday I was messin around under the hood and when I went to start the car, it had a really rough idle and wanted to die. This happened just after I topped off the radiator, burped the system and checked the oil. Upon investigating I found that when I put the oil fill cap back on, I didn't fully engage both of the teeth from the cap into the valve cover. So the cap was only halfway on. Aparently if the oil cap is not fully secured the car will idle roughly and die. Anyway, it scared the crap out of me for about 5 minutes. Hope you fixed it, let us know what the outcome was.

[zboot]

was that a couple months ago or years ago? My machine shows the date of jeph23's last post as 12-02-2004, 06:01 PM.

[cooljess76]

Lol you're right, thank the genius who posted before me. Nice going drrty byl! BTW FWIW, if you post up in here asking for help and people are kind enough to give advice or perhaps provide a solution, atleast extend the courtesy by following up and letting the rest of the world know what the problem was. Pretty F'd up if you ask me.

[dave45056]

I wonder if Jeph still needs a ride home from work.