my last resort before dealer...

[M332TI]

i am all out of ideas dear friends...

Ti was running fine. did some pressure test to check leaks and head gasket. all was fine and dandy. went to bed, woke up, going to get mcdonalds... start.... bang.... nothing.

INFO:

1.) the ignition was rewired by first owner... or the guy i bought it from. they put a start button because of the roll barel that our ignition experiences. so you would have to put the car in on then press the start button. this was working with no problems... until that fateful day. hours has been spent...

i swaped starter from my other TI and still wont start... put the starter in my other TI its ok. its working so i know starter working.

2.) checked wirings for ground... all good

3.) changed (swapped) batt---good.

4.) checked relays---good

5.) last info. i noticed that when i switch the car on the fuel guage reads full. but its not full its supposed to be half tank... when i push the start button, fuel guage needle goes to low and low fuel light lights up...

im already thinking immobilizer if the car has one january 1996 TI manual. that i wont **** with cuz that im not good at.

i was wondering if any other suggestions before i go to a BMW repair shop in west LA of the notorios dealers...

[M332TI]

also there is no light on the mileage counter but if you look closely its working. could it be a relay? couldnt find it..

[M332TI]

sorry its the digital odometer... light im still sleepy... im night shift the next 3 months

[Mallard]

explain "bang"

was there a phical bang? did u smell smoke or burning?

where was it localised?

is the ignition barrel system completley bypassed, or can you use it if you choose.

this sounds interesting

[M332TI]

hey bro how are you doing? the bang is just an expression. no bangs occured. the bang was something hit me hard like **** happened to me... sorry mods for the profanity...

is the ignition barrel system completley bypassed, or can you use it if you choose.----no bro just the start wires were bypassed.

[M332TI]

im really thinking that there is a short that i cant find. what could cause fuel guage to play around?

[Mallard]

heya bud

at a guess, id get someone to measure over the battery wnen you press the start button.

if it drops really bad then i think you may have a power drain somewhere on the switch or the wires it´s connected to

if the Volt level stays relativly the same then we look elsewhere

[M332TI]

that was the first thing i did bro... its driving nuts... spent 10 hours trying to get it started..


hehehe got you with the bang huh lol

[b.u.ti-ful]

So, when you try to start it nothing happens?

Not even a clicking?

Check the battery ground again by using a jumper cable to ground the neg post to the engine.

[Mallard]

yeah man! not good when things go bang mate

so did you check to see if there is there is a spark comming ?

Is the engine even turning over?? !

[M332TI]

Originally Posted by b.u.ti-ful

So, when you try to start it nothing happens?

Not even a clicking?

Check the battery ground again by using a jumper cable to ground the neg post to the engine.

did it nothing. when i switch it on its on. horn goes off ok... lights. no clicking.

[M332TI]

Originally Posted by Mallard

yeah man! not good when things go bang mate

so did you check to see if there is there is a spark comming ?

Is the engine even turning over?? !

no spark. no turn over.

[Mallard]

please check the wires to the EWS, the ignition barrel and the start button

also.. see if the EWS chip from the key is still placed in the area of the EWS antenna.

If this has fallen away , then the EWS won´t get the signal, and the imobiliser system cant be locked off.

[M332TI]

why would the needle play? just the fuel guage?

[Mallard]

i cant say guy, but if there is a power drain then it may cause the combi instument to react?