» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | 04-14-2009, 01:44 AM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UNITED STATES Posts: 3 | engine has hard time starting I have a 97 318ti that just had a had replacement on it, due to over heating from the former owner. The car starts up fine when cold "first start" but when ran for a while and then shut off, then go to start it back up after being warm, the car has a hard time starting as if its been flooded out. Takes about 3 turn keys to get the car to start. The car runs like a bear after being started and has all kinds of power. Ive put about 1800 miles on it since head replacement, but I would like to figure out what the problem is with this statring issue. Any answers? Please, if so. Thanks! | | | 04-19-2009, 03:01 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gulfport, Florida Posts: 3,208 | Quote: Originally Posted by serpako I have a 97 318ti that just had a had replacement on it, due to over heating from the former owner. The car starts up fine when cold "first start" but when ran for a while and then shut off, then go to start it back up after being warm, the car has a hard time starting as if its been flooded out. Takes about 3 turn keys to get the car to start. The car runs like a bear after being started and has all kinds of power. Ive put about 1800 miles on it since head replacement, but I would like to figure out what the problem is with this statring issue. Any answers? Please, if so. Thanks! | 1. Most likely your problem is a bad coolant sensor for the DME. Car starts fine when cold but hard to start when warm. The sensor is bad telling the DME the car is cold at all times so it makes it real hard to start when it's warm because it's injecting extra fuel for a cold start which floods the car. blowin 4 just had this issue. Change the coolant sensor and your car should be fixed. Make sure you change the correct sensor...Not the coolant gauge sensor. 2. Leaky fuel injector? Check this by running car then shut it off check for fuel pressure at the check port on the injector rail after 5 minutes of off time. If no pressure you have a leaky injector. Good Luck | | | 04-20-2009, 01:33 AM | #3 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UNITED STATES Posts: 3 | Quote: Originally Posted by xxxJohnBoyxxx 1. Most likely your problem is a bad coolant sensor for the DME. Car starts fine when cold but hard to start when warm. The sensor is bad telling the DME the car is cold at all times so it makes it real hard to start when it's warm because it's injecting extra fuel for a cold start which floods the car. blowin 4 just had this issue. Change the coolant sensor and your car should be fixed. Make sure you change the correct sensor...Not the coolant gauge sensor. 2. Leaky fuel injector? Check this by running car then shut it off check for fuel pressure at the check port on the injector rail after 5 minutes of off time. If no pressure you have a leaky injector. Good Luck | Thats what I thought, I figured something was telling the system that it was cold even after i ran it for a while, just wasnt sure where to look for that problem, only had the car for a short time, so im just getting to know things about this car. I'll let you know how I do, really appreciate your help! | | | 04-20-2009, 01:46 AM | #4 | Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dallas,Texas Posts: 32 | My car did the same thing. I changed the coolant sensor and now it starts right up on cold/hot days. | | | 04-23-2009, 06:15 AM | #5 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Simcoe Ontario Posts: 5 | i kinda have a same problem with a 97 318is with the m44 engine automatic. But sometimes I notice if i leave the key on the accessory position for at least 5 seconds or so the car cranks up right away, and sometimes it takes 3-5 seconds for it to crank and finally fire up the engine. Is there anyway to test the bad coolant sensor for the DME before ordering the part and replacing it to find out its not the problem? Is there a DIY for replacing it? How hard can it be? Wouldn't a leaky injector indicate smelling gas or power problem when WOT? I really don't have any power problems, its there when I need it. | | | 04-28-2009, 01:08 AM | #6 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UNITED STATES Posts: 3 | Quote: Originally Posted by xxxJohnBoyxxx 1. Most likely your problem is a bad coolant sensor for the DME. Car starts fine when cold but hard to start when warm. The sensor is bad telling the DME the car is cold at all times so it makes it real hard to start when it's warm because it's injecting extra fuel for a cold start which floods the car. blowin 4 just had this issue. Change the coolant sensor and your car should be fixed. Make sure you change the correct sensor...Not the coolant gauge sensor. 2. Leaky fuel injector? Check this by running car then shut it off check for fuel pressure at the check port on the injector rail after 5 minutes of off time. If no pressure you have a leaky injector. Good Luck | Hey JohnBoy, Thanks for the advice once more. I checked the sensor,that has been changed when it was at the dealers when the head job was being done. I went with the injector problem. What i did, I used Chevron Fuel Injector Cleaner before my trip to NYC and when i got there after driving 76MPH all the way there, the injector cleaner worked. I must have had a dirty injector from sitting. The car starts up everytime time now with a bump of the key. For some reason this product from Chevron works with the BMW'S. I recommend it. Thought i would let you know,thanks again! | | | 05-12-2009, 05:34 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 307 | How long has it been since you changed your fuel filter? Every 30k is about when it's due!!! On the TI's its sooooo easy, my grandma could do it. | | | 05-12-2009, 05:35 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 307 | Quote: Originally Posted by serpako Hey JohnBoy, Thanks for the advice once more. I checked the sensor,that has been changed when it was at the dealers when the head job was being done. I went with the injector problem. What i did, I used Chevron Fuel Injector Cleaner before my trip to NYC and when i got there after driving 76MPH all the way there, the injector cleaner worked. I must have had a dirty injector from sitting. The car starts up everytime time now with a bump of the key. For some reason this product from Chevron works with the BMW'S. I recommend it. Thought i would let you know,thanks again! | You could have had bad gas too, water in the gas ect. | | | 05-12-2009, 12:33 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 1,625 | cam position sensor OR crank position sensor... Quote: Originally Posted by serpako I have a 97 318ti that just had a had replacement on it, due to over heating from the former owner. The car starts up fine when cold "first start" but when ran for a while and then shut off, then go to start it back up after being warm, the car has a hard time starting as if its been flooded out. Takes about 3 turn keys to get the car to start. The car runs like a bear after being started and has all kinds of power. Ive put about 1800 miles on it since head replacement, but I would like to figure out what the problem is with this statring issue. Any answers? Please, if so. Thanks! | __________________ SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD!SOLD! Metric Mechanic's 2.0 stroker/258' intake cam/42 lb. inj./remap/HD fuel pump /DASC w.3' pulley @ 15psi/SNOW System/3.45 LSD/Billstein PSS coils /Stromung Exhaust/DS1's/X-Brace/Front & Rear H&R Sways/OMP 300mm SW /SAP delete/ASC+T delete/Hayabusa valve springs/MM's LTW flywheel | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |