bad starter maybe?

[robcarync]

im actually going to recant the last statement about i did start it and turn it off real fast after moving a short distance...it was having trouble before that. i still moved it a short distance...but by then it was already having trouble.

[Phil Marx]

Now I'm confused. Not to beat this dead horse any further, but can you start this car now or not? Is this an ocassional problem as in it works fine sometime and other times not? Then it's likely your starter, not fouled plugs. If you don't understand how plugs get fouled then you probably don't understand how much fuel is sprayed into your combustion chamber during cold starts.

[robcarync]

i dont understand much at all...

but i did mention it is an occasional problem...sometimes it takes a few tries to start but if im persistant i can usually get it cranked up...like it rarely starts first try (but does sometimes)... usually after 3 or so tries i can get it running.

and i understand how plugs can get fouled...i just didnt quite understand why it would only happen if i drove it a short distance vs. a long distance.

but anyway...im sorry for all this confusion...lets get the final synopisis here...

sounds like starter motor is not engaging the flywheel....i can get the car cranked...but it just takes several tries...

i really could have solved a lot of confusion if i just said that one sentence...but like i previously stated....i know nothing about cars...so i really didnt know exactly what i was talking about until my pops told me about what it sounded like to him.

thanks for putting up with my complete and utter ignorance to automotive repair...like i said...i really only know about the stuff ive had to fix myself (o2 sensor, brakes, radiator hoses, flush radiator, etc...) its a learning process here...something breaks on my car...i dont know what in the world is going on...i learn some stuff...and learn to fix it!

so are we all in accord that it sounds like starter here?

[bmwracefan]

BAD FUEL PUMP RELAY....check for battery voltage at relay socket 30

[motorsport]

Definately, do a fuel pressure test. It is very likely you have a faulty fuel pump, which would be simple to fix if you have proper tools.

[ddiorio1313]

It is not your starter.....My car does the same thing sometimes and you just got to hold it there it will turn over...Maybe give it a little gas.... I read on another thread somewhere here that if you have slow starts check something with your throttle cable or some crap like that, can't really remember...

[Tyler]

If your battery was dead your car wouldn't even crank over. So i don't think it's your battery

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by ddiorio1313

It is not your starter.....My car does the same thing sometimes and you just got to hold it there it will turn over...Maybe give it a little gas.... I read on another thread somewhere here that if you have slow starts check something with your throttle cable or some crap like that, can't really remember...

If you give your car gas it will flood the engine. Your not supposed to do that with fuel injected cars.

[robcarync]

just got to hold it there it will turn over

if i hold the key in the ignition, (which is what im assuming you mean), it will not crank...you just hear the 'whirrrrrrr' sound from the starter motor spinning and spinning and spinning but not turning anything. again this is what it sounds like...i havent had a chance to really check anything out...but on the times it doesnt crank...if you hold the key it will not start eventually...you just hear the starter spinning until you turn the key back off and try again.

i think i know what you mean though because it has happened in the past that sometimes you turn the key and nothing happens but if you continue to hold the key, the engine will crank after a little delay...but this is different...you turn the key and nothing happens no matter how long you hold the key.

so far ive ruled out battery and spark plugs...ill have to check into the fuel pump relay...im pretty sure the cars gonna be going to the shop...im still thinking its a starter but id feel more comfortable just letting a professional check it out.

[ddiorio1313]

Tyler...Funny you say that..I was going to make a comment about that "It will Flood it is fuel injected" That should be true, but I have done it plenty of times and it helps...My Girlfriends Cherokee's battery went dead the other day and I tried and tried to jump no Luck, but sure enough when I gave it a little gas when turning the key whammo it fired right up...I would assume that you would need to slam on the gas quite a bit before it would just flood out....? Not sure though..

[Phil Marx]

I tried to suggest this about ten massages ago! Think about it: When you floor the "gas" pedal in a modern fuel-injected car what are you really doing? Right! Opening up the throttle so more air gets in! The injection rate is dependent upon air mass or air flow, but that's after you get the damn thing started! Now go back to the beginning and read everything again! <G>

I'm beginning to buy into the fuel pressure regulator theory if this is a common occurance upon starting for you.

[bimmerboi318]

flooding shouldnt be TOO much of an issue with our cars. they might load up a bit if you give a little gas while starting and cause it to flood a little bit. however, holding the pedal wide open during startup does the complete opposite. it actually activates a flood clear mode and does not add any fuel at all. it results in a similar effect as holding the gas wide open on a carburated car to clear it out, but is actually programed into the pcm or ecu or dme (forgot what we call it :-p)

[ddiorio1313]

Phil: Didn't want to repeat you I was just stating that you idea was good....and I have tried it and it works....

[twentysixknots]

For the past three months or so my car has been doing something that sounds exactly like what was going on here. First it just took two tries to start - the starter would begin turning the engine over then seem to disengage from the fly wheel and just spin. It got worse (taking 3-4 tries) then I replaced the battery and it got better - and for a few weeks it was fine, starting every time. Now for the past 2 weeks it's been much worse.. sometimes I have to try 10-12 times before it will start. Typically it turns over for a second or two then disengages and just spins the starter motor... I would have thought once the solenoid kicks in, I'm golden, but it's definately dropping out somehow. I have never been stranded, I just keep trying and eventually it starts, but it's getting worse. Funny thing is it starts every morning on the first try! Every day at lunch - trouble, and by the time I leave work it's taking 5-10 trys. It's like it works if it sits a long time - but less than 5 hours and I have problems. I bought a starter, but it looks like a nightmare to replace - I just want to know - was this thread a bad starter or something else.... THANKS!!!

UPDATE - I'm thinking it must be the starter because its gotten even worse of late - I actually have had to pop start it 4 or 5 times now. The thing I don't get is that it always starts first try in the AM - what could explain that?

[tybate]

robcarync, twentysixknots... What was the final outcome? I have the same EXACT problem. Did it end up being the starter? also,Can you just replace the solenoid? TIA