E21Adam
10-29-2009, 10:00 PM
This is a copy of my post on 318ti.org:
Ok, this is going to be long:
I pull up to my apt building and noticed that there was a coolant leak. I couldn't see i where it was coming from, so I waited until the next morning to check it out. The next day I went out to move the car to a side street and check out the coolant problem and it wouldn't start or crank. All lights came on, but no start/cranking. So, at that point I suspected the EWS or starter. The car has apparently had EWS issues before (won't recognize keys after a while).
Anyway, I paid the parking meter for the rest of the day and the next day once I had a clear path, I pushed the car to a side street. While rolling down hill, I made a point to try to start the car w/o the starter. It started! I turned the car off and turned the key back to the start position. It started again! This time with the starter! So, I thought it was a one-off caused by a "flat-spot" in the starter or something.
NOPE! I came back out later and it wouldn't crank again. I pushed the car uphill to let it roll again. It started (via push-start). I drove the car down the street to a long hill for a few repeated tests. Once there, I turned the car off and back on twice with a start each time. Then with the car running, I got out and checked the coolant leak. It was coming from the water pump. So, at least I know what that's about. Then I got back to the starting problem. Now, I turned the car off and back on...no start. I tried about 10 more times with the same result. I let the car roll start and it was fine. Then turned it off...it started just fine then no start. I did this a few more times, with it following the same basic pattern.
I'm stumped!
Ok, this is going to be long:
I pull up to my apt building and noticed that there was a coolant leak. I couldn't see i where it was coming from, so I waited until the next morning to check it out. The next day I went out to move the car to a side street and check out the coolant problem and it wouldn't start or crank. All lights came on, but no start/cranking. So, at that point I suspected the EWS or starter. The car has apparently had EWS issues before (won't recognize keys after a while).
Anyway, I paid the parking meter for the rest of the day and the next day once I had a clear path, I pushed the car to a side street. While rolling down hill, I made a point to try to start the car w/o the starter. It started! I turned the car off and turned the key back to the start position. It started again! This time with the starter! So, I thought it was a one-off caused by a "flat-spot" in the starter or something.
NOPE! I came back out later and it wouldn't crank again. I pushed the car uphill to let it roll again. It started (via push-start). I drove the car down the street to a long hill for a few repeated tests. Once there, I turned the car off and back on twice with a start each time. Then with the car running, I got out and checked the coolant leak. It was coming from the water pump. So, at least I know what that's about. Then I got back to the starting problem. Now, I turned the car off and back on...no start. I tried about 10 more times with the same result. I let the car roll start and it was fine. Then turned it off...it started just fine then no start. I did this a few more times, with it following the same basic pattern.
I'm stumped!