Car just died on me for the first time [Archive] - Bimmerforums

E34Kevin

01-09-2010, 09:41 PM

I just dropped off my girlfriend at her work, took a left to go across the parking lot to the street, went over a speed bump (slow) and the car just died. I cranked it but nothing. Kept trying after a while, but it wouldn't start at all. All that came up on the dash was OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. I called my aunt to come give me a jump and it still wouldn't start. I was forced to come home and leave my car at the parking lot.

This has never happened, the car never starts on the first crank, and occasionally it'll misfire, but I can get it running again. Not tonight though.
Part of me just wants to leave it there and forget it. I was planning on road tripping it to Cali this summer, and I laughed when my mom said it probably wouldn't make it..mother knows best I guess :shifty

What do you guys think it is? This sucks :(

upallnight

01-09-2010, 09:44 PM

Fuel pump. Happen to me last winter.

E34Kevin

01-09-2010, 09:51 PM

Really? any way I could it running enough to get home? fuel pumps are expensive, crap

moroza

01-09-2010, 10:10 PM

Used ones aren't. Nor is checking for its operation - cover your face, disconnect the send line, turn on the ignition and see what comes out (or doesn't).

It's possible that the DME won't run the car without a working oilpressure sensor. Have you gotten an error message about it before?

E34Kevin

01-09-2010, 10:28 PM

No I have not, this is the first time in a really long time. Last time happened because I was changing the oil and didn't put enough in. Sorry if this is a stupid question, but where exactly is the fuel pump? I will also check the fuse for the pump to see if its bad, anyone know off the top of their head what kind of fuse it is?

acee34

01-09-2010, 10:42 PM

Lift up the back carpet in the trunk. You will see a black cover to the right of your spare. Take off the screws. Remove fuel lines, remove 2nd cover, pumps in the gas tank.

Sixdown

01-09-2010, 10:59 PM

This has happened to me before. It was a fuse for the fuel pump in my case.

E34Kevin

01-09-2010, 11:08 PM

Okay so it may be the fuse then, I had lights and everything. So battery seemed fine, i've read on here to smack the pump lightly with something incase its stuck? should I try that too? It seems we're pretty sure its the pump, I hope so. I'll be going back in a couple of minutes.

upallnight

01-09-2010, 11:25 PM

When my fuel pump crap out, I had it tow home. The next day I went to start the engine and what do you know it started. Drove to the grocery store, went inside and brought some grocery and what do you know, the engine would spin but wouldn't start. Had AAA tow me back home. The next day I opened the gas tank and removed the fuel pump. The pump would work some time and not work the other time. Replace the fuel pump and never had any problem since. You can buy a brand new "Made in China" fuel pump for what you will probably paid for a use one on eBay. Considering that I brought a Genuine Bosch relay for my PORSCHE but it too was "Made in China".

If you want to make sure it's not an ignition issue, you can spray a "LITTLE" and I do mean a little starting fluid into the airbox. If the engine starts it the fuel pump. If the engine doesn't start it could be the CPS (no not Chicago Public School) but Crank Position Sensor. GL. I hate to be working on a car in this weather.

BavarianFanatic

01-09-2010, 11:44 PM

The simplest way to check the pump is to listen for it. If you hear it running it's likely OK. If not check fuses. Then jump out the relay.

E34Kevin

01-10-2010, 12:07 AM

Just went and checked on it, still wouldn't work. Tried the fuses, don't know what jump out the relay means and my fuel gauge was reading normal, would that mean the pump is good? I'm not a mechanic so I can only do so much. I'm pretty close to having it with this car. I don't think all the money and problems are worth the hassle. I'm home once again, with no car. Its sitting all by itself in a parking lot, in an area I would rather it not be. Might be time for a new car. Thanks all of you who help anyways, I appreciate it.

nirvana19

01-10-2010, 12:18 AM

There's a fuel pump relay that fails often, I keep a spare in my car + bentley manual. Do a search for fuel pump relay and you'll probably find what you need, if it is indeed a fuel pump problem that would be a silly reason to get rid of the car...

E34Kevin

01-10-2010, 12:28 AM

Yeah but i've been having lots of problems with it. Like I said, I don't know what a relay is or where it is and how to fix it. I don't have a bentley on hand, its on my computer and I can't look up bfc everytime I get stranded in my car somewhere. I don't have that much money to take it to the shop everytime so I do what I can, but its getting a little crazy. I'm just frustrated at the moment.

CleanE34

01-10-2010, 01:38 AM

when you put the car into ignition(not start) listen to a light hum/buzz, if there is such noise, that means the pump is good, and you have something else causing your problem.

E34Kevin

01-10-2010, 03:10 AM

I just got the car home. I listened for a noise by the fuel pump and heard nothing. Looks like I may new a new pump, or could it just be a relay? Also, is a used fuel pump alright to put in? What if it fails again

David325e

01-10-2010, 03:32 AM

If you put in a used one save up for a new one. You try the thing with removing the hose? Very simple to see if its working. If you get nothing swap around relays and fuses and it that doesn't do it, then start shoppin.

E34Kevin

01-10-2010, 03:50 AM

I was going to try that, but It was so cold and windy outside, I'll just do it tomorrow. There are two lines though, do you know which one I should unplug, the right or left? I'd guess left. I swapped fuses, didn't work. All thats left is to swap a relay, but more than likely the pump is toast.

David325e

01-10-2010, 04:04 AM

The one on the left should be feed. Left I mean the one closest to driver's side.

e34Croak

01-10-2010, 10:42 AM

Hey Kevin, I've got a 535i fuel pump in Eugene for you if needed. Let me know if you determine that's the problem. We'll force you to fix the car before letting you abandon it!

E34Kevin

01-10-2010, 06:01 PM

Okay heres what I tried today:
Took out the pump relay, connected a wire to the #30&87 plugs to try to start it, still didn't work. Relay seemed fine anyways.
Next I unplugged the fuel line, tried starting the car, nothing came out of the pump.
So i'm pretty sure that the pump is faulty.
I'm all ready to go buy one, but it seems pretty hard to replace since its in the tank. Would I have to take the tank off?

bustedbmw

01-10-2010, 06:09 PM

No tank stays, you remove the carpet from the trunk and you'll see a black (somewhat) oval cover. Remove that cover and you'll see the connections for the fuel pump. Remove those and bolts and pull fuel pump. There is a diy around here somewhere. SEARCH!

bmwguy525i

01-10-2010, 06:22 PM

no you do not have to take the tank off its all done through the trunk i have allready had to replace mine once and looks like im going to have to do it again i didnt do this my roommate replaced it for me but you stick your hand in the tank the pump snaps in place just from what i was told cause my car has 3/4 tank of gas cause i just filled it mon night

keith2

01-10-2010, 06:24 PM

E34Kevin

01-10-2010, 07:17 PM

So I have been PMing with Kevin about a fuel pump I have sitting around that I replaced thinking it was the culprit of my no-start issue. Its out of my 525, will it work in his 535? I would think it would but maybe a different motor need more fuel?

And Kevin, I would be happy to help you replace the fuel pump weather you get the one from me or not. I am aspiring to become a mechanic (hopefully a BMW tech, I start at UTI in August) and would love the practice! Plus I could use it as part of my Senior Project. LMK:)

Thanks a lot, thats very cool that you would help me out. I'm gonna check prices today and see how much a new one would be. If its too much and the one you have works we can definitely use that one and i'll pay you of course. If I do replace the pump, i'm going to do it tomorrow since its getting dark already and I don't really have a garage. I'll let you know what happens and everything. Thanks again!

keith2

01-10-2010, 07:50 PM

Try calling Discount Import Parts, there is one on 99e and another in beaverton I think? They have some decent prices.

David325e

01-10-2010, 08:23 PM

If you have a part number on the one you have keith then check realoem, pelicanparts, etc and see if the part numbers line up.

Pooch

01-10-2010, 08:32 PM

If it's not the fuel pump my money is on the CPS. Mine did the same thing...cept my CPS had an unfortunate run-in with the teeth on the flywheel. Somewhat isolated incident.

upallnight

01-10-2010, 08:54 PM

If you tank is more than half full, here a little tip, jack the right side of the car up, both front and back so that the gasoline will slosh to the other side of the tank. If you jack up just the right rear, the gas will slosh to the front and left of the tank. The fuel pump is located near the front of the tank. Use jack stand since you will be working in the trunk to remove the fuel pump and you don't want gasoline sloshing onto you if the car should fall off the jacks.

E34Kevin

01-11-2010, 01:31 AM

But if its the CPS then wouldn't the fuel pump fuel anyways or no? Does it just wear out eventually or could something have happened to it? Looks fine, its connected and everything lol

Thanks for the tip upallnight
I'll give them a call keith thanks, along with halsey import parts over in NE.
I bought a brand new water pump for $39 bucks there, seemed cheap over what I saw online. Hopefully their fuel pumps are cheap too.

Update:
Went out and bought a brand new fuel pump for 175 dollars, put it in, started it up and nothing. All that money down the drain. Thats most of my paycheck btw lol
I tried jumping the car to start it, it still wouldn't go.

After unplugging the cables and trying to start it alone, it would slowly try to turn over, the more I kept trying the slower it went and eventually gave out and all that was heard was a clicking noise. This is getting very ridiculous, any more ideas now? Besides take it to the shop, which i'll probably do anyways

Bumpp

bump

upallnight

01-11-2010, 10:26 PM

Clicking sound is a dead battery. Take the battery out and put it on a charger over night.

E34Kevin

01-11-2010, 11:00 PM

Thanks for the bump lol
Could it even be started by jumping it with another car?

upallnight

01-12-2010, 01:46 PM

If the battery is that low, I would just charge it up and use the battery to start the engine. An alternator is not designed to charge a battery that is completely dead and you may damage it.

e34Croak

01-13-2010, 05:30 PM

Thanks for the bump lol
Could it even be started by jumping it with another car?
Man you obviously don't read closely enough, I said I had a fuel pump out of a 90 535i and to let me know what you determined. I would have given it to you for nothing if I had known you were reckless enough to go blow $175 on a new one :mad

E34tn

01-13-2010, 05:38 PM

E34Kevin

01-13-2010, 06:47 PM

Man you obviously don't read closely enough, I said I had a fuel pump out of a 90 535i and to let me know what you determined. I would have given it to you for nothing if I had known you were reckless enough to go blow $175 on a new one :mad

Sorry but I didn't have a ride to go all the way out to Eugene for a fuel pump, I was desperate and I really regret doing that. I have no money now and feel like a total idiot. :( I learned my lesson, i'm taking it directly to the shop from now on. I'm not risking replacing things that are suggested on this forum anymore, I don't think one time it was the right thing to do. Thanks for your help everyone but I'm taking it to get fixed by a professional next time. My daily driver is sitting in my drive way and i'm feeling really really crappy. Something isn't right, i'm not getting fuel to the pressure regulator and I don't know anymore.