BMW 325i 1995

[BMWguy101]

Hi,
I need help with my BMW. It does not want to start.
I don't know what the problem is. The ignition turns but it does not start, we already replaced the battery. Lights do come on, the panels lights work, but the lights in where the time is shown; there is no light. But you can still see the time if there is light shining at it. What can be the problem? I don't understand, and I have been doing research and some problems are suggested: alarm system, engine, starter relay, fuel pump; there some more but I don't remember.
Are there any suggestions as to what causes the problem?
Please let me know.
Cheers!

[jensengt76]

To help we need more info dose it crank at all dose it just click or is there nothing at all. Have you latest near the fuel pump location and have someone turn the key to the acc. position and listen for a wine/buzz noise. So on and so forth.

[flyfishvt]

If this is an auto tranny try sliding it down to drive and putting it in park again. It might be as simple as your neutral safety switch. Like jecsngt said. Take out the bottom of the back seat and turn the key to RUN and listen for the fuel pump.

If the car cranks but won't start you can try spraying some starter fluid into the intake and see if it fires up for a second or two. If it does then you know you're getting spark but no fuel. If it doen't then you aren't even getting spark.

What is the production date of the car? If its 1/95 or later then it might be EWS related. There are literaly a couple dozen things it could be so we need more details. Did you pull all your fuses and test them with a meter? All of them not just some. Put a meter on the 2 red cables from the battery where they connect to the B post in the engine bay. You should get 12 volts at each wire.

Any work done recently ? if so what?

[s1dc9]

I would check the fuse to the fuel pump.

[jfmjr442]

after you confirm that you have fuel - check fuse and jumper fuel pump relay (search for how to) and do what flyfishvt said with starting fluid to confirm spark or not - if no spark i would check the crank position sensor. Just had the same issue on our 95 325i - I had fuel and no spark - the CPS was the culprit.

HTH

John

[HarryN]

Crank Position Sensor or Camshaft Position Sensor. If you have an OBD 1 scanner, pop it on and read what codes the car is throwing and save yourself a headache

[Moron95M3]

Crank Position Sensor or Camshaft Position Sensor. If you have an OBD 1 scanner, pop it on and read what codes the car is throwing and save yourself a headache



or just do a stomp test as OBDI is pretty straight forward. (key to on, stomp on gas pedal 5 times as quickly as you can, count the blinks. blink - pause - blink blink -pause - blink blink - pause - blink blink blink blink- = 1224). Then come back here and search that code.

That's assuming it's throwing a Check Engine light...

[mweaver123]

You know, mine wouldn't start either, and it was actually the key! The immobilization system didn't recognize the key code because i had dropped it the day before. If you have another key, closely compare the two. If the key code is off by just a little, it freaks out and won't start the car. Same thing, all interior dings and lights were coming on like normal.