Car won't start -- HELP!

[pugliellidude]

Hey guys,
Yesterday, I start up my car and I get a check engine and the car is idling at 2grand. Aside from that, it runs fine, and then eventually the check engine light went off and the idle was back at 800 or whatever it is; ran perfect too. So, later that night, I'm going to get into my car and I try to start it up after parking it, and it just won't turn over. All you hear is the ch ch ch chc ch of the ignition, and then nothing happens. After like 15min of trying it, it finally started up. It ran perfect the rest of the night. This morning I go to start it up again, and it does the same thing, and it still won't start up now. What gives??

My car is a 1995 M3 with 54,xxx miles. Mods are Turner chip, 540i HFM, Cosmos, Denso Iridiums, and full exhaust. Please help!

-Eric

[bobbyp]

I'll take a shot here. Sounds like the battery is going or your cables are not connected tightly to the terminals. Will it start if you catch it in gear or if you get a jump from another car?

[pugliellidude]

Nope, tried rolling the car and popping the clutch. Nothing happens. For some reason I think it might be my spark plugs? But then I don't understand why it ran perfect the other night?

-Eric


I'll take a shot here. Sounds like the battery is going or your cables are not connected tightly to the terminals. Will it start if you catch it in gear or if you get a jump from another car?

[nonphixion]

get access to a code reader, the trouble code should still be stored. or i think there is a way to get a code with the brake pedal

[habbie]

yeah, its a 95, so do the the stump method and repost the codes your'e getting.
get access to a code reader, the trouble code should still be stored. or i think there is a way to get a code with the brake pedal

[pugliellidude]

Thanks for your inputs so far... I changed the spark plugs back to the stock bosche just to see if it was the plugs, and the car still won't start.... How do I acquire the codes from the computer? What is the stump method? I did a search and it didn't come up. Thanks again.

-Eric

[habbie]

Get in the car, turn the key to the on position, pump the gas pedal (5) times, then wait for the CEL light to *blink* ONCE - after the initial *blink*, then proceed to count the (4) blinks after the initial blink of the CEL light. The (4) blinks will equal a single numeric error code that is stored in the DME and this will tell you exactly what your problem may be. If there is more than one code stored in the DME, after the (4) blinks, it will pause and another (4) blinks will proceed, etc...

CEL code example:
DME code 1221 (error code for a bad O2 on a 1995 M3)

Initial *blink* of CEL light - then followed by:
*blink*... *blink* *blink* ... *blink* *blink*... *blink* = 1 2 2 1

Thanks for your inputs so far... I changed the spark plugs back to the stock bosche just to see if it was the plugs, and the car still won't start.... How do I acquire the codes from the computer? What is the stump method? I did a search and it didn't come up. Thanks again.

-Eric

[pugliellidude]

Hey,
I pumped the gas pedal (5) times but nothing happened. Could I be doing something wrong? I tried putting the key in both accessory and on each time I tried, and never saw a CEL. Any more input? She still won't start! Thanks!

-Eric

[pugliellidude]

Ok... the CEL finally came on, but it only blinked once and then stayed on permanently. Then, I tried starting the car again, and it all of the sudden started up. Then for about 5 minutes it idled at 1K RPM with no CEL. Finally it dropped down to the normal idle of about 600-700 and then the CEL came on. The car is still running right now as I am afraid to turn it off since I'm out of town. Any one have any ideas?? Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

-Eric

[pugliellidude]

OK, so I'm just gonna take the car to the $tealer. I'm guessing maybe my starter motor is just going to shit.

-Eric

[habbie]

if the pedal stump does not work for you take your car to autozone, they will scan it for free and test you battery, alt and maybe even the starter for free, DONT GO TO THE STEALER!! not yet anyway :)
OK, so I'm just gonna take the car to the $tealer. I'm guessing maybe my starter motor is just going to shit.

-Eric

[koolkat1973]

It may be the Idle Control Valve. Will it start if you keep the gas pedal pressed the whole time? Mine had a problem as soon as the gas pedal is depressed. If I started my car with my feet on the gas pedal... it starts up fine. As soon as I let my foot off the gas... it dies right away. Replaced ICV and car started just fine afterward.

[pugliellidude]

Hmm... well, here's the thing, the car won't start... and so of course I keep trying and eventually a CEL will come on. At that point, the next time I try, the car will start. Very odd, after that the car is basically normal, and drives perfect and the CEL goes away. But, it really doesn't matter if I press the gas or not, it's like the car really decides when it wants to start up. I am trying to avoid the $tealer, so I suppose if I can get her started again, I'll check with AutoZone first. If anyone has any more ideas, they are GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!

-Eric

[pugliellidude]

Ok, so the car has been starting up normal all day today. No CELs, no idle issues, nothing. Car is solid. Damn BMWs! :confused

[habbie]

get checked out anyway. check all your grounds too, it may be electrical gremlins taking over.
Ok, so the car has been starting up normal all day today. No CELs, no idle issues, nothing. Car is solid. Damn BMWs! :confused

[pugliellidude]

I want to, but BMW wants to charge me 1 hr of labor just to read the codes! I'm in college and don't have $75 to thrown down and have them tell me nothing is wrong... :(

-Eric

[habbie]

autozone=free :)
I want to, but BMW wants to charge me 1 hr of labor just to read the codes! I'm in college and don't have $75 to thrown down and have them tell me nothing is wrong... :(

-Eric

[pugliellidude]

I went there, they won't do my year M3 :(

[pugliellidude]

Actually, that was Advanced Auto... Maybe AutoZone is different? l'll have to try it.

-Eric

[jbreiding]

autozone and discount auto only do obd II cars, his is obd I. thats why he has the pedal mash trick.

[habbie]

i think your'e right. Eric, try the pedal stump again it works, many here have done it.
autozone and discount auto only do obd II cars, his is obd I. thats why he has the pedal mash trick.

[pugliellidude]

I guess that's why the pedal mash doesn't work for me though, seeing as the CEL doesn't come on when the car is running. So basically it only shows there's a problem when there is a problem? At any rate, the CEL will not come on by pressing the pedal and putting the key in the on position.

-Eric

[habbie]

it shows stored codes in memory too.
I guess that's why the pedal mash doesn't work for me though, seeing as the CEL doesn't come on when the car is running. So basically it only shows there's a problem when there is a problem? At any rate, the CEL will not come on by pressing the pedal and putting the key in the on position.

-Eric

[pugliellidude]

Really? I'll have to try it again... nothing ever comes up...

-Eric