saying hi with a question about a no start problem

[k04]

Hi all, I have been on various forums over the years, for diffrent cars etc.. and I have had my '99 M3 track car for three years now, car was built under the supervision of Scott Linton in Manassas Virginia, he built the car for himself and never tracked it or raced it. Car has been treating me well and impresses me more and more each time it just runs for haveing a intake, dinan chip and gutted cats. The car is on a bit of a diet but need to lose some more, but this is all besides the point. I ran into a problem with this car back in July, I was at the track it wouldn't start, turn the key to the one position everything comes on but no crank, not a sound. Pushed started the car fine, drove it straight to the shop after the day at the track, they checked the starter there was a lose wire, so I sent my friend to pick the car up since I was away and wanted my car back. He drove it less then a mile, parked it at his office, got in it to move it, car wouldn't start, pushed started it back it went for another month. Replaced the immobilizer since they found that after some drives that was really hot, they got it all buttoned up for me a few days before my last event, started fine when i picked it up, stared to put on trailer, started to take off trailer and started for the first run of the day. After the first run it was back to push starting, got the car back on the trailer, when I took the car to them it started to take it off the trailer but they can't reproduce the problem as the car isn't going to reach the same temps it does on the track. so my question is has anyone else had this problem that does or doesn't track. Has anyone gotten rid of there emobilizer, done a diffreint ignitioin system, etc.... Iam looking to fix this for good. I don't have to worry about securtiy its a race car that sits in a trailer or garage. I appreciate any help.

[thejlevie]

Intermittent problems are the hardest to diagnose or fix. You have my sympathies...

The first task is to find out what failure is occurring. And I'd start by checking to see whether main power and pilot voltage to the solenoid are present when one of these events occurs. One way to do that would be to temporarily connect a light to each of the starter connections. They could be taped to the cowl to avoid having to route the wires into the car.

I'm guessing that the part that was replaced was the immobilizer fuse, which you could dispense with on a track car. But I suspect that your problem lies elsewhere, especially since replacement failed to cure the problem.

[k04]

thejlevie

most of these things the mechanic should have already done, especially for what I have paid so far. thats why iam looking for a solution that may direct me around the immobilizer for good, but then again iam kind of in a difficult spot with this.

[thejlevie]

Your mechanic probably has done those checks, but if the car wasn't failing to crank when he/she had their hands on it the results don't mean anything.

The immobilizer is simply a pyrotechnic fuse. When the SRS activates the fuse blows and disables the starter. They can go bad, but since yours was recently replaced without affecting the problem it isn't likely to be the cause.

[Tim95M3]

have you checked the battery?

[k04]

battery is fine, plus all other electronics come on when the car is in the start position.