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Thread: Car died at an intersection -- fuel pump?

  1. #1
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    Car died at an intersection -- fuel pump?

    Fixed -- see post #3

    EDIT x2: Going to try this tomorrow and report back -- see post #9 -- http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=814124 -- especially convinced this will work because this happened when the tank was a tad less than 1/4 full.

    Car is a 2003.5 M3/6spd. Driving back home tonight my car died mid-turn through an intersection -- wasn't driving it hard or anything up to that point. I managed to get it off the road and fiddle around with it... Here's what's happening:

    - When it first happened, I tried restarting it after inspecting for leaks, etc. (couldn't find any of any sort) and it would start but then die after a second. I tried starting it 4 or 5 more times and now the car just cranks (basically no fuel at all I believe -- it got less and less responsive with each start -- no fuel in the system anymore)

    - I replaced the fuel filter with a genuine OE BMW filter on Sunday (9/10) -- have driven around 200 miles since then with absolutely no problems at all. Took my time during the install, didn't break anything and am 99.999% sure I did it right.

    - No SES lights -- plugged in my scanner and 0 codes reported.

    Since the car now just cranks I believe that 1) it's not getting fuel *fuel pump?* and 2) I've had a problem in the past with cold starts -- I'd have to hold the key in position 3 and wait for it to finally start -- all the while listening to the fuel pump push fuel through the system -- I replaced the filter because I thought that would help the issue... Now I'm thinking the pump was just on its way out. That said, I've been cold starting it just fine since the filter replacement...

    Lastly, in the process of getting it off the road I had to turn the wheel with the car off (key in ignition to prevent the wheel from locking), during that process I believe I blew a seal in the steering rack. I had to turn the wheels left and right a few times because I had to parallel park it. There is a bit of what seems to be an oily substance on the ground and it's coming from the driver's side tie rod boot (the boot is torn -- I've known this, but I think I still blew a seal) -- can anyone chime in on this? I guess I have to now cut the belt or replace the rack...

    My apologies in advance for having three threads going on this sub-forum, I obviously didn't mean for this to happen.

    EDIT: fuel pump is 100% not making any noise so I'm fairly certain that is the issue.

    Thanks,
    Hank
    Last edited by hkovalcik; 09-12-2017 at 01:03 PM.
    01/98 Porsche 996.1 911 - 2/6 - Current
    '03.5 M3 2/6 - Arizona bought - Wrecked 09/2018
    '06 WRX fully built/6 - Sold
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    '03.5 M3 2/6 - Sold
    '02 M3 vert/6 - Sold
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  2. #2
    dworthy's Avatar
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    You can test your theory about the fuel pump by tapping the tank with a rubber mallet. Odd as it may sound, but this jars the pump into working again.

    Next you can check the fuel pressure on the injector line via the Schrader valve.
    Darin
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  3. #3
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    "EDIT x2: Going to try this tomorrow and report back -- see post #9 -- http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=814124 -- especially convinced this will work because this happened when the tank was a tad less than 1/4 full."

    This was the problem. The hose turned out to be a little loose/not entirely disconnected -- pushed it all the way back on and it fired right up. I'm thinking I jolted it a bit when doing the fuel filter/disconnecting the old filter from the FPR.

    Can someone explain what this leveler actually does? Why did the fuel pump not even actuate with this hose disconnected?
    Last edited by hkovalcik; 09-12-2017 at 01:01 PM.
    01/98 Porsche 996.1 911 - 2/6 - Current
    '03.5 M3 2/6 - Arizona bought - Wrecked 09/2018
    '06 WRX fully built/6 - Sold
    '95 323is/5 - Sold
    '95 325i/5 - Sold
    '01 540i/6 - Sold
    '03.5 M3 2/6 - Sold
    '02 M3 vert/6 - Sold
    '98 Cosmos M3/2/5 - Stg 2 AA Supercharged - Sold
    '98 M3/2/5 - Sold

  4. #4
    dworthy's Avatar
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    Well you actually have 2 tanks, kind of like a saddle. One side is the fuel pump and on the other side is a sucking jet pump. What that does is pull the fuel from one side to the other to ensure all the fuel is usable, if that makes sense. I am not sure how changing a fuel filter will have this thing pop off, so I don't think that is your problem.
    Darin
    Current:
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    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
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    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by dworthy View Post
    Well you actually have 2 tanks, kind of like a saddle. One side is the fuel pump and on the other side is a sucking jet pump. What that does is pull the fuel from one side to the other to ensure all the fuel is usable, if that makes sense. I am not sure how changing a fuel filter will have this thing pop off, so I don't think that is your problem.
    Not sure how the jet pump would suck fuel into the fuel pump.... but I guess that makes sense!
    01/98 Porsche 996.1 911 - 2/6 - Current
    '03.5 M3 2/6 - Arizona bought - Wrecked 09/2018
    '06 WRX fully built/6 - Sold
    '95 323is/5 - Sold
    '95 325i/5 - Sold
    '01 540i/6 - Sold
    '03.5 M3 2/6 - Sold
    '02 M3 vert/6 - Sold
    '98 Cosmos M3/2/5 - Stg 2 AA Supercharged - Sold
    '98 M3/2/5 - Sold

  6. #6
    dworthy's Avatar
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    Funny how it's called a "Sucking Jet Pump" where it is only a hose. I think it uses the main pump to pull the fuel over to the otherside.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
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  7. #7
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    So it died again today -- this time left me on the shoulder on the highway. I made it home only because I removed the rear seat, undid the 4 nuts with the 10mm wrench in the trunk tool kit and basically just pushed in on the pump's cap trying to at least get some sort of connection with the hose. It worked after a few tries, but now I'm thinking I still didn't push it all the way on when I first fixed it? How far does the tube go into the unit? I also had a full tank of gas when it happened.

    EDIT: Just went and re-seated the line yet again -- it did have some play. This time however, I noticed the washer making a small U above the edge of the pump plug -- a sign that the washer wasn't seated in it's groove on the actual plastic pump housing. I tried getting the hose off but it wouldn't budge. I tried prying down the washer with a flathead and then pushed the hose up -- I think I got it... Driving my buddy to Boston tomorrow -- keeping a hammer/flathead and a 10mm handy with the rear seat in my apartment. Just can't wait for this thing to break down again on a major freeway with my buddy in the car!
    Last edited by hkovalcik; 09-13-2017 at 11:22 PM.
    01/98 Porsche 996.1 911 - 2/6 - Current
    '03.5 M3 2/6 - Arizona bought - Wrecked 09/2018
    '06 WRX fully built/6 - Sold
    '95 323is/5 - Sold
    '95 325i/5 - Sold
    '01 540i/6 - Sold
    '03.5 M3 2/6 - Sold
    '02 M3 vert/6 - Sold
    '98 Cosmos M3/2/5 - Stg 2 AA Supercharged - Sold
    '98 M3/2/5 - Sold

  8. #8
    dworthy's Avatar
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    Have you looked at the condition of the O-ring yet? I am thinking that it is getting deformed, and not allowing it to completely seat. I like using a little bit of grease to "assist" those type of O-rings on.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by dworthy View Post
    Have you looked at the condition of the O-ring yet? I am thinking that it is getting deformed, and not allowing it to completely seat. I like using a little bit of grease to "assist" those type of O-rings on.
    I pushed the O ring back down with a small flathead, I'm pretty sure I felt it "pop" into place. That said, since I had a full tank, I don't think that was my real issue. I picked up an Aeromotive 340lph fuel pump from VAC Motorsports since I needed it that day. I drove 4 hours to Boston last night after putting the new pump in with no issues.

    I don't forsee any issues running a 340lph on a stock fuel setup. The ECU will need a bit to adapt to the flow rates but all in all it should be a nice little upgrade. I soldered the wires together off the stock assembly's wires, and sleeved them - clean install and IMO the best way to do it. I'm probably the only person I've seen running a 340 on a stock setup - if anyone else has done this please chime in with your experience/thoughts.
    Last edited by hkovalcik; 09-15-2017 at 10:29 AM.
    01/98 Porsche 996.1 911 - 2/6 - Current
    '03.5 M3 2/6 - Arizona bought - Wrecked 09/2018
    '06 WRX fully built/6 - Sold
    '95 323is/5 - Sold
    '95 325i/5 - Sold
    '01 540i/6 - Sold
    '03.5 M3 2/6 - Sold
    '02 M3 vert/6 - Sold
    '98 Cosmos M3/2/5 - Stg 2 AA Supercharged - Sold
    '98 M3/2/5 - Sold

  10. #10
    dworthy's Avatar
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    I have heard of other running the 340 pump, but typically it is on F/I cars. As for the adjustment of the flow rate, that will be the FPR's job, so make sure it is getting the proper vacuum.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

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