96 328i help, cranks but will not start

[Jdmek685]

Hello, I have a 96 328i that I got from a friend of mine. The car ran fine and was parked 2 years ago and not moved since. I got towed to my house and I’m tryin to figure out y it won’t start. It cranks but will not start. Now relays are good. DME is getting power, fuses are good. Now i don’t have a check engine light when I turn ignition on. I don’t think I’m gettin fuel or spark. Anybody can guide on on wat else to check before I buy another DME..

[Pelican Parts]

Hello - have you checked the plugs? Fuel lines?

[Jdmek685]

Yes I installed new plugs yesterday. Still nothing. At first d engine wouldn’t even crank. Then I found a blown fuse now cranks all day but no start.

[Pelican Parts]

Maybe try pulling the codes, it may give you a place to start troubleshooting.

[Jdmek685]

How can I do that without a scanner? And I don’t even have a check engine light on my dash.

- - - Updated - - -

How can I do that without a scanner

[zohaibrose]

How can I do that without a scanner? And I don’t even have a check engine light on my dash.

- - - Updated - - -

How can I do that without a scanner

do you hear the fuel pump humming when key in on position and why did his non m have a m bumper on it

[328iFun]

Check fusible link in trunk

[ovation1000]

do you hear the fuel pump humming when key in on position and why did his non m have a m bumper on it

Dealer option, any 3 series could have been ordered with the M aerodynamic package.

[Jdmek685]

I thought about that but all the lights in d dash still work. If the fusible link was bad I don’t think it would get any power from the battery at all

[shogun]

Better check it. As far as I know the E36 has one fusible link in trunk https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...t=fusible+link
If the fuisble link has haircracks, it could be still enough to power the lights in dash, but not enough to crank. That is often the case that fusible links sometimes work, sometimes not when having haircracks http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/s...ible_E32_1.jpg
take nothing for granted, check it.
In my E32 there are even 2 fusible links, 1 powers the e-box with Motronic and one powers the other stuff like interior lights, central locking etc.
On E32 with the 20-pin diagnosis port we can check the fusible link which goes to the Motronic in the diagnosis port, details here https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...8#post29830038

Did you meanwhile check the fuel pump?

[Jdmek685]

But mine cranks just doesn’t start. I will jump the fuel pump tomorrow. Jus to make sure it’s working. I think I did this before and it did work but it was a couple of months ago I’m not sure. Lol

- - - Updated - - -

Now I’ve read that if the check engine light is. It on then it couldn’t b a bad DME but how can I check the DME to make sure?

[bluptgm3]

You can get a code scanner for FREE at generally any auto parts store. Generic codes, but a place to start.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[shogun]

you mentioned:' At first the engine wouldn’t even crank. Then I found a blown fuse now cranks all day but no start.'
which fuse number?
DME does not get damaged so easy, I assume a basic fault is the problem.
Check fuel pump
check for sparks

if you can get a scanner, the better

he also had a no start problem, see the condition of the fusible link https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ics&styleid=50

[328iFun]

I thought about that but all the lights in d dash still work. If the fusible link was bad I don’t think it would get any power from the battery at all

Stop thinking and check it...

The fusible link is the hot wire to the DME (computer) and if it's blown the car will crank but not start.

Dash lights have a separate power source



Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[jc43089]

The easiest way to check the fusible link is to turn the key on, use a meter on voltage and put one lead on the jumpstart post under the hood and the other on the small wire post down lower on the jumpstart block. The reading should be 0 V because they are connected together at the battery connector in the trunk. If the fuse is blown you will see a voltage difference because the small wire is not connected to battery.

If the fuse is blown the dash will still light up and the car will crank all day. The fuel pump will not prime when the key is turned on either.

[datto62073]

crank sensor. i just went through all this on my 93. new sensor and she fired right up and runs like a top.

[shogun]

check the fuel pump relay https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...fuel+pump+test
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...y-I-m-confused
again a comment by jc43089 from another thread:
If the fuel pump is not running for a couple seconds when the key is first turning you may not have power to the ECU. The stock setup has from the battery in the trunk two wires. The large wire to the starter/alternator and most of the body electronics. The small wire feeds the ECU, fuel pump and a few other things. If the fusible link on the small wire is blown in the trunk the car will crank all day but no spark, fuel or anything and everything on the dash will appear normal while trying to start it. The easiest way to check is at the jump start block in front of the ECU compartment. Use your meter on voltage and check between the big red wire (the jump start post) and the small red wire (on a smaller screw terminal below the big wire splice point) With the key on you should see 0 volts difference or very near to it. This is because they are coming from the same place (the battery) If they show a difference then the fuse is likely blown, it is hidden under heat shrink in the trunk about 2 feet from the battery. It is not a replaceable part, it's just riveted to ring terminals. I had to cut mine out and splice in a fuse holder. the previous owner had shorted something out and couldn't figure out what was wrong so I got it for cheap.
-------------------

[ilikemycar]

Spray starter fluid into the manifold. If it starts, even for just a second, your ECU Is good and you have spark. If that be the case you are likely facing a fuel delivery problem

Keep us updated.

[Jdmek685]

i meant to say i tried to jump the fuel pump*****

[Jdmek685]

Another thing I’ve noticed is when I hook up the battery I can hear a noice coming from the engine bay sounds like an electrical current? Sound like that and a tapping sound but very low like u really gotta listen for it. I wanna Say almost like d injectors are turning on and off.

[ilikemycar]

The noise you are hearing is likely coming from the purge valve. That’s perfectly normal.

[Driiven]

If you do not have a check engine light with ign in acc and you know the bulb and cluster wiring is good then your dme power ground are not proper or your dme is dead!

[Jdmek685]

yea im beginning to believe my DME is bad. but just in case im going to pick up some starting fluid nd see if it starts at all

[ilikemycar]

Good call.

[Jdmek685]

Ok changed the DME today and there is still no Check engine light nd still cranks no start