I have a Euro market 86 325i that will start if I spray starting fluid, but wont start on gas.
Here's what I've done so far to troubleshoot.
- If I spray starting fluid into the intake while cranking, it starts and runs.
- Wont start trying to start on fuel pump. cranks well, but wont start.
- Fuel pressure is good, also tried new pump from a running car and the pressure is still good.
- changed out spark plugs
- Replaced injectors, fuel rail and fuel pressure regulator from a running car and still wont start.
- Spark is good.
- Checked injector pulse with a bulb and it pulses as it should.
It cranks strong but it wont start at all. any idea what else I should be looking at ?
Update May 20
- Pulled the injector rail, connected the injectors and plugs on the rail outside the engine and all injectors sprayed/pulsed perfectly while cranking. No issue here as I could physically see all 6 injectors spraying.
- Also swapped the ignition coil to a known working one, and still no start.
Last edited by utterson; 05-20-2019 at 12:39 PM.
Do you have access to the DME from the running car to swap as well?
where are you? there is not an 86 325i here in the usa so I am not sure if yours is a 325i or if its a 325e? if you are not in the us market, find whichever sensors tells the injectors to fire, be it the crank sensor, or what. if its a 325e, check the sensors in the transmission bell housing. one of those being bad will make your car not spray fuel when cranking
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also, look in the oil cap and make sure your timing belt is not broken. look for the valves to move. that will make it not start, also
No e30s again.
DME wont swap over as the non running car has a smaller ECU with 2 rows of pins while the running car is an 88 and has 3 rows of pins.
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injectors are firing - confirmed using noid light and by pulling injectors and fuel rail and connecting externally and can physically see fuel being sprayed.
If the timing belt is broken, it wouldn't run when I spray starter fluid. Car idles well when I spray starter fluid.
Taking the injectors out and connecting them externally was a great idea but that leads me to suspect the quality of the fuel Or a connection issue in the harness going to the injectors
Duh, you are right. Won't run on spray with broken belt.
Our 325e wouldnt run with a bad crabk sensor but would run on spray. Thats the only thing i can think of right now
No e30s again.
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