Another starting issue

Hello all,

My garage queen '85 318i usually sits in its castle and plugged into the battery charger.

Yesterday I went to back it out of the garage for a quick wash. It started but then stopped. Went to start it again and it span over fine but wasn't keen on starting. Eventually got it started to reverse 2 car lengths and give it a bath.

Would not start for the return journey. Gave up trying and drove it back on the starter (love the CTek battery charger ! ) but then just as I was about finished it caught and ran (and laughed at me). It was idling fine and I reversed and drove back in OK.
Stopped and tried restart. No go.

Now the bad news. I cant find where the other half has ' filed' my Bentley manual and she is away for a few days. Good opportunity for car play time, but missing my resource !

At least I can go and fit my new engine mount dampers from my previous thread !


Regards,
Tim

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TimH
Hello all,

My garage queen '85 318i usually sits in its castle and plugged into the battery charger.

Yesterday I went to back it out of the garage for a quick wash. It started but then stopped. Went to start it again and it span over fine but wasn't keen on starting. Eventually got it started to reverse 2 car lengths and give it a bath.

Would not start for the return journey. Gave up trying and drove it back on the starter (love the CTek battery charger ! ) but then just as I was about finished it caught and ran (and laughed at me). It was idling fine and I reversed and drove back in OK.
Stopped and tried restart. No go.

Now the bad news. I cant find where the other half has ' filed' my Bentley manual and she is away for a few days. Good opportunity for car play time, but missing my resource !

At least I can go and fit my new engine mount dampers from my previous thread !


Regards,
Tim

Hey Tim, You should try to figure out if it's a fuel or spark related failure (I asume you have compression). I'm sure you'll turn your Bentley up at some point...

Cheers, Rick

My first guess would be fuel pump being intermittent. Try listening for it to run for a second just as the ingnition switch is turned on and before the starter is engaged. Also could be water in the fuel. It will condense in the tank if the car is stored with a partial tank and is subject to large temperature swings in moist air.

Bob in Lake Havasu

Fuel pump would be my first guess, too. Like Bob said, listen for the whirring sound in the back when the key is turned to the first position. A similar thing happened to my E30 a couple years ago. If you don't hear the sound, check the connection under the back seat with a multimeter to make sure that current is getting there.

__________
Dave
'91 325iX

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Dave_G
Fuel pump would be my first guess, too. Like Bob said, listen for the whirring sound in the back when the key is turned to the first position. A similar thing happened to my E30 a couple years ago. If you don't hear the sound, check the connection under the back seat with a multimeter to make sure that current is getting there.

I'm trying to remember if the same pins on the 318 fuel pump relay are the same as those on the 325's. Maybe Peter, or one of you guys could chime in here. Jumping out the relay makes checking the pump/pumps so much easier... Rick

The relays are the same.

Bob in Lake Havasu

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Bob in Everett
The relays are the same.

Now if someone would just say what the terminal numbers are for the jumper wire- Peter/Ferdy, you there?

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rkj

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Bob in Everett
The relays are the same.

Now if someone would just say what the terminal numbers are for the jumper wire- Peter/Ferdy, you there?

According to the 318i schematics shortong pins 30 and 87b should do the trick.

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Archeo-peteriX

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rkj

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Bob in Everett
The relays are the same.

Now if someone would just say what the terminal numbers are for the jumper wire- Peter/Ferdy, you there?

According to the 318i schematics shortong pins 30 and 87b should do the trick.

Sure glad you're around Peter thanks

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rkj

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Archeo-peteriX

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rkj

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Bob in Everett
The relays are the same.

Now if someone would just say what the terminal numbers are for the jumper wire- Peter/Ferdy, you there?

According to the 318i schematics shortong pins 30 and 87b should do the trick.

Sure glad you're around Peter thanks

Fortunately, I still have all the work shop manuals and schematics that I found on line