320D E46 Start problems

[Mickey1200]

Hallo All. I'm new here.
I hope someone can help me.

I've got a 320D E46 facelift 190 000km
My wife had my car washed yesterday, the engine bay was washed of by hosepipe and engine cleaner.
After the wash, the car started once, and she drove about 4km's, and back to work, parked and thats it. 2 Hours later, after work, CAR IS DEAD. It cranks, but don't start. I got the guys from the garage (Ford and Mazda dealer) who washed it to have a look.

They struggled from 17:00 to 20:15 last night to try and start it. In desperation, the one guy unplugged the FUEL PRESS SENSOR, and the car starts. It runs while unplugged, but dies when the plug is plugged in. I asked my wife to park the car in the sun today, I thought something might be moist. It's been quite warm today, but the car is still the same.

Help please
Fuel press sensor plugged in - car cranks, no start
Fuel press sensor unplugged - car starts and runs ok, but not as it should.

 

[netercol]

asuming your description is accurate, possibly the pressure sensor got water in and is now shorted or open circuit.. plugging it out puts the ecu in limp mode possibly , allowing the car to start.
it wont run properly without the sensor, since the ecu cannot meter fuel properly without it.

first thing i think would be to have the error codes stored read, might give a better indication. or take a shot in the dark and just replace the pressure sensor (costly)

 

[Mickey1200]

asuming your description is accurate, possibly the pressure sensor got water in and is now shorted or open circuit.. plugging it out puts the ecu in limp mode possibly , allowing the car to start.
it wont run properly without the sensor, since the ecu cannot meter fuel properly without it.

first thing i think would be to have the error codes stored read, might give a better indication. or take a shot in the dark and just replace the pressure sensor (costly)

That is what I expected. It does about 2500 RPM, that's it. No power.
Is there a way off testing the sensor? Resistance or something?

 

[netercol]

sorry, not that i am aware of.. putting a code reader on the car is your best chance of diagnosing the sensor..
if you are in the centurion area i can have a quick peek for you, else perhaps someone else on the forum close to you could perhaps look for you..

 

[Dippies]

Welcome to the forum.

+1 on the codes to find the faulty sensor

 

[Mickey1200]

Thanx guys. I'm quite a distance from the nearest BMW Dealer. I'm in Swellendam, and the dealer is in Worcester. I wouldn't want to drive the car that far in this condition.

It would have been nice if someone could tell me how to test the sensor, then I could order one. I've asked around, and there is no one in town who can read the error codes.

Can anyone tell me what the price off the sensor might be?

 

[Mickey1200]

HEY, MY CAR IS FINE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I capped the sensor unplugged for 5 days, and parked in the sun daily. The sensor dried out. I plugged it back in yesterday, NO LUCK. Plugged it in just now, ALL FINE. Runs like a clock.

Thanx guys for the help, and info.

 

[netercol]

:thumbs:

 

[dwayne]

welcome!!! :thumbs: glad you got the car sorted

 

[Thunder]

Welcome dude.
Glad you got it sorted.

Now for this. :ttiuwp:

 

[kugs330]

:thumbs: Welcome dont let the wife take the car for an engine wash again :flyfun: