E36 M52B28 Swap Into M43B18 Chassis. CRANK, NO FUEL, NO SPARK. Location: Vanderbijlpark

[iamthatcornerkid]

I honestly don't know whether I need an angel or a mechanic at this moment but I'm at a point where i can smell defeat.

LONG STORY SHORT

2 years ago I bought a M43B18 chassis, only thing missing was an engine. Did a complete suspension and brake system upgrade and restored a couple of other stuff as well. After 2 years of searching for a needle in a haystack, I finally advertising exactly what I was looking for. A complete M52B28 engine. ZF gearbox, MS41 DME, harness, EWS module and key chip also included in the deal for 26k. Called the guy, yes still available, perfect. Went to check it out in Lenasia, got there and eventually after waiting 2 hours for them to start the engine I left. I told the guy once they got it sorted and running that he should send me a video on Whatsapp. 3 days later I received the 2 videos. I then made a transfer of 50% and 5 days later they delivered the motor and I made the final transfer. When they delivered the engine I saw that a whole bunch of stuff was missing and different than when I went to check it out. Non the less I leave things like that to karma.

SO HERE'S WHERE MY SHORT STORY STARTS!

I bought a chainblock, dropped the engine and gearbox in, connected the harness, plugged the DME in. CRANK CRANK CRANK. NO SIGN OF LIFE WHATSOEVER. Wanted to install the EWS Module under the glovebox but there's no connector for it. Checked around the ignition barrel, and there's no signal sender. This got me thinking that the chassis is pre-EWS. It does have a imobilization relay under the steering, but after bridging contact 6 and 2 without any change i moved on. I then did a successful EWS delete from the DME. Still the same story. ENGINE CRANKS, FUEL PUMP PRIMES, RELAY CLICKS, BUT NO SPARK OR INJECTOR SPRAY WHATSOEVER. Bought a new battery, coils, plugs, oil, oil filter, cam and crank sensor. INSTALLED EVERYTHING. ENGINE CRANKS, FUEL PUMP PRIMES, RELAY CLICKS, BUT NO SPARK OR INJECTOR SPRAY WHATSOEVER.

I've checked all the grounds, there's no check engine light on the cluster that comes on, I can plug my diagnostic cable in and Read and write to and from it (Only codes I'm getting is o2 sensors, which can't cause a no spark no fuel problem) so I'm pretty sure my DME is working. I can hear the relay's click, the fuel pump primes and there's fuel in the rail. I have checked the fusable link in the boot and it's perfect. I tested for 12v at the connector where the coils plugs. And it's all good. All my connectors are plugged in correctly. I've checked continuity from crank, cam and knock sensors as well as grounds to the DME connector. All checks out.

BUT STILL, ENGINE CRANKS, FUEL PUMP PRIMES, RELAY CLICKS, BUT NO SPARK OR INJECTOR SPRAY WHATSOEVER

I've been through every post that I could possibly find on Google, but still the same old story.

2 THINGS THAT PUZZLING MY MIND.

1. When I close the cap on the diagnostic plug inside the engine bay, the hazards starts flashing. Okey no big deal, remove the Orange crash relay and it stops. So for now I have removed the crash relay.
2. If I remove the cap from the diagnostic plug and unplug the cam and crank sensor and then fiddle with the cam sensors connector. All of sudden my injectors starts spraying and the fuel pump primes. And if I put the cap back on it stops. Then I can fiddle with the cam sensors plug for days without anything happening. As soon as I take the cap off, well spot the obvious. Injectors starts spraying again.

Best part of it all, the wires on the cam sensor connector are perfect, I did actually cut them and rejoined them to be sure. Still the same story. And as previously mentioned I did check for continuity and everything checked out.

NOT TO END THIS WITH A SOPPY STORY BUT.

When I was still in High School, I had very close friend that was once very well known in South Africa's drifting community with his Dakar yellow E36 M3 and soon after with his Silvia. Many of you might have known him. (Wies jou oom?) After school he used to fetch me from my house and took me for long drives and crazy spins. I made a promise back in those days that one day when I'm grown I'll buy my very own Dakar yellow E36. Well he passed 3 years ago. That's why this is REALLY important to me.

If there's anyone that would be able to help me it would mean the WORLD to me. I'm situated in Vanderbijlpark and my number is 0638662625.

THANKS

 

[Ahmedy]

Hi there .
Seems you spent quite some time , so straight to the point. These camshaft and crankshaft sensors are super finicky. Use only genuine bmw or nothing. The cut and join may be part of the issue but I don't think totally. I too had problems with both cam and crank sensors not too long ago. Sometimes I had misfires sometimes no crank. I didn't find cam or crank errors on inpa if I remember correctly. The wires inside were brittle. New bmw sensors repaired my problems.
Are you certain that the EWS is coded out properly. Have you confirmed that you're full and partial read bins have it coded out . While you're at it go though the maps to confirm the bins are correctly suited for you're engine.

 

[Gordvisr]

Ok , just another needle in the haystack, can you confirm you have actual fuel at the rail to injectors, i once had more or less the same issue you have here, only to find that the small hose inside the tank between the pump and the "lid" burst, so what it did it just pumped fuel back into the tank instead of going to the rail. Have spent a pretty penny on a bunch of stuff that was originally working fine.