e46 320i not starting, please help !!

[Alister ///M]

hey gents,

ok so i have an intermittant problem that keeps popping up. every now and again the e46 doesnt wanna start. it swings and starts up as normal then 2 seconds later just dies, try crank it again and it just swings, i wait a while, maybe 15min and it starts up as normal. its not the battery its not the starter, could it be plugs/coils? the car doesnt have a miss or rough idle.

im really lost, any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[P1000]

cam position sensor or crank position sensor.

 

[Alister ///M]

will a diagnostic tool be able to detect if its faulty?

 

[Sankekur]

Might want to look at the fuel pump as well.... diagnostics should be able to pick it up.

 

[zaleonardz]

Diagnostics will almost certainly give a clue....

If it is crank/cam sensor as P1000 suggests, it will be logged....

 

[Rasma]

Might want to look at the fuel pump as well.... diagnostics should be able to pick it up.

I agree with Sankekur, I had this 2 weeks ago aswell took it in and the guys thought it was the cam sensor too but when the mechanic himself came to look, he said straight away it was the fuel pump

 

[Alister ///M]

thanks guys, im pretty sure now that it has something to do with fueling, i just need to get the diagnostics done to pinpoint the problem.

thanks for the help gents :ty:

 

[Ralf*]

Diagnostics will almost certainly give a clue....

If it is crank/cam sensor as P1000 suggests, it will be logged....

I had exactly the same issue with my 2001 E39 530d.
After browsing the net including this forum, I went to BMW Isando and got them to do a diagnosis, and NO faults indicated, but the problem persisted.

Both cam and crank sensors cost about the same, but the cam sensor is very very easy to replace, whilst the crank sensor is a much much harder job to do, so I went ahead and bought a new cam sensor and replaced it....whooopy been 4 to 5 months now of trouble free starting.

 

[Sankekur]

Yeah the dealers often have no idea what they are doing :nonono:

 

[Alister ///M]

so i got the time last night to do some testing.. i checked if there is any power coming to the fuel pump using a multi-meter. when the ignition is on the reading is 12v for a few seconds and when i swing 12v, plug in the fuel pump, swing... niks nie. i got a feeling its the pump... gonna run a long wire from the bat to the pump tonight to check if it functions..

---

Yeah the dealers often have no idea what they are doing :nonono:

tell me about it!! i had to send my e90 to them 3 times before they figured out the suspension needed to be repaired. and yet when i went each time i said "the suspension is making a noise, change struts/mountings" so they go ahead and adjust the brake cover :argh: so i had to go back... the second time they fix the door panel.. wtf!!

 

[moranor@axis]

isnt your car under MP?

 

[Alister ///M]

isnt your car under MP?

no, not the e46

 

[moranor@axis]

oh damn just saw the title... and you had an e90 on the breakfast run...

cant you get the codes read?

 

[Alister ///M]

oh damn just saw the title... and you had an e90 on the breakfast run...

cant you get the codes read?

i can but sometimes they show nothing and that means i'd have to get the car towed or call out a mech, and besides i love working on beemers... even if i break it more it just means ive learnt what not to do next time lol. if all else fails i will send it in. ill get the verdict tonight.

ps. and i need to talk diffs with you.. but we'll do that on the 24th.. cant wait (driving a 320i means you walk around with a constant lust for speed)

 

[moranor@axis]

will be there on the 24th

 

[Ralf*]

I am still convinced that you should try the cam sensor, as it is the easiest task, done in less than 10 minutes.....worked for me.

if the problem still persists then go onwards to the crank sensor, fuel pump etc etc

 

[Alister ///M]

I am still convinced that you should try the cam sensor, as it is the easiest task, done in less than 10 minutes.....worked for me.

if the problem still persists then go onwards to the crank sensor, fuel pump etc etc

thanks for the suggestion :thumbs:

how much did you pick up a cam sensor for Romeo? was it oem?

also on your 530 was your fuel pump doing its thing when you cranked? im asking cos mine isnt, and i started there cos that would be something which would be faily easy to rule out as a fault. thanks again

 

[Ralf*]

I am still convinced that you should try the cam sensor, as it is the easiest task, done in less than 10 minutes.....worked for me.

if the problem still persists then go onwards to the crank sensor, fuel pump etc etc

thanks for the suggestion :thumbs:

how much did you pick up a cam sensor for Romeo? was it oem?

also on your 530 was your fuel pump doing its thing when you cranked? im asking cos mine isnt, and i started there cos that would be something which would be faily easy to rule out as a fault. thanks again

I dunno about the fuel pump, on mine it would not fire when driven for a short distance and temp indicator was just out of the blue range, happened about once every month, sounded like it was just about to fire whilst cranking and then just dies again even whilst cranking....normally just walked away from it, made a cuppa coffee, had a cigarette or two, then tried again...90% of the time this was all I needed to do.

then it got progressively worse happening almost every second or third day, and then also not always when just slightly warm (ie after a short ride)...sometimes it did it from the "get-go" cold in the garage...

BMW Isando tested it extensively for 1 1/2 hours, whilst I actaully watched, no faults came up, and the fault didn't repeat itself whilst there, but the very next morning again...arghh.

bought sensor from BMW Isando for I think R1600 or so....

happiness ever since....this was about FEB this year.

 

[Alister ///M]

thanks romeo.. this sounds much like my problem. but now for three days the motor hasnt started. its the first time its done this for more than thirty minutes. judging from your explanation sounds like the same problem as yours thanks for the info bro :thumbs:

 

[moranor@axis]

maybe try get a sensor from a scrap yard if you can... you dont want to spend 1.5k on it then find its not the problem...