BMW X3 wont start

[dcaron999]

Hi Guys. My 2004 BMW X3 is sitting in my heated garage, and decided it wont start anymore. My girlfriend uses it everyday. The starter cranks and turns the engine, but it wont fire up. Checked all fuses related to ignition and fuel pump. Hooked up a battery charger for a full day. Again, the car just cranks but wont ignite. Never had this happened since I bought the X3 2 years ago. Mileage is 162,000Kms.

Any ideas where to look, or what to try? I have no OBD readers, and trying to search the internet for method to access the SIA diagnostics through the console. Will probably have it towed to a local BMW mechanic (BENLO PAssion Mecanique) this am, or BMW Blainville if 1st mechanic is clueless.

[Chow Mein]

How many times did you try starting it up? I hope you didn't flood the engine. Pull the sparkplugs to see if they're done.

See if you can borrow a crappy $60 code reader from somebody, there's a "SLIM" chance it may pop a code that might actually help you narrow down the problem.

[dcaron999]

How many times did you try starting it up? I hope you didn't flood the engine. Pull the sparkplugs to see if they're done.

See if you can borrow a crappy $60 code reader from somebody, there's a "SLIM" chance it may pop a code that might actually help you narrow down the problem.

Thanks for your response. Is flooding even possible on an injected engine? I haven't touched the accelerator once while cranking. I cant smell any excessive fuel vapors. I have tried cranking 6-7 times during the laspe of 24 hours. I have left the battery charger on since then just for good measure. Dont really need it as far I can tell.

[Gregster]

How many times did you try starting it up? I hope you didn't flood the engine. Pull the sparkplugs to see if they're done.

See if you can borrow a crappy $60 code reader from somebody, there's a "SLIM" chance it may pop a code that might actually help you narrow down the problem.


60$ code scanner won;t plug into a BMW.

[Chow Mein]

$60 Launch Creader OBD2 won't work???



60$ code scanner won;t plug into a BMW.

[blacksheep]

why wouldn't the $60 code reader work?

OBD2 is OBD2, it isn't an ad-hoc standard like OBD1 where manufacturers could use proprietary connectors, etc.

OBD2 was an initiative of the US government which made it mandatory for all cars sold in the US to use a common plug and a common protocol.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obd2

[Emre]

The starter cranks and turns the engine, but it wont fire up. Checked all fuses related to ignition and fuel pump. Hooked up a battery charger for a full day. Again, the car just cranks but wont ignite.If the starter is turning the engine, then it's not a problem with the battery. It's either lack of fuel or lack of spark.


Mileage is 162,000Kms.With that kind of mileage and the symptoms you describe, I'd bet the farm on a dead fuel pump. That's about the service life of a BMW fuel pump to start with. And your symptoms are classic: car starts and runs like a dream one day, then won't fire the next. When a fuel pump dies, it's generally all or nothing. No warning.

I'm not sure where the fuel pump is on an X3. On most BMWs, it's under the rear seat. The old trick is to remove the rear seat-bottom and turn the key to power the accessories. You should be able to hear a whirring/buzzing/humming sound coming from the tank. If not, that points to a dead fuel pump or blown pump relay.

If it's a dead fuel pump, you're in luck. Changing the pump and filter is a simple DIY job requiring no special tools or skills.

Emre

[Andrei]

162k km on a 2004 BMW?! No wonder it won't start. It detected that it was used as a taxi!

[Gregster]

why wouldn't the $60 code reader work?

OBD2 is OBD2, it isn't an ad-hoc standard like OBD1 where manufacturers could use proprietary connectors, etc.

OBD2 was an initiative of the US government which made it mandatory for all cars sold in the US to use a common plug and a common protocol.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obd2


It will plug in but you'll only get basic codes IF that... you;ll be getting a ton of "Manufacture Specific Codes" Besides if the MIL isn't on whats the point of scanning? I don't even think those el cheapo scanners can retrive saved codes.

If you arent getting fuel hit the tank a couple of times with a hammer/mallet it should kick the pump in.

Sorry, I use a Snap On Solus scanner with the DL-16 adaptor for euro cars using either the S-44 or S7 keys.

[Silverblades181]

If it's a dead fuel pump, you're in luck. Changing the pump and filter is a simple DIY job requiring no special tools or skills.

Emre

haha not on an E90.

As for codes, yes Eric it will read some codes, but OBD2 requires codes only for emission control. BMW uses a hell of a lot more codes for diagnosis that a 60$ scanner won't read.

You might have had a low battery and you flooded the engine. Pressing the accelerator wide open won't flood the engine, it will actually enter a deflood mode where it does not inject fuel or less while cranking. You might want to try that. Also check the spark plugs.

Just as information, the throttle on gasoline engine controls the air admission and has nothing to do with fuel, fuel injection is controlled by the DME according to the amount of air measured entering the engine and different other driving conditions.

On Diesel engines though, the "gas" pedal actually controls the amount of fuel injected and the throttle is either wide open or none existent

[Gregster]

Just as information, the throttle on gasoline engine controls the air admission and has nothing to do with fuel, fuel injection is controlled by the DME according to the amount of air measured entering the engine and different other driving conditions.


TPS/MAP/MAF sensors actually controls the amount of fuel going into the engine.. I sometimes call the gas pedal the air pedal :p

[blacksheep]

As for codes, yes Eric it will read some codes, but OBD2 requires codes only for emission control. BMW uses a hell of a lot more codes for diagnosis that a 60$ scanner won't read.thanks for the info

I only wrote that to answer the post "$60 code reader won't plug into a BMW". Well, yes it will. Maybe it won't real ALL codes but it will plug in and work for basic diagnostics.

[Silverblades181]

TPS/MAP/MAF sensors actually controls the amount of fuel going into the engine.. I sometimes call the gas pedal the air pedal :p

No, the TPS/MAP/MAF measure, the DME controls :rolleyes: Btw you forgot the 02 sensor

[Gregster]

No, the TPS/MAP/MAF measure, the DME controls :rolleyes: Btw you forgot the 02 sensor

Topics get sooo derailed on these forums :D I love it!

[Andrei]

thanks for the info

I only wrote that to answer the post "$60 code reader won't plug into a BMW". Well, yes it will. Maybe it won't real ALL codes but it will plug in and work for basic diagnostics.

Sure, it will plug in but that will not do you much good. If you are very lucky you'd get some sort of "standard" code but most likely it will be proprietary. That's like saying that you can open a Word file with a hex or plain text editor. Yeah, you will but unless you have Word Jedi skills in reading hexadecimal proprietary format you will not get anything out of it. So saying it will not plug in is just semantics. It might as well not plug in and save the user some time to find a real scanner.

[dcaron999]

BAck to original purpose of this thread ...

I removed the spark plugs and coils one by one, and cleaned the plugs with brake cleaner and brush, and contacts with electrical contact cleaning spray. I also cleaned the MassAir FLow sensor while I was at it. It took a massive amount of cranking and the X3 did finally start. I held the clutch in while the engine hard a time going above 500RPM. After about a minute or so, it shot back 1000RPM or so, and hummed merrily along.

I left the engine on for 5-10 minutes. Turned it off, waited for a minute, and started it again within 1-2 seconds without any hesitation this time.

We'll see how that goes. Maybe I hit a bad batch of fuel, or spark plugs which I changed 65,000Kms ago, are already fouled.

To be continued ...

[dcaron999]

As mentioned earlier, I cleaned the plugs, the coils, the MAF sensor, and added about a cup of fuel injector cleaner in the tank. Called my mechanic who says I got lucky, and he suspects it will occur again. He was thinking that either the fuel pump or fuel relay is starting to go.
The X3 has been starting like a brand new truck in the last 24 hours. Im crossing my fingers.

[Chow Mein]

If the fuel pump relay goes, you will get lots of fault codes. Get a scan using a professional code reader.



As mentioned earlier, I cleaned the plugs, the coils, the MAF sensor, and added about a cup of fuel injector cleaner in the tank. Called my mechanic who says I got lucky, and he suspects it will occur again. He was thinking that either the fuel pump or fuel relay is starting to go.
The X3 has been starting like a new truck in the last 24 hours. Im crossing my fingers.

[PassatVR6]

BAck to original purpose of this thread ...

I removed the spark plugs and coils one by one, and cleaned the plugs with brake cleaner and brush, and contacts with electrical contact cleaning spray. I also cleaned the MassAir FLow sensor while I was at it. It took a massive amount of cranking and the X3 did finally start. I held the clutch in while the engine hard a time going above 500RPM. After about a minute or so, it shot back 1000RPM or so, and hummed merrily along.

I left the engine on for 5-10 minutes. Turned it off, waited for a minute, and started it again within 1-2 seconds without any hesitation this time.

We'll see how that goes. Maybe I hit a bad batch of fuel, or spark plugs which I changed 65,000Kms ago, are already fouled.

To be continued ...

the maf/plugs is not the problem. In your situation, even with the most degenerated plugs or maf a car will start.