will not start

Hi,
I have a 95 320, the problem i am having is it will not start i have checked that i am getting fuel to the engine and that i have a spark. about 18 months ago a similar thing happend and the garage guy told me the fuel system was not pressurising. does anyone know what could cause this? i have checked the fuel lines for any obvious leaks.

Thank you.

Get a fuel pressure gage and find a way to hook it up thru a t-fitting to the fuel line-and see how many psi you have. Dont know exat valus thoug (but should be close to 45-60psi). You can also disconect the fuel line and let it hang and then just try to crank it and see if any fuel comes out. Make sure you catch all fuel. There should be lotsof it and at pretty high pressure.

Also take out one of the plugs and see if smells like gas.

I really think that your fuel pressure is pretty low and he injectors dont open up.

Any way you might have to replace the pump or maybe the relay.

besides this there can be lotsa other things, but that would be the first one to look at.

Get a fuel pressure gage and find a way to hook it up thru a t-fitting to the fuel line-and see how many psi you have. Dont know exat valus thoug (but should be close to 45-60psi). You can also disconect the fuel line and let it hang and then just try to crank it and see if any fuel comes out. Make sure you catch all fuel. There should be lotsof it and at pretty high pressure.

Also take out one of the plugs and see if smells like gas.

I really think that your fuel pressure is pretty low and he injectors dont open up.

Any way you might have to replace the pump or maybe the relay.

besides this there can be lotsa other things, but that would be the first one to look at.

Thanks,
Tried it and the plugs do smell and you can also see fuel on them so i think maybe the pressure is ok. i think i will have to bite the bullett and take it to garage.

If you smell gas then you got some weak spark or no spark at all. What kinda ignition system on it?

If you smell gas then you got some weak spark or no spark at all. What kinda ignition system on it?


did some more work on it found out i got no spark on any of the leads. i don't really know about the ignition system its just a standard 1995 320 6 cylinder 24v uk spec.

I mean you got a traditional one- leads and 3 coils all computer controled, no opti-spark stuff. There may be another one with no leads and 6 coils inside the valve cover with rods sitting on top of the plugs. (they eliminated the leads). I guess it would use a different hemi type of cyl. head. Maybe they used those on newer engines. Anyway iam not that good with newer bimmers. I am a GM and old school german machinery guy.

Uh, I dont really know where to start. Can be lots of different things. Try to research that problem and if its fairly common you could attack this problem. If not this should require some computer diagnostics and maybe some ignition components testing.Do you have any troble codes to have scaned? Its hard to find the cause, unless the computer tells you whats wrong with it. And its pointless to replace stuff without knowing that this is the problem. You could get the major ignition components parts off and have em tested by the dealer if you dont wanna tow the car around. But do a visual inspection first and any suspicious activity there.

But I sure it should be a common problem. Give some info on what it does when you try to start it.

Things to start with
1 Any burnt wires/ bad grounds
2 Oil pressure swith
3 Crank/cam shaft sensors (if it has them)
4 Computer
5 Coils

I mean you got a traditional one- leads and 3 coils all computer controled, no opti-spark stuff. There may be another one with no leads and 6 coils inside the valve cover with rods sitting on top of the plugs. (they eliminated the leads). I guess it would use a different hemi type of cyl. head. Maybe they used those on newer engines. Anyway iam not that good with newer bimmers. I am a GM and old school german machinery guy.

Uh, I dont really know where to start. Can be lots of different things. Try to research that problem and if its fairly common you could attack this problem. If not this should require some computer diagnostics and maybe some ignition components testing.Do you have any troble codes to have scaned? Its hard to find the cause, unless the computer tells you whats wrong with it. And its pointless to replace stuff without knowing that this is the problem. You could get the major ignition components parts off and have em tested by the dealer if you dont wanna tow the car around. But do a visual inspection first and any suspicious activity there.

But I sure it should be a common problem. Give some info on what it does when you try to start it.

Things to start with
1 Any burnt wires/ bad grounds
2 Oil pressure swith
3 Crank/cam shaft sensors (if it has them)
4 Computer
5 Coils


Thanks very much for help.

its a bosch ignition system and each spark plug has its own coil.

i have studded some wiring diagrams on the internet and found that a relay called the (unloader relay?) is responsible for activating the 6 coils. any way checked this out it worked ok so i put it back checked for a spark again and found i had one this time on all 6. I put the car back together and cranked it over, it was almost starting then it started, ran for a few seconds at very low RPM and then died. i tryed cranking it again and it just turnned over. i think i will have to take it to the garage to see what they can do with it. once again thank you for your help.

Hey stirkeytone, I have same problem, did you solve yours? Email me at [email protected] I think I might have a connector in the wrong spot but can't be sure.:runaround:the pump does not run in the on position of the switch, it will come on in start but not in run. Yes all relays checked engine will run for a couple of seconds at start but can't continue to run with no fuel pressure in the on position. Is there a relationship between the anti theft of a car this old and the fuel pump? I know the newer ones will disable the pump. I have tied down the hood switch too so that it thinks the hood is closed as a precaution. Is there a relationship with the oil pressure switch and the fuel pump on/off?