Help! Stranded! My E34 won't start and I can't get engine codes.

[Evan]

I drove about sixty miles to a meeting this morning and when I left the meeting my baby seemed to start normally but didn't quite make it. The battery is strong and everything sounded right but just when she was about to turn over, nothing happened... almost as if there was no fuel getting to the spark.

I checked to make sure I had gas and then I tried the stomp test to get engine codes but it wouldn't give them to me. I noticed that the Inspection light had gone to red.

Anyone have a hint or similar experience?

Thanks,
Evan

[ryan roopnarine]

is it actually turning over, or not? might be the crank pos. sensor.

[Evan]

She turns over fine... everything sounds perfect but she won't "catch" and stay started... sounds like she's out of gas but she isn't!

[ryan roopnarine]

it could be your fuel pump relay or your dme relay or your fuel pump. if i were in front of the car right now, id kick the bottom of the gas tank, pound on the fuel pump access panel in the trunk a couple of times, and see if that changes anything. might have to jump the dme and fuel pump relays.
do you hear the fuel pump "whir" just before you turn the ignition to start? the one that sounds like the car is "charging" up to start?

She turns over fine... everything sounds perfect but she won't "catch" and stay started... sounds like she's out of gas but she isn't!

[glen-sj]

It maybe the fuel pump relay gone bad. Are you getting fuel at the spark plugs?

[Warren N.CA]

When a fuel pump isn't working, it could be because its relay has quit. Bentley has an orderly procedure for diagnosing this.



She turns over fine... everything sounds perfect but she won't "catch" and stay started... sounds like she's out of gas but she isn't!

[ryan roopnarine]

and resultantly, the "whirr" if it normally makes it is a effective means of narrowing your problems down. do you think it still does this?


When a fuel pump isn't working, it could be because its relay has quit. Bentley has an orderly procedure for diagnosing this.

[califblue]

Evan , happend to me it was a relay located under the same plastic cover ( passanger side fender) as the brain ( DME)

[Elekta]

Unplug the battery. touch + & - together. Wiggle all relays with your finger.
Kick the fuel tank.

rehook up, turn key to pos 1 and wait about a minute. Then start.

This reboot helped me one time when we woke up and the temp outside had dropped 30' unsuspectedly.

ymmv

[Ian W]

The independent specialist I used spent a day trying to get my car to start and run ,then found the fuel gauge was out by a quarter and the tank empty.

Apparantely a common fault .
This may also damage the cats ,so may be worth checking.