Problems starting engine..

I was hoping that a BMW guru could point me in the right direction. My 1989
525i is experiencing a very strange problem. Most of the time it starts
normally. Sometimes when I turn the key it just spins the engine over and
does not fire. If I wait a few seconds and try it again it usually starts up
fine. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries. Once it starts it runs
perfectly.
Someone told me that it could be related to the aftermarket keyless entry on
the car so I unhooked it. This made no difference. Any information is
greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

"Jim Pineau" > wrote:

>I was hoping that a BMW guru could point me in the right direction. My 1989
>525i is experiencing a very strange problem. Most of the time it starts
>normally. Sometimes when I turn the key it just spins the engine over and
>does not fire. If I wait a few seconds and try it again it usually starts up
>fine. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries. Once it starts it runs
>perfectly.
>Someone told me that it could be related to the aftermarket keyless entry on
>the car so I unhooked it. This made no difference. Any information is
>greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks,
>Jim
>
>


*might* be a faulty rotor in the distributor... or tracking inside the
dist. cap.. open it up, clean it and replace the rotor arm.

keith

Is it possible that the car would run normally with a faulty rotor, but have
problems starting up? Seems strange. Thanks for the advise, I'll try it.

Jim


"keith" > wrote in message
...
> "Jim Pineau" > wrote:
>
>>I was hoping that a BMW guru could point me in the right direction. My
>>1989
>>525i is experiencing a very strange problem. Most of the time it starts
>>normally. Sometimes when I turn the key it just spins the engine over and
>>does not fire. If I wait a few seconds and try it again it usually starts
>>up
>>fine. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries. Once it starts it runs
>>perfectly.
>>Someone told me that it could be related to the aftermarket keyless entry
>>on
>>the car so I unhooked it. This made no difference. Any information is
>>greatly appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Jim
>>
>>
>
>
> *might* be a faulty rotor in the distributor... or tracking inside the
> dist. cap.. open it up, clean it and replace the rotor arm.
>
> keith

"Jim Pineau" > wrote:

>Is it possible that the car would run normally with a faulty rotor, but have
>problems starting up? Seems strange. Thanks for the advise, I'll try it.
>
>Jim

starting is really hard on electrics.. large current draw, cold,
possibly damp connections. the rotor is an easy fix in any case.

> I was hoping that a BMW guru could point me in the right direction. My 1989
> 525i is experiencing a very strange problem. Most of the time it starts
> normally. Sometimes when I turn the key it just spins the engine over and
> does not fire. If I wait a few seconds and try it again it usually starts up
> fine.

Try new Motronic and fuel pump relays, not dear. One day soon they'll
die totally. Right now they're intermittent. A thump with a screwdriver
often provides a very temporary cure.

--
Who needs a life when you've got Unix? :-)
Email: , John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland
Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage!
Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html

my 1992 735il did just that. took it to bmw no joy, they mucked about with
the fuel etc turned out it was the crank angle sensor and harmonic balancer.

replaced same and all ok for the last 4 weeks no problem

ended up taking it to a Bosch dealer who analised the problem..... good luck
"Jim Pineau" > wrote in message
...
> I was hoping that a BMW guru could point me in the right direction. My
1989
> 525i is experiencing a very strange problem. Most of the time it starts
> normally. Sometimes when I turn the key it just spins the engine over and
> does not fire. If I wait a few seconds and try it again it usually starts
up
> fine. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries. Once it starts it runs
> perfectly.
> Someone told me that it could be related to the aftermarket keyless entry
on
> the car so I unhooked it. This made no difference. Any information is
> greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
>
>

In article >,
Jim Pineau > wrote:
> Someone told me that it could be related to the aftermarket keyless
> entry on the car so I unhooked it. This made no difference. Any
> information is greatly appreciated.

I'd guess they're referring to an aftermarket alarm immobilising the
engine via the fuel pump. But if you just unhook a decent one, this should
leave the fuel pump disabled - you'd need to bridge some wiring to get it
back.

However, that's obviously not the problem. But the fuel pump not running
could well be - try replacing its relay, or the main management one. These
both are known to give problems.

--
*I like cats, too. Let's exchange recipes.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.