[nova_335]

Hello everyone,

I own an E46 330XI that I ended up replacing the CCV about a month and a half ago. After I removed everything, I washed the engine bay before I put everything back on. After I installed everything back on, the car wouldnt start. My wife had a baby so I couldnt work on it for over a month and the battery died. I jump started the car yesterday for the car to start and it idled VERY rough so I shut it off, come to find out the coils were drenched in water. I pulled them out, dried them and replaced the spark plugs since they were in pretty bad condition, however the car still runs super crappy and it starts only half the time I jump it.

These are the codes that I am getting:

36-Main relay
100-Control unit failure
37-Switching delay main relay
68-tank ventilation valve
53-LLFS opening coil Elec.
27-LLFS Closing coil Elec.
32-secondary air valve
140-output stage failure dmtl pump
126-output stage failure dmtl valve
124-Variable jet system

can anyone assist me on where should I look to properly diagnose or to better pin point the issue? The battery needs replacing for starters but, where to next?

Thanks in advance

 

[jfoj]

What tool are you using to pull the codes?

Are these codes listed as Active and no Shadow?

If you start the engine now and allow it to warm up for 3-5 minutes, how dies it idle?

You may be chasing ghosts at this point.

Low Voltage will cause the Multiple Spark function of the DME to shut down and many phantom codes can be triggered because of low Voltage.

Charge the battery and see what happens. The engine is probably partially flooded and needs 3-5 minutes of running to clear out. You may need to shut it of after 2 minutes, wait 30 seconds and restart to clear any Misfire with Fuel Cut Off.

 

[nova_335]

Im using the Bav Technic cable and the codes show as current. I havent let the car warm up for that long though, once the car started running like that I shut it off after 30 seconds or so. I'll get the battery replaced asap then let the car actually warm up to see if the problem persists.

 

[Landlorder]

How did you "wash" the engine, dare I ask...?!

 

[nova_335]

Ok so I ended up replacing the battery with a new one since the old one was pretty much done but it doesnt start, it just clicks as though the battery was dead...

I used some degreaser and rinsed off to clean the gunk off the engine and engine bay

Im thinking the starter gave out perhaps?

 

[891CARLOS]

Ok so I ended up replacing the battery with a new one since the old one was pretty much done but it doesnt start, it just clicks as though the battery was dead...

I used some degreaser and rinsed off to clean the gunk off the engine and engine bay

Im thinking the starter gave out perhaps?

Did you covered the openings for the CCV while you rinsed it off? Hopefully you also covered components like maf and alternator. Seems like too much water was used to rinse and maybe even the degrease+all the gunk may have made their way into the engine. As jfof stated, it may be flooded. I would do an oil change to be on the safe side and check alternator and starter and go from there.

 

[nova_335]

Ok yea I was thinking about doing an oil change and start from there...when I washed it-it had the intake manifold off along with other components but I did cover intake inlets and the valve cover hole where you connect the pcv hose, I did not cover the alternator nor the starter and I felt like the alternator needed to be cleaned because it was covered in trans fluid from a leak...I'll do an oil change and report back

 

[lingon300k]

Ok yea I was thinking about doing an oil change and start from there...when I washed it-it had the intake manifold off along with other components but I did cover intake inlets and the valve cover hole where you connect the pcv hose, I did not cover the alternator nor the starter and I felt like the alternator needed to be cleaned because it was covered in trans fluid from a leak...I'll do an oil change and report back

How did you cover the intake ports? Did you cover the wiring harness distribution box? Did you wash it with a hose?

I'm pretty unconcerned about washing the engine bay, but that's with the covers, and especially the intake manifold, still attached. How many wires were disconnected and exposed?

 

[jfoj]

You did not mention what year the car was.

If it is a 2003-2005 these starters tend to go without any warning.

If you have to pull the starter, do it from under the hood. Not a fun job, some have claimed to pull the starter from under the hood without removing the intake.

 

[nova_335]

Oops my bad, the car is a 2002 330xi, as far as plugs that I disconnected mm let me see...I disconnected the MAF, the alternator, the coolant temp sensor, the harness to the injectors, DISA, idle control valve...thats all I can think of right now but yea pretty much everything that was in the way to remove the manifold

I covered the inlets with some rags and afterwards I pulled them out and wiped dry any water or humidity residue....dont judge plz lol Im not expert

 

[BiH55]

I just don't know why people wash the engines

 

[xi46]

I just don't know why people wash the engines

It makes leaks easier to spot and trace for one. I think it can be done right. I cleaned a bit with a spray bottle when I did my oil filter housing gasket. Covered all openings and electrical connectors with aluminum foil but still wouldn't use a hose.

 

[nova_335]

I just don't know why people wash the engines

I dont know why you even care to comment if youre not going to help, Ive washed this engine before and my other cars as well with no issues, this one time I did with a few components off the engine and I clearly missed something that now Im trying to figure out, thanks!

 

[dmax]

I wonder if the water caused your coil boots to rust and that's contributing to the issue? Maybe get a small, round wire brush and clean them with some pb blaster or something....or just replace them. Depending on how long you ran it rough, still might be water around causing issues.

As far as the emissions related issues (leak pump stuff), that might be as someone suggested, just a plug undone...or a plug that corroded from your cleaning. Try an electrical cleaner on every plug you removed...and then after it dries, plug and unplug it a few times with the hopes you've cleared off any corrosion. Many sensors will be sensitive to a precise voltage to send the right signals for proper running. Just a guess...and hope it helps!

 

[nova_335]

I wonder if the water caused your coil boots to rust and that's contributing to the issue? Maybe get a small, round wire brush and clean them with some pb blaster or something....or just replace them. Depending on how long you ran it rough, still might be water around causing issues.

As far as the emissions related issues (leak pump stuff), that might be as someone suggested, just a plug undone...or a plug that corroded from your cleaning. Try an electrical cleaner on every plug you removed...and then after it dries, plug and unplug it a few times with the hopes you've cleared off any corrosion. Many sensors will be sensitive to a precise voltage to send the right signals for proper running. Just a guess...and hope it helps!

Thanks man, Im going to take everything apart, clean the contacts/plugs then put everything back on with the hopes that I catch something I missed...car has 180k with the original coils so Im thinking of swapping those out too...the car cranked just fine this morning, unlike yesterday that it was just clicking, but it didnt start...guess I'll be busy this weekend

 

[lingon300k]

As far as the emissions related issues (leak pump stuff), that might be as someone suggested, just a plug undone...or a plug that corroded from your cleaning.

Could a wire be attached to the wrong sensor?

 

[nova_335]

Quick update guys, took everything apart and everything seemed fine except for the ICV, its stuck shut so Im assuming thats what caused the rough idle but not too sure if that is contributing to the engine cranking but not starting, any thoughts?

 

[lingon300k]

Quick update guys, took everything apart and everything seemed fine except for the ICV, its stuck shut so Im assuming thats what caused the rough idle but not too sure if that is contributing to the engine cranking but not starting, any thoughts?

Are you still getting the same codes?

 

[nova_335]

After I put a new battery on, I cleared the codes and they didnt pop back up but that was before I took everything off today, Im going to out everything back on when I get back home, try to start it and read the codes to see if anything comes back