OK, I'm stumped, and unfortunately, so are the mechanics at the BMW dealer.
I had been getting intermittent lean codes and misfires on all cylinders, which are documented in another thread. Along with that was occasionally almost stalling at idle.
Since it was on all cylinders, and since I had disassembled, checked and reassembled the intake system to check for vacuum leaks, and cleaned my MAF sensor, and I was leaning toward a balky fuel pump.
A few weeks ago, the thing started to have trouble starting. It would crank over just fine, but not fire up. The first few times it happened were on extremely hot days after sitting in the sun. But I'd wait a few seconds, and it would start right up. By this point, the SES lights had gone off from my earlier misfire problems, and the idling problem hadn't been seen for weeks.
So, after it stranded me at work one day, I took it (drove it there, started fine in the morning) into the dealer, and after a preliminary inspection where they eliminated the key security system as the culprit, they told me it was the fuel pump. They had to order the part, and since they couldn't install before the holiday, I said I'd just put it in myself. So yesterday, after driving in to work, I parked in the shade, took an early lunch while it was still not that hot out, and drove 1.5 mi to the dealership. Walked in, paid for the fuel pump, and went back to my car.
Of course, it wouldn't start. :banghead::censor::censor::censor:
So I went back in, explained to the service guy who's been working what's going on, and he said he'd have someone look at it today and replace the pump asap. Didn't really want to spend 3x as much to have a fuel pump installed at the dealer, but whatever.
Well, after work, I hitched a ride over to the dealer to pick up my car, and when I walk in, the service manager give me a sheepish look and says, "It's not the fuel pump."
I say, "OK, what is it? Please say something inexpensive."
"Well, we don't know. The fuel pressure is fine. But it just won't spark at times. We think your car may be possessed by demons."
Now, generally speaking, that's not what you want to hear from a BMW dealer who has been looking at your car with two experienced techs for several hours. He apologized, and even said that he'd get me a rental car. Unfortunately, this being July 4th weekend, Enterprise was out of vehicles. So after a 45 minute bus ride back home, I'm here without a car and the dealership won't work on it again till Monday.
Assuming all the usual easy stuff has been checked and rechecked, what could cause an intermittent starting failure that seems to be somewhat temperature sensitive? The last I saw, the techs had all of the wiring harnesses they could find taken apart, checking for faults. The fuel system is fine. The car just cranks and cranks, but no starting. On occasion, it will fire up for a half second, then die. I've never had it die once I started driving.
I had been getting intermittent lean codes and misfires on all cylinders, which are documented in another thread. Along with that was occasionally almost stalling at idle.
Since it was on all cylinders, and since I had disassembled, checked and reassembled the intake system to check for vacuum leaks, and cleaned my MAF sensor, and I was leaning toward a balky fuel pump.
A few weeks ago, the thing started to have trouble starting. It would crank over just fine, but not fire up. The first few times it happened were on extremely hot days after sitting in the sun. But I'd wait a few seconds, and it would start right up. By this point, the SES lights had gone off from my earlier misfire problems, and the idling problem hadn't been seen for weeks.
So, after it stranded me at work one day, I took it (drove it there, started fine in the morning) into the dealer, and after a preliminary inspection where they eliminated the key security system as the culprit, they told me it was the fuel pump. They had to order the part, and since they couldn't install before the holiday, I said I'd just put it in myself. So yesterday, after driving in to work, I parked in the shade, took an early lunch while it was still not that hot out, and drove 1.5 mi to the dealership. Walked in, paid for the fuel pump, and went back to my car.
Of course, it wouldn't start. :banghead::censor::censor::censor:
So I went back in, explained to the service guy who's been working what's going on, and he said he'd have someone look at it today and replace the pump asap. Didn't really want to spend 3x as much to have a fuel pump installed at the dealer, but whatever.
Well, after work, I hitched a ride over to the dealer to pick up my car, and when I walk in, the service manager give me a sheepish look and says, "It's not the fuel pump."
I say, "OK, what is it? Please say something inexpensive."
"Well, we don't know. The fuel pressure is fine. But it just won't spark at times. We think your car may be possessed by demons."
Now, generally speaking, that's not what you want to hear from a BMW dealer who has been looking at your car with two experienced techs for several hours. He apologized, and even said that he'd get me a rental car. Unfortunately, this being July 4th weekend, Enterprise was out of vehicles. So after a 45 minute bus ride back home, I'm here without a car and the dealership won't work on it again till Monday.
Assuming all the usual easy stuff has been checked and rechecked, what could cause an intermittent starting failure that seems to be somewhat temperature sensitive? The last I saw, the techs had all of the wiring harnesses they could find taken apart, checking for faults. The fuel system is fine. The car just cranks and cranks, but no starting. On occasion, it will fire up for a half second, then die. I've never had it die once I started driving.