UK Z3 2.0 1999

[ShaneHull]

Hi,

I'm new to forums so please forgive me if I get it wrong

I've just bought a 1999 Z3 2.0 project car. I call it a project car as I can get it to start yet.

Any help you can give would be gratefully received

 

[Low Rider]

Welcome to the forum

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria. Got any symptoms? Ignition clicking or doing nothing, turning but not firing etc? Have you done the obvious i.e. battery?

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

Hi Shane, and welcome from me in Cardiff.

 

[ShaneHull]

Hi Andy,
It's been sat for a few years, but the battery seems ok as it turns over, I've siphoned out the old petrol and replaced it with new, changed the spark plugs and air filter.

and this is a video I just took.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSIXHVZ1-nw

 

[andyglym]

Interesting. @mrscalex @t-tony @Lee amongst others are on the ball mate, I've tagged them so they should be along soon. Have you got a code reader to see what's going on?

 

[ShaneHull]

The only fault code showing was for a speed sensor which needs replacing

 

[Lee]

What type of code reader are you using ? Some give better results. If it turns over but wont fire things as simple as camshaft/crankshaft sensors even a dead MAF can cause this.

Lee

 

[GazHyde]

Welcome

 

[ShaneHull]

Hi Lee,
Can you recommend a cheap read which works? I used the neighbours reader, he hooked it up to his laptop etc, looked ok.

 

[Grumps]

Hi from Mansfield. Good luck with getting it started.

 

[t-tony]

Hi Shane, a quick thing to try is unclip and remove the air filter and get someone to crank the engine while you spray a little varbuettir cleaner or even brake cleaner into the airbox. If you get a response it would point to fuel problem. If not definitely check for spark. Crank and can sensors.

Tony.

 

[Nodzed]

 

[mrscalex]

I'm dealing with a non-start on an E46 currently.

I would look for the easy to fix stuff first and/or that you would need to do anyway. So I would:

• check the fuel pump fuses
• change the fuel pump relay, preferably just swap it with another light green relay known to work like the horn
• change the fuel filter which could be clogged
• pull the DME out and check there is no corrosion. Disconnect the battery first. Sounds nasty but it's not
• check all the earth points in the engine bay are secure.

My non-start is probably a crankshaft sensor so I agree with Lee but it may not be a 2 minute job to change and should in theory be throwing an error (the E46 is).

If you are handy with a voltmeter then seeing what you can find on the relay base can be revealing. This will tell you if you are getting a ground from the DME to fire the pump. If not then the crankshaft sensor is a serious culprit or possibly the DME relay. You can also jumper the supply/load sockets to see if you can run the pump directly (listen out for it, it's directly behind the driver's seat underneath the carpet.

This is the electrical stuff you need to know. I drew it up for the E46 but I can't see why it wouldn't be the same for the Z3. Socket 8 gets a positive when you turn the key to the Run position before the Starting posn on the ignition. Socket 4 gets a ground from the DME and keeps it after firing. You'd jumper 6 and 2 to run the pump directly, preferably with a fused jumper. No ground means the DME is not releasing the fuel pump to run. Deliberately due to (probably) the crankshaft sensor or non-deliberately due to wiring fault.

 

[Slam]

Hi and welcome from London

 

[DavidM]

Welcome from Ireland!

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hello from me too

 

[Mint]

Hi @ShaneHull, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire.

 

[oldcarman]

Hi from Canada! JIM

 

[Antm72]

Hi from me in South Yorkshire