325i 95 starting problems

[74targa_in_NZ]

Hi Guys,

Im having intermittent problems with my 325 e36, I only have a problem starting when i have left the car for about 2 or more days.

What happens is the engine wont turn(you can hear the starter engage and load), give it another 3-7 turns of the ignition key and it finally turns over and starts. Ive had the starter and solenoid reconditioned and also i have a brand new battery

i have got coolant leaking out somewhere in the system near the front. Would an engine semi-seize over a couple of days if their was coolant entering the cylinder ?? the oil doesn't have any signs


any ideas ??

cheer

Hayden

[parolof]

does it turn over slowly at first and then speeds up? Could be the battery

[74targa_in_NZ]

No doest crank at all, you just hear the starter enage. try a few times then it will eventually crank over and start. I thought it was the battery so i replaced it with a brand new one.

hayden

[parolof]

at first "you just hear the starter engage" just to make sure, does it actually engage the flywheel, or does it just "click", if it just clicks it's the solenoid that is binding or a bad connection, the solenoid is part 3 @ http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BE51&mospid=47425&btnr=12_0509&hg=12&fg=25 it's just a heavy duty switch to cope the high current that the starter uses

[74targa_in_NZ]

I hear the starter engage to the flywheel and it like the engine wont turn over

The starter has just been overhauled and the solenoid has been checked, but im still not convinced the solenoid is 100%

is it possible to have an intermittent solenoid ??, why would the solenoid only have problems after leaving a couple of days ??

thanks for your input

[Jeron]

I've had a reconditioned starter with a bad solenoid. The starter would randomly not function. So a bad solenoid is very possible.

It wouldn't hurt to check the voltage of the battery before you attempt to start it, to see if the battery is draining while it sits for a few days. You should also check for good connections at the battery.

If you have reason to think coolant is in the oil then you should have your oil checked for coolant by a company like Blackstone Labs. Coolant in the oil will cause enormous amounts of wear.