No start? No code?

[coolbear1]

My 93 is in a coma.

It all of a sudden won't start.

I did get a fault code A1 (no DME supply)but I inadvertantly removed the battery negative before I read the codes to check the fuel pump. Good fuel pump and relay though.
After attempting to start the car I get no additional codes.
Main DME relay is good also.
The DME is not sending a ground signal to the fuel pump relay terminal 85 for the fuel pump relay to close.
I am leaning toward the crankshaft position sensor.
The crankshaft position sensor reads a little off at 1,600 ohms according to Bently and Chilton.

I am not sold on resistance test determining the disposition of this particular sensor.

Anybody have any experience with this?

[Jeron]

Crank PS is where I would start.

Does the pump get power for an instant when you first turn the car to ON or START. You can also try externally powering the pump.

[coolbear1]

Thanks Jeron,

I agree,

By the way, I did externally power the pump, sort of.
I put a fused jumper, and a switch across teminal socket 30 and 87 in the fuel pump relay socket with the relay removed. I not only could hear the fuel pump running, I could hear the fuel moving through the fuel rail and fuel regulator.
The car would not start.
That makes sense to me though.
It seems to me that if the csp sensor was bad, the injectors would not work also.
If I am correct in my thinking, the DME would not know when to fire the injectors, or plugs for that matter.

I just don't like to change parts to find out if they are bad.
I would rather know they are bad first.
Much simpler and cheaper to ask questions.

Thank you again for your extremly capable help.

RB

[Jeron]

Sometimes, I get more credit than I deserve.

I agree on the injectors and plugs not firing. Jumping the fuel pump is to test the pump, filter and pressure regulator.

So are the plugs and injectors firing? Are the plugs wet? Fuel smell at exhaust?

Replacing a good CrPS or CamPS may seem like a waste of $ but think of it in terms of shop labor @$125/hr. For $75 you can eliminate an item that you will spend more than 1hr worrying about. Next time I need to order <$75 parts I plan to throw in a CrPS for the inevitable day I get a phantom "no start".

[coolbear1]

Bad news,
No compression.
Don't know why yet, suspect timing chain.

[Jeron]

Well: fuel, fire, compression, but I thought is was a bit early to go there.

Did it die on start-up or was there an "event"? Hopefully a couple of new valves and a head job is all it needs.

[coolbear1]

On start up. Lucky, I wasn't the operator. I am a start it up and hamer it kind of guy, unless it is a cold day.
Don't have many of those here.
My wife is a much kinder gentler driver than I.
She said she started the car, and was adjusting the seats. It missed and stumbled a couple of times, cut off, and just wouldn't re- start.

Thats why I didn't think it was mechanical, but, no fault codes had me worried.

I have only had time to give it a quickie compression test on the first (forward most cylinder).
The car of course was cold and I was only able to take out the plug on that cylinder.
I could only get about 60 or so lbs. after about 5 or so turns.

Tell me not to worry, thats normal. I'll feel better.

[Jeron]

Dont worry.

160 is in the ballpark of normal compression.

I assume 60 was a typo.

[coolbear1]

I wish 60 was a typo. It was 60 the first time I checked.
But the car had been sitting for a week.
I pulled the plugs and the compression was all over the place.
Then I put a few drops of oil in each cylinder and the compression was normal across the board.
I was just grasping for straws because, I have never had to do a compression check on a car that was cold, or would not start for that matter.
I had between 145 and 155, acoss the board after the oil.

Some of the plugs looked fouled so I put in new plugs, replaced the coils, and tried again.

Still, no start, no ignition.
I know this is a no no, but i tried a little squirt of starter fluid with the MAF removed.
Nothing.

Back to CSP sensor.

I will let you know.

By the way, what do you make of the oil in the cylinder/compression thing.
Why such a dramatic change?
270k miles?
Rings are bound to be a little worn, but the engine doesn't use an undue amount of oil.
1 maybe 2 qts. between changes, no more than every Ford I have owned when I drove it off the lot, new.

[Jeron]

Adding oil only helps, and therefore indicates, the rings.

I've compression tested my M3 engine cold with no add oil and I dont remember the numbers being low.

[coolbear1]

Thats what I figured.
Is there any way that could have (directly or indirectly) anything to do with my imediate starting problem?
I still don't understand why no fault code.
My older version DME3.3.1 does have a code for all of the sensors that could cause the engine not to fire.
I wonder if it has to fail while running.
I am thinking the dme doesn't know anything is wrong, it just thinks the thing isn't turning.

[Jeron]

The Crank PS seems to be the most common cause of a no start with no code. But usually it is best to check fuel problems first.

[coolbear1]

The local BMW Stealer has one in stock, but as usual, they like it more than I do.
I'll order one from our host, get it on the car, and see what happens.

Again,

Thank you for your assistance,

RB

[Jeron]

I can imagine the dealer wants over 125.

[coolbear1]

Try 163.

[coolbear1]

Well Jaron, I finally got a chance to stop working on air conditioners(my profesion} long enough to look at the car, I had a bad crank shaft sensor, and even better a bad compression guage.
The oil wasn't helping the cylinders as much as it was freeing a sticking guage.
The compression is almost as good as a new car.
All is fine with Frauline Helga ( thats the cars name), except for the brittle plastic themostat housing I broke that I should have replaced with a metal one last time I replaced the t-stat.

I Thank you and Mama Bear thanks you.

[Jeron]

Ha mine broke too. That's what happens when you leave the wrench on the main bolt after doing a leak down test.

I replaced mine with a metal one I bought two years ago. All the new parts I buy and dont put on come in handy sometimes.