Cuts out and dies. Won´t start again. Please help!

livi · 07-17-2006, 02:46 AM

NOW WHAT ??!!

As many of you may recollect, I just recently managed a DIY service including valves, oil+filter, air filter, fuel filter and plugs, rotor and dist.cap. I was tremendously proud.

Since then I have perhaps driven 60 miles. Drove perfectly. Even stronger than before.

Today, after driving a few miles, it abruptly cuts out. This happens a few times and with a little extra throttle it starts up again. Then it just stops for good. The starter motor works fine and the gauge lights are working. But she won´t ignite and start. I think the sound when turning on the ignition has change slightly. At least there is a sound I don´t think I have heard before. A little "peewuuoo" that dies out in a second or two.

Everything in the bay looks OK, including dist.cap with plugs.

My first, very uneducated guess, would be either the fuel pump or the DME.

Any and all advice much appreciated!

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

DME relay is a common issue

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

Not sure I can really help Markus, but I had the same problem on my BMW (not a 911 I know!!), and it turned out to be related to a bad (new) spark plug.

Hope you get her back on the road again soon...

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Check coil wire and plug wires. Check rotor and then make sure distributor cap is seated properly.

livi · 07-17-2006, 03:20 AM

OK, thanks guys !

Pål, did your engine die completely with only one bad plug ??

Bill, so I understand. I will order a new DME in any case. Cheap and good to have as back up.

Jester, how would one check the coil ? I will take a look at the dist.cap and rotor.

jester911 · jester911's Garage

The coil wire is what I was referring to. Just make the sure the center wire is plugged in on both ends. You have to figure this problem is related to the work done recently. Just retracing all you did to make sure it is good before assuming some other problem.

It usually is not a cooincidence having problems following work done on the car.

livi · 07-17-2006, 03:32 AM

Yes Jerry, I suppose thats too logical to ignore.

I expected my belief that I could actually do the maintenance myself would come back and haunt me. With a vengeance..

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Bill, so I understand. I will order a new DME in any case. Cheap and good to have as back up.

Not DME, DMErelay

under the drivers seat
the large silver box, next to the tunnel is the DME. That's where your chip is.

In the middle, the small black box is the DME relay, these are problematic, often failing at the internal solder joints (repairable)

the round puck further outboard is the altitude correction switch

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Don't look at it that way. You saved yourself serious money and you learned more about your car.

Hard not to feel good about that.

The car ran so it obviously wasn't anything major.
More than likely something that came loose.

Happens to all of us. Troubleshooting is also a skill.

Just go over all your work and then go from there.

livi · 07-17-2006, 03:45 AM

Thanks Jerry, I will.

Yes, Bill. Thanks. Thats what I meant too. The relay.

livi · 04:59 AM

All the wires are attached properly at both ends. Took of and inspected the dist.cap (bran new) - looks OK. Put it back seated properly. The wire to the coil seems to be in place at both ends.

Since it does not even come close to starting - does that make it more likely the ignition ?

A bad (albeit brand new) fuel filter should not cause this I suppose ?

If I for some reason did not seat one of the plugs (new) correctly the engine would still run, would it not ?

As per Bentley, I disconnected the negative of the battery before starting my work. Could that push a 'dying' DME relay over the edge ?

The odd sound (electrical?) while turning the ignition - fuel pump busted after all ? Any way of checking that ?

Other than that I have not fiddled with anything.

I wonder why it ran perfectly (better than before the service) the first odd 60 miles. Something broken or loose during my wrenching should reveal it self immediately - no ?

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by livi
Pål, did your engine die completely with only one bad plug ??

Well it is a BMW F650GS single cylinder twin-plugged motorbike

I did say I could not really help!!

I wold do as everybody else has said, look back at everything you did during the last service, and see if there is anything close by that you could have knocked.

Kevin Stewart · 07-17-2006, 07:43 AM

Never rule out the factory alarm going out, Kevin

livi · 07-17-2006, 08:45 AM

Oh, I see how that would stall an engine Pål - with just one cylinder..

Yes, Kevin I have heard about that - but as I understand my factory alarm has been 'removed' in favor of a more modern and insurance friendly type.

livi · 07-17-2006, 10:52 AM

Found the buggering little innocent culprit. So happy it did not turn out to be something my rookie wrenching destroyed. Thanks for all your input !!

It turns out this ground terminal had come loose. I removed it temporarily for better access to the valves on left intake side. I simply tightened it and now she purrs like a kitten again. Jerry, you pointed to the obvious - go back and scrutinize your work at the recent service. Thanks!

Here´s a pic of the little bugger:

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Markus that is great. Now you can sit back and feel good about your work while your in the drivers seat

Kroggers · Kroggers's Garage

Cool. Now go out and drive her again

livi · 07-17-2006, 11:25 AM

Thanks gentlemen !

Yes, now I can upgrade the worth of my work again. For a couple of hours I kept seeing this flick before my eyes: tow truck to Porsche specialist, said specialist sadly shaking his head after hearing about me mucking about as a fool with the engine. Later presenting me with a bill worth a small condo..