» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 2,028 Views | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 462 Views | | | | | | 06-02-2014, 12:03 AM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: California Posts: 11 | '96 M44 - Doesn't crank over 1996 318ti M44 Hi - I tried searching for a solution first, but there are so many no-start threads that it's mind boggling. My car started and ran fine before I took it apart and rebuilt the cooling system. While I was in there I also replaced the starter with a re-manufactured Bosch unit. Bolted everything back together, double-checking each connector to make sure they were seated, etc. Anways, I completed the job this afternoon. Turn the ign switch on and the dash lights up normally. Turn to "start" and I hear a relay up front click on, but that car doesn't crank over. It's a three month old battery, checked for voltage and topped it off. Same problem. Climbed under the car, double-checked the connection to the starter. All three wires are connected. While digging around for a solution, someone mentioned you shouldn't disconnect the battery with the key in the switch as it can activate the immobiliser. True? I did disconnect the battery with the key in the ignition if that matters. Am I missing something really obvious? Any bones you can throw would be really appreciated. Cheers, Randy __________________ Randy W '96 318ti N. SF Bay Area | | | 06-03-2014, 01:03 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: TampaBay, Florida Posts: 104 | Use your Power Probe III,check engagement. Last edited by Bills86e; 06-03-2014 at 01:24 PM. | | | 06-03-2014, 04:24 AM | #3 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: California Posts: 11 | Quote: Originally Posted by Bills86e Use your Power Probe III,check ingagement. | Hi Bill, Thanks for your reply. However I don't own a Power Probe III (unless it's that thing the aliens did to me that one night... yikes!) and I don't think ingagement is a word. I should check power at the starter leads. Can anyone tell me what the two smaller leads at 11 and 5 o'clock are supposed to read when turned to "Start?" Thanks again, Randy __________________ Randy W '96 318ti N. SF Bay Area | | | 06-03-2014, 06:54 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Is the negative ground to the battery on tight? Are the starter wires connected to the right posts? Not sure on the immobilizer, but I suspect you can disconnect the battery for 60-90 minutes with the key in your pocket. Reconnect the battery and try to restart. No start, pull the starter and bench test. Good luck! Perhaps we will meet at our next NorCal meet. __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 06-03-2014, 07:05 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | Check the brake light fuse, it prevents cranking on my car.. __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 06-06-2014, 11:25 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Land of the Vikings Posts: 2,700 | When you were working on the cooling system, did you move or wetten the CPS (crank pos. Sensor) ? It could be this isnt giving a signal, so no crank? __________________ Vin Number decode and Retrofit Pdfs Available Free ! Just PM | | | 06-14-2014, 01:51 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gulfport, Florida Posts: 3,208 | Are you stating the car will not turn over like rotate, meaning starter engages and cranks over motor? If that is the case you most likely reversed the 2 small wires on the starter. Here is the wiring colors for a 1996 from Bentley BLK/YEL = starter solenoid....This wire only positive when key is in start position, this engages the bindex gear and cranks the motor clockwise looking from front. Red wires are big thick wires. There are two. 1 from battery positive and the other to alternator. Both wire on center pole. BLK/GRN = positive when key in run position. This wire feeds power to body electrical control module, wiper/washer module. Reasons for no power to BLK/YEL: 1. Starter will not work if EWS key code is not alligned with EWS unit. This can be bypassed if needed. 2. Automatic trans could have bad selector switch and manual trans could have bad clutch pedal switch. Good luck, John S | | | 07-04-2014, 08:03 PM | #8 | Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: California Posts: 11 | Figured it out (finally). Didn't realize there were were two large wires going to the main, large lug on the starter. The hot lead was wrapped up in the wires up near the fresh air intake above the brake master cylinder. Glad it didn't short out! Anyways, bonehead move. I'm still learning. I come from a vintage Porsche background, so this has been a bit of a learning curve at times. Thanks, Randy __________________ Randy W '96 318ti N. SF Bay Area | | | 07-06-2014, 03:50 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 373 | Okay, this is urgent for me. I've got the same issue and I can't seem to find the solution. I'm stealing cooljess' picture for this. I have my two red cables connected to the post #1. I never touched post #3. The thinner black wire is connected to post #2. The thicker black wire is connected to post #4. I get 12V between post #1 & #2. I get 12v between post #1 & #3. I never get any voltage between #1 & #4. I can leave the key off or on, nothing happens. What could I be doing wrong? __________________ 2000 M5 -> 1996 318ti -> 1997 328i Instagram: ndrewchow YouTube: MINIzguy | | | 11-09-2014, 08:51 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Hawaii Posts: 114 | Quote: Originally Posted by MINIz guy Okay, this is urgent for me. I've got the same issue and I can't seem to find the solution. I'm stealing cooljess' picture for this. I have my two red cables connected to the post #1. I never touched post #3. The thinner black wire is connected to post #2. The thicker black wire is connected to post #4. I get 12V between post #1 & #2. I get 12v between post #1 & #3. I never get any voltage between #1 & #4. I can leave the key off or on, nothing happens. What could I be doing wrong? | These posts as follows: Post #1 - #30 at the wiring diagram Post #2 - #30h at the wiring diagram Post #4 - #50 at the wiring diagram Make sure the wires for #50 and 30h goes to the right posts. | | | 11-09-2014, 08:42 AM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Hawaii Posts: 114 | Check these excerpt wiring diagrams of the starter. You can see the numbers such as #50, #30 & #30h by the solenoid. I hope this will help you to trace the wires. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |