Car Wont Start!?!?!

[prd318ownr]

Right now my car wont start. My lights turn on fine. Everything else seems fine and that the battery isnt the issue..

However the car wont start. I have my ignition setup as a push ignition which usually works fine.

I was able to get my car over to work. and it seems to startup only when it wants to.

Any ideas???/// Im exhausted, checked all the possible wiring, push button is fine..

[prd318ownr]

bump!!!

[CirrusSR22]

I'm guessing it doesn't even crank. Correct?

Auto or Manual? If it's an auto, try to put the car in Neutral (instead of park) when starting.

[prd318ownr]

its a manual.. no crank..but i cant push start it...

[DGWGuitars]

Here's a long shot, but I had the same thing happen when mine was in for replacement of a window regulator. It ended up being the key, so if you've got a spare, try it. Mine had the same problem, in that everything would work, but it wouldn't turn over. The mechanic said that the engine's computer wouldn't recognize the key. $50 and a two-day wait later she was back humming.

[prd318ownr]

arg!! That didnt work either..

My car still wont start, im pissed. i dont feel like bringin it anywhere because i know they are gonna charge me and arm n a leg for diagnosis...

[DGWGuitars]

Sorry that didn't work. If yours is like mine, the problem was diagnosed very quickly by one computer reading the other. Good luck.

[gietl]

Well FNG here and I don't even have one (a ti) but knowing that these cars did not come with a push button start and reading either here or another BMW site about someone else with a ti and a push button start with a similar issue I would assume you have an electrical problem (Doy right?). Well did you do the install of the mod? Is there any corrosion on the wires, is the ground okay? Have you recently done any other mods that might have had you working in or around the area of the modified start?

We used to have an 87 MB 190E that had an aftermarket security key installed by the MB dealer back in 87 when it was my Fiance's mothers car. It was a nice feature, then one day the car wouldn't start with the security key in and we had to have it towed. They never could find the exact place that it was failing but something had gone bad somewhere down the line and it had to be bypassed. Wasn't a big deal in 1999 since the car was 12 years old.

The point being, is there an easy way to bypass the push start?

Also, a dying battery may still act fine for lights and accessories but may not be pushing enough juice to get the car to crank. I had that happen on my 2000 Audi A6 2.7T 6sp and on my 77 Scout. In both cases the battery was dying and would hold a charge but not enough to start the vehicle.

[prd318ownr]

well i still havnt fixed this problem.. any ideas would be much appreciated before i go and spend 400 on a possible fix (new starter)..

[maxt]

Dont take this with offense, but you dont seem to know a whole lot of knowledge about electrical diagnosis. the smart thing to do is to bring the car to a trained specialist and have the fault traced properly. From there, you can opt to fix yourself. Its never a bad idea to pay an hour or 2 of labor for proper diagnosis. Guessing and throwing parts at it is the wrong way.

I know dealer labor is approximately 75$ an hour in my area.

[Breeze30]

My car has the same problem. I would check the terminals at the starter and see if the wire from the switch to the selenoid is hot when the ignition switch is turned. If it's hot, then it probably is the starter , but if it is not getting any power, it might be a relay or some other thing. I would go check mine but it's 200 miles away right now. If you do find something out, please post and tell us, I thought it was just my car that was having all the problems. Thanks

[Viper3812]

I had a similare problem about a month ago. The car wouldnt budge and the lights came on. I took it in to a shop and they ran a diagnostics and found a couple codes and found out it was a that blew because of one of the lines broke or something like that. They had to take out the glove box to look at the wiring and find the problem.

Hope this helps.

Definatley go for a diagnostics check, only $25 pending on where you go.

[Breeze30]

I had a chance to check on my car this weekend. Apparently the dash lights and radio (if I left it on) would just decide to come on when it wanted to, the car was locked, alarm on and the keys inside the house. I tried to start it, and nothing, not even a click. Odometer lights, and radio would not go off when I took the key out (sometimes, other times everything was fine). Also, wipers would work without the key in the ignition. I checked with the wiring diagram from my trusty Bentley manual and found that with the key out of the switch I have power on the back side of the switch. It's a violet (purple) wire on the back of the ignition. If you take out the one plastic screw on the bottom of the column and pull the cover off you'll see it on the drivers side, bottom of the column. You should have power at the red wire when the key is not in the ignition, not the purple. So I'm ordering an ignition switch today to see if this fixes my problem. -Update- I put in the new switch this morning, it took 20 minutes and 70 bucks, problem fixed. Hope this helps.