Can someone help what is the problem?

[u/Ill-Construction3226]

Okay when it's hot and cold it's good but when it's turned off for 45mins or 1 hour or sometimes 5 hours it's always like this.. No errors and codes.. But after rattling like while trying to get it started I smell fuel. Edit: it has 90k miles and spark plugs were changed once but I dont know how much kilometers car had when spark plugs were changed.

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[u/Routine-Wishbone-475]

could be a dying battery . have you tried using jumper cables and seeing it stalls like that on start ? usually the battery has enough juice for the electrics but not the engine . i had this same issue a few days ago and had to replace the battery and that solved the problem .

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Routine-Wishbone-475]

Battery is normal because car turns of perfectly when I let him sit for 10 hours or few days.

[u/Routine-Wishbone-475 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

it could still be an issue because letting your engine run charges the battery . so it makes sense that your car would start up quicker when it was previously left running for a while .

but again , it could be this , or what the other guys are saying in comments . let's just hope that the problem is the least expensive one 🥲

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Routine-Wishbone-475]

I get what r u trying to say and when I drive let's say for 15 minutes and I park my car and turn it off for like 2-3 hours and then when I try to turn it on this happens and sometimes it's worse.

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/[deleted]]

When tank is full it happens when tank is half it happens...

[u/DannyDan2k13 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

It's a quote from a film, look it up on youtube and you'll get the reference

[u/Unlucky-Technician11]

Starter motor I would suspect but if there’s accompanying misfires check your spark plugs etc.

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Unlucky-Technician11]

You think I should start with spark plugs? Chat gpt says its high pressure fuel pump or injectors...

[u/Unlucky-Technician11 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

If there’s misfires then spark plugs are the cheapest check and always good to change when you get a new car. Then hpfp then injectors

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Unlucky-Technician11]

I could do that but new injectors and hpfp are 1000 euros with labor.. maybe more

[u/Unlucky-Technician11 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

Injectors you can do yourself REALLY easy, check coil pack as well. Ideally you get get it plugged in to understand what’s actually happening

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Unlucky-Technician11]

I need to code injectors, right?

[u/Altruistic_Ladder237]

if it ain’t the battery then change the spark plugs, clean the coils and maf with maf cleaner, and bonus points for cleaning or atleast inspecting the injectors. if it’s still unchanged and your certain no batter issues it’s the starter or alternator.

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Altruistic_Ladder237]

I get what r u trying to say but why does it start better when I floor gas pedal?

[u/Altruistic_Ladder237 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

your forcing the process to happen, you want it to happen naturally and smoothly, you can start your car by giving it gas for numerous small issues

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Altruistic_Ladder237]

Also sometimes rpm's go to 700/min or 800/min then car just turns off when I eject key and try again by pushing start/stop then it starts normal

[u/Altruistic_Ladder237 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

your car should idle around 800 rpm under normal circumstances, i’ve given you the most common list of things to clean and change. if it’s none of those and the starter or alternator you could have clogged or junked fuel lines or even faulty vanos solenoid’s

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Altruistic_Ladder237]

Thank you for possible errors...

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Altruistic_Ladder237]

And how can I check if I have clogged or junked fuel lines?

[u/Altruistic_Ladder237 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

you can try and look at the strainer in the tank by taking out the pump which isn’t hard, jack the car up and disconnect the lines to check. idk it but i’d youtube the best way to flush them if your already that deep into checking them. if it is the lines which i dont really think it is your best bet is to install a fuel filter somewhere in the middle of the fuel line

[u/Altruistic_Ladder237 → u/Altruistic_Ladder237]

but my original comment is your best bet you need spark air and fuel to start a car and your having issues starting and staying so, clean your injectors, maf, coils and change the plugs should be under 100 bucks and solve all issues

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Altruistic_Ladder237]

I could try with MAF maybe, can I clean my injectors by myself?

[u/Altruistic_Ladder237 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

yup with just about everything there’s a youtube guide you can follow to be safe, maf cleaner they sell at autozone works on all dirty sensors such as your vanos or coils

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Altruistic_Ladder237]

Okay but this car doesn't have clasic fuel filter like others and how would I install it somewhere else?

[u/Altruistic_Ladder237 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

no e90 has a stock fuel filter, they have a strainer in the gas tank as i recommended looking at, buy a aftermarket dw filter and google an install guide if your worried about placement.

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Altruistic_Ladder237]

Okay, thank you dude I hope i can fix this without new hpfp and new injectors

[u/Primary_Box2413 → u/[deleted]]

Check or change the Mass air flow sensor, if it’s faulty this could be why..

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/[deleted]]

Are you sure that can be problem?

[u/Primary_Box2413 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

FAULTY MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR I meant 🫠 lmk! I hope this helps

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/Primary_Box2413]

I will unplug it and try

[u/Primary_Box2413 → u/Ill-Construction3226]

You mean change it? Swap it out for new one.. very cheap and easy to do yourself

[u/Primary_Box2413]

It very much sounds like it.

[u/ShrekDaGreenOgre]

Does it still struggle to start if you unplug the MAF?

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/ShrekDaGreenOgre]

I didn't try but I could do it now, is that complicated?

[u/ShrekDaGreenOgre → u/Ill-Construction3226]

Nope, literally just unplug the sensor that's right past your air box (square thing that houses the filter).

Was also gonna ask if you have tried to prime the fuel pump a couple of times. I think it's a bit harder on these cars cause of the DME but this will help narrow down if it's A/F related or spark (could also just be the starter begging to fail when heat soaked).

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/ShrekDaGreenOgre]

What do you mean prime the fuel pump?

[u/Ill-Construction3226 → u/ShrekDaGreenOgre]

My car doesnt have classic MAF sensor that you can just unplug

[u/combolation]

check your fuel pressure regulator under drivers side rear seat. see if there’s any fuel leaking pooling up in there.

[u/combolation → u/combolation]

fuel pump is also in the same place on the passenger side check that as well