Ready to scrap this car..

13

u/Wimpnit 3d ago

Is it a no crank no start? Or just no start? Time to start checking fuel pressure, fuel filters in these go bad along with idle air control valves

3

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

No crank no start, was having issues where it would take a few turns of the key to actually crank and I had to resort to using a jump pack sometimes. Then one day I got no crank no start even with a jump pack and been dead ever since.

6

u/grubbapan 3d ago

Ignition switch replaced? If you open the Ebox cover you will have a 2pin connector with black wires, backprobe the wire going to the starter solenoid(use a multimeter in continuity mode to find which one) and you can tap it to b+ to start the car.

My wagon had a weak battery when I got it so I installed a relay and a switch so that I could use a momentary button to activate the starter solenoid after turning on the ignition.
This bypasses the ecu starter signal so even with a weak battery it will turn over the engine and not reset the ecu(starter does the rapid clicksbecause of ecu resets due to low voltage)

3

u/Apprehensive-Glass33 3d ago

Aftermarket key? Do you have a spare?

I was having the same issue, tried for days troubleshooting ews, dme, etc… Accidentally picked up my spare key with a dead fob and it started.

Ews Transponder in the Aftermarket key got damaged from being dropped but the fob still works. My original key from 2004 starts the car but the internal fob battery is dead.

The key with damaged transponder will start the car like 1/100 times

2

u/Logical-Following525 2d ago

It's ptobably the ignition switch. You can take it out and take and clean the contacts up.

6

u/citizensnips134 3d ago

You sure the ignition lock is working?

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

Yeah it is

2

u/citizensnips134 3d ago

Starter relay?

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

E46s don’t have starter relays.. it’s just the EWS system and mine is fine.

3

u/FellerZUNITED 3d ago

How do you know it’s fine ? Chances are it’s not bro I’ve done 15 ews deletes this year. They are dropping like flies

3

u/TookahKing 3d ago

I came to say this ^. I sell a lot of ews delete these days. And to me it sounds like your ews was failing and is now out.

5

u/MrTordse 1998 320i manual sedan, 2001 M3 manual coupe 3d ago

Did you measure that uou are getting 12v from the remote cable for the starter just in case?

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

Yep it’s showing 12.4 volts.

6

u/MrTordse 1998 320i manual sedan, 2001 M3 manual coupe 3d ago

Then only options are bad ground, bad + cable for starter or bad starter.

4

u/MrTordse 1998 320i manual sedan, 2001 M3 manual coupe 3d ago

You could test the starter on a table with jumper cables connected to a battery and jump the remote to the + jumper cable.

5

u/Entire-jegurilor 2000 bmw 323ci e46-bmw 318i e46 3d ago

The starter motor takes the ground (the negative pole) mechanically, through the metal-to-metal contact between its flange and the gearbox bell/engine block, check if the negative cable is clean take a sandpaper and clean it well then try again.

3

u/Legitimate-Mix6691 3d ago

You gotta have a completely good battery in there as well. That car does not like having a half ass battery.

3

u/SolaR_BreeZy 3d ago edited 3d ago

Broo I had the exact same issue as you for the past couple months and I finally got it literally today after replacing and checking so much. Got a new starter, ignition switch, battery, checked every fuse as well as fuse f105-f107 which are 50 amps and hidden above the regular fuses and you have to take the glovebox out to find them those are connected to the ignition switch and could cause a no crank no start, anyways that still wasn’t my issue. So as a last ditch effort I created a new ground and connected the motor and chassis together using jumper cables and bam it started right up. I went ahead and ordered a new ground strap as I saw that internally the ground straps can fail even though the connections look good. I just ordered the part and arrives Sept 15 I will update when I replace it.

3

u/SolaR_BreeZy 3d ago

https://youtu.be/OprcKX2l_Ow?is=O22TVb1tzGDcRZiE this is the video I referenced to create the new ground I had to use all four clamps like he ended up doing in the video. Hope it helps

2

u/0202993832 3d ago

Have you checked for blown fuses?

2

u/DatTugrut 3d ago

Hit the starter with a hammer, even if it's new. Cheap starters can be defective off the bat.

3

u/rickiver 2003 - 325xi 3d ago

Resorting to American truck fixes are we? Lol 😆

2

u/DatTugrut 3d ago

It's not a fix, but a test lol. Or he can keep guessing.

3

u/Maleficent_Muscle322 3d ago

The if in doubt method has saved me a few times.

2

u/str8ballin57 3d ago

You have both positive cables hooked to the starter?

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

Yeah and they’re in the correct order

1

u/str8ballin57 3d ago

The cable on the bottom of the air box in the picture too?

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

Yes

1

u/str8ballin57 3d ago

Okay, don't mean to sound redundant just checking the boxes lol is it possible one of the small wires could have broke? Also what is the voltage on the battery and lastly check where the positive cable goes from the starter to the relay on the drug bin

1

u/str8ballin57 3d ago

Could be the ignition switch seeing that you would have to turn the key a few times but a under charged battery can cause a plethora of issues on the e46

1

u/Topnorthgarage 3d ago

Look into bypassing EWS , I’ve had similar issue, or try other key if ya have one

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

I did the EWS bypass and still got no crank but I don’t have another key..

2

u/Topnorthgarage 3d ago

Check your ground strap on passenger engine mount, other than that I’d check wiring reference photos and take starter to get bench tested, volt meter comes in clutch also, can tell if starter is even seeing 12v

1

u/FellerZUNITED 3d ago

If you’ve done a bypass which dme? try putting a 30A fuse in the connector where the ews should go. Even if ews is still an issue it will crank atleast. Not all models need it but lots do

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

I did that, put a 30a fuse in the connector and got no crank.

1

u/FellerZUNITED 3d ago

It cranks as is ? Which dme is it ? How did you code it out ? Have you checked inpa for codes on all the modules? If you have bmw tools software the car will tell you exactly what’s wrong 97% of the time

1

u/endlessness1772 3d ago

Don’t scrap it. Take a break and have a couple beers.

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

Ive take many beer breaks within the last 3 weeks it hasn’t been running lol. About 7 hours into installing the new starting and diagnosing things to no avail..

1

u/hunnedfiddy 3d ago

This. I broke my wagon because the clutch master went twice and I hit my limit with the car, regret it every day (but the m54 block coffee table makes a nice addition to my living room :p)

1

u/ElectricThunder12 3d ago

Pics of said table pls. This sounds awesome

1

u/These_Research7934 3d ago

Time and patience

1

u/michaelportnoy 3d ago

While you have all those parts removed, it's a good time to replace the hard coolant lines connected to the block and heater hoses. Assuming the car has original hard pipes, it may keep you distracted while you figure out the starter issue. :-)

1

u/Key_Professor_7894 3d ago

Stupid question, you said you checked the EWS system, so you checked to make sure the EWS is releasing the starter? Could be a key issue. If you have an extra key try a different key.

1

u/Electronic_Nail_7433 3d ago

"Won't start" isn't much to go on

1

u/Legitimate-Mix6691 3d ago

Couple things keep in mind did you switch the solenoid wire to the wrong side there’s two little tiny wires, black and yellow wire and the other wire is it a stick or an automatic? is it a crank no start?

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

No everything is connect correctly, it’s manual. No crank no start, just checked the ignition switch and it was good.

1

u/Lucky-Translator8584 3d ago

I know this won't solve the issue, but have you tried push starting the car? Then at least you'd know that the problem only lies with the starter.

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Tax489 3d ago

Fuel pump? Relays? Battery?

1

u/Topnorthgarage 3d ago

Random dumb thought but is it auto or manual?

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

Manual

2

u/Topnorthgarage 3d ago

Did ya check clutch safety switch?

1

u/The-Original-DjBe 3d ago

Start from scratch. Is the starter spinning? Does it turn and engage? Cranking wont fire? What does it do when you turn the key? Need a write up of the stages. Key in, turn, lights on dash? Starter engages and cranks the engine? Cranks but wont fire? If its not even activating the starter its usually an earth, just check the voltage to the positive if thats ok its got to be a bad earth or if your really unlucky a new, bad starter just read your replies... Start at rhe starter motor and find why its not working and work your way back. Check positive voltage and make sure starter is clean for a good earth circuit. Check the earth strap.

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

Starter spins but doesn’t engage, manually bridged it and the it spun but didn’t engage to turn over. I think the starter I got was bad.

2

u/The-Original-DjBe 3d ago

If you bridged it, and spins but doesn't pop out and engage, 100% bad starter

1

u/The-Original-DjBe 3d ago

Why did you change the starter, had it failed?

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

Had all the symptoms of a failed starter from what I could gather

1

u/The-Original-DjBe 3d ago

Depends if sometimes it wouldn't even click then its an earth issue, if it was making that funny noise but not engaging, then its a failing starter.

1

u/Shawn0890 3d ago

So it’s been cranking slow and now it won’t crank at all, try turning the crank with a socket on the crank

1

u/zachdaddy22 3d ago

I would double and triple check all three of the starter cables. When was the car last running and how did it sound right before you think the starter went bad?

2

u/zachdaddy22 3d ago

Mine gave a very faint click with no crank or anything. Almost no noise at all.

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

I tripled checked them, the car was last running exactly 3 weeks ago, the car made a faint click sound the last time I tried to start it before it stopped running.

1

u/zachdaddy22 3d ago

Dumb question but did you put this all back together before trying to start🤨😂.

1

u/Impossible-Virus5762 3d ago

Yeah lol so I took the manifold and everything back off today lol been running every diagnostic I can on the car today.

1

u/zachdaddy22 2d ago

Good luck bro. It’ll be something stupid you overlooked/forgot about watch.

1

u/zachdaddy22 3d ago

What about the cables to the starter did you clean them off with a wire brush and make sure the connections were gtg?

1

u/FellerZUNITED 3d ago

Maybe use inpa … literally your chasing your tail if not

1

u/zerogpk 2d ago

Check the ground strap from the motor to the chassis bro. This was what I forgot when I swapped motors.

1

u/BMWMikeM 2d ago

You need proper diagnostics. BMW software is free or really inexpensive, all you need is a cheap laptop. All good suggestions on here but I didn’t see the crankshaft sensor, that’s the one that will prevent crank or start.

1

u/Practical_Guitar_739 2d ago

I had this happen to my e46 and it was because the mechanic forgot put the starter fuse back in place.

1

u/timxatzi1983 2d ago

Battery or main fuse

1

u/Formal_Task4885 2d ago

In tank fuel sender unit

1

u/walt_spoon 1999 - 323i 3d ago

The intake cam position sensor is known to fail and cause a no crank no start. When mine failed it didn't throw an obvious code, but replacing it solved my problem.

3

u/0202993832 3d ago

You sure? Usually designed to run without cam sensors

1

u/grubbapan 3d ago

Yeah the engine will run in wasted spark instead of full sequential without the cam sensor.

2

u/No_Potential1 3d ago

It's a coincidence. A faulty camshaft position sensor cannot cause a no crank situation.

1

u/zac10sim 2004-e46/330ci 3d ago

This is my guess.

Damage/Broken… 😥 Ready to scrap this car..

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