1993 BMW 320 93 BMW 320i euro spec turns over but won't sta

Tiny
FUELSLUT
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 BMW 320
Engine Mechanical problem
1993 BMW 320 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Manual

I'm stationed in Italy and own a euro spec '93 BMW 320i (w/ VANOS). I was on my way to dinner the other night when the car started bucking and then stalled. It wouldn't start back up at all even after waiting 30 mins. So I had it towed home.

A friend and I starting digging into the next day to see what the deal was.

-I removed the back seat and listened to the fuel pump. I can hear it priming and feel fuel.
-I disconnected the supply line to the fuel rail and tried start it to see if gas would come out and it did
-I shot the wires to the fuel injectors and and they pulsed during a start attempt (which i'm taking is good)
-I hooked up a spark tester to the plugs and we got spark on all plugs
-I checked the compression as best I could (eng was cold) and it was good
-I took out the cover plugs to the cam shaft and checked the timing chain to see if it was loose or broke but it was good.

The car turns over fine but just won't fire up. So my buddy has 3 theories:

1. Bad Gas
2. Bad Camshaft Sensor
3. Bad Crankshaft Sensor

PLEASE HELP! I'll take any suggestions!
Monday, November 10th, 2008 AT 6:07 AM

2 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
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2. Bad Camshaft Sensor
3. Bad Crankshaft Sensor

If there's a problem with this 2-you won't get spark or injection pulses-recommend you check fuel pressure with and w/o the fuel pressure regulator with a fuel pressure gauge designed for your fuel system it should read 43psi if not attack the fuel pump and report back ASAP
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Monday, November 10th, 2008 AT 6:22 AM
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
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If you are getting fuel pressure and an injection signal and spark then bad fuel or some sort of contamination is what I would suspect. If the crank and cam sensor went at the same time (I doubt it) then you would not be getting an injector signal or spark. The system is designed to work in case of sensor failure. Look at the fuel and see if it has water in it or something else, look at the color of the fuel too.
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Monday, November 10th, 2008 AT 10:24 AM

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