What did you do for your ZHP/ BMW / MINI today? #2

[Hornung418]

Hope this is viewable to you guys. I have only done this kind of upload once.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ki...e_gdata_player

From a GS3, this was sent.

[Newjack]

Hope this is viewable to you guys. I have only done this kind of upload once.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ki...e_gdata_player

From a GS3, this was sent.

Video works fine. Progress!


I figure if the fuel pump failed, then it wouldn't even start. Can you keep it going if you hold down the throttle? In the video I can see your RPM's falling and then the engine cuts off. Is that because you take your foot off the throttle? Or because it just won't deliver fuel?

[Avetiso]

Good luck figuring it out, Justin.

[johnrando]

Good luck figuring it out, Justin.

+1

[Hornung418]

Video works fine. Progress!


I figure if the fuel pump failed, then it wouldn't even start. Can you keep it going if you hold down the throttle? In the video I can see your RPM's falling and then the engine cuts off. Is that because you take your foot off the throttle? Or because it just won't deliver fuel?

The engine only started because of the Starter Fluid. This test determined that it was fuel related and not spark. Now I have to find out how the injectors are functioning. If filling up the tank with some new gas and adding some fuel additive doesn't work then it's off to diagnose the new problem.

[Newjack]

I wonder if the timing of the fuel being released is a little off or something like that. Different liter motor has different timing in the fuel release? :shrug

This is pretty far out of my element, just throwing darts at a wall here.

Glad to hear that it is finally running, and that you have been able to narrow down your problem.

[Hornung418]

Yeah now that I can get it to turn over and fire, I will have to plug it into the computer and get a data log. That's a great thought, Rob. Sounds like a reasonable stab at the issue. Very well could be it, who knows.

[terraphantm]

I wonder if the timing of the fuel being released is a little off or something like that. Different liter motor has different timing in the fuel release? :shrug

This is pretty far out of my element, just throwing darts at a wall here.

Glad to hear that it is finally running, and that you have been able to narrow down your problem.

I explained this on e46fanatics to Hornung, but it seems to have gone down (for me at least) so I might as well explain it here too.

The displacement shouldn't make a difference as far as "synchronisation" goes. It is the angular position of cylinder, and not the linear position that matters for fuel injection, spark, etc... (within reason -- when you're trying to squeeze every last horse power out, linear position matters, but for simply getting the engine running, it's not going to make a difference). The pistons in any I6 will reach TDC and BDC at the same angles. The linear distance traveled/work done by the engine with a longer stroke will be greater than that of a smaller stroke, but as long as the cylinders are offset by 120º to each other, the timing of the pulses will be identical for a given RPM.

This picture should explain what I mean

Short Stroke vs Long Stroke

[330i ZHP]

check the five fuses that are under the cover in the DME box - the are the master control for engine functions (OVER THE fuse block fuses)

Remove rear seat cushion, on passenger side remove the round cover on fuel pump and listen for priming when you turn the key on...if no prime, check for 12v...if 12v - then fuel pump dead...it is a somewhat common issue on all cars and E46s in general

[Imola.ZHP]

check the five fuses that are under the cover in the DME box - the are the master control for engine functions (OVER THE fuse block fuses)

Remove rear seat cushion, on passenger side remove the round cover on fuel pump and listen for priming when you turn the key on...if no prime, check for 12v...if 12v - then fuel pump dead...it is a somewhat common issue on all cars and E46s in general

Yup, mine died a few years back, I would guess I was at about 110k. I had gotten into the (bad) habit of letting the car get to basically 0 miles and filling her up. Some people think that this makes the fuel pump work harder and can cause premature failure.

If you have power and are not hearing the fuel pump work, try lightly tapping either the pump itself or the tank from underneath the car. After having mine towed to the shop on a roll-back an ex friend of mine did this (slapped the fuel tank under the car 2-3 times) and the car fired right up and he drove it into the shop. Might (or might not have) saved me a tow if I had known that.