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85 BMW 325e won't start w/new battery & full tank?

OUr 85 BMW 325e has sat in our parking lot for about 4 months. We tried to start it and realized the battery was dead so we put a new fresh battery in it. It still won't start. We had AAA come out & add additional gas to the tank...won't start. We replaced the fuel line about 5 months ago.

This vehicle is fuel injected.....any suggestions?

Update:

It was running fine up until the winter storm that passed through a few weeks back. We would have to jump it to get it going but it would be fine afterwards.

My husband and I are reviewing all the answers so please keep posting answers.

We are selling this car for $750 and don't want to put too much into it...we just want it run.

Update 2:

Before the car was completely dead, now there's power going everywhere. The engine sounds like it's going to start, but it doesn't.

Update 3:

Any ideas on how to find out what the security code is?

13 Answers

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  • s2scrm
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Buy some starting fluid (comes in spray cans). Crank the engine while your assitant sprays the stuff into the air intake horn (usually forward of the core support).

    If the engine starts but doesn't continue to stay running, your fuel delivery system isn't delivering said fuel.

    If the engine doesn't even think about starting, check your inertia switch (all cars built after 1987 and many before have a switch that cuts off fuel and ignition following an impact).

    If there's no reason the inertia switch would have been tripped, check the usual things that go south on 20 year old cars. Check under the dist cap for dirty cap contacts, dirty magnetic or optical sensors, or (God forbid) pitted or closed points, though I'm pretty sure an '85 is going to be electronic ignition.

    Good luck. I like those old 325s, I hope you get it working.

    .

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    well, you start from the bottom.

    First, look over the engine bay. If you have anything that looks out of the ordinary, thats more then likely your problem. I mean if you have a black mass of melted plastic, thats an issue. If nothing looks werid, go to the next step.

    Fuses and relays. Are you getting any power whatsover to your engine bay? do you hear the starter turnover? Check the fuses in the engine compartment to see if any are burnt out.

    Next, push in all the wiring harnesses, to make sure they are secure.

    Try starting the car.

    Then if it still doesnt start, disconnect the negative battery terminal, and press the brakes a few times. Wait a couple of minutes, then reconnected the cable. Try starting the car.

    If it doesnt work, next check to see if you have spark. Unplug 1 spark plug wire at the spark plug, look in the boot and have someone start your car. If you see a spark, then move to the next plug. Do this for all the plugs.

    If you have spark, see if you have fuel pressure. Look for the fuel injectors. They look like lower case 'y's, they will be connected to a fuel rail. On the end of the rail, is a little valve that looks like the air valve on a tire. get a rag and hold it close to the valve, next take a nail and lightly press the metal pin in in the valve. If gasoline sprays out, then you have fuel pressure.

    Do these things, and if you still cannot solve your problem, post back in here with the things youve tried to do.

  • 1 decade ago

    I want a BMW but ummm yeah, if it's a new battery then more then likely the alternator isn't getting anymore charge... Isn't hard to change and is about 40 to 60 bucks...

  • 1 decade ago

    I like the security code answer. Can you tell if the engine is getting fuel? How about the fuel pump? Have your husband turn the key to the run position as you stand in the back of the car listen for a whirling noise if you hear that whirling sound your fuel pump is working. If that is the case add something called HEAT. It is a fuel additive that thaws out the fuel line. The last thing I can think of is a clogged fuel filter, but do the code thing first. When the battery is removed everything gets cleared out. like the radio preset buttons for the stations you have set. Let us know

  • 1 decade ago

    Just want to say that you shouldn't get carried away with the starting fluid. It burns hotter than gasoline, and could damage the rings and pistons if too much is used at once. Engines can also become "addicted" to it. Use short bursts of the spray and stop once the engine starts.

  • 4 years ago

    85 325e

  • dVille
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    Check and/or replace, as necessary, the hoses on the air intake which is computer balanced. Also any hard components in the air intake system for cracks that might be altering the air intake that the computer is not adjusting for. This will prevent starting if there is a leak in the system.

    Source(s): I have an Alfa Romeo and I had the same problem with the fuel injection.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Try spraying starting fluid into the intake manifold, and if it starts - look for fuel delivery problem like frozen line, water in gas, bad fuel pump, etc.

  • 1 decade ago

    check all the fuses' you could have a blown fuse to the fuel pump circuit or the ignition circuit' sometimes when the battery is replaced the fuse will blow when the battery is conected'you can remove them one at atime and look to see if there blown

  • 1 decade ago

    could be the gas has turned to turpentine in the fuel injection system, Buy a really good fuel cleaner and mix in the gas . Be careful with spray starting cans, your can bottom out the motor with that stuff.

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