cant get my beemer to start when hot

[JackPike]

I hope some kind soul could help me here or else my annual trip to the fens will be off. Ok i got a bmw 525 se lux automatic d reg 1987 i think right after a journey say of more than 10 miles and if i stop for more than 10 mins she wont start but if i leave it for an hour or two then she will fire first time no probs. I had to get the AA out today he tested my battery said that was ok then tested the starter and he said i was only getting 8 volts to the starter motor and had a promblem between the ignition and starter causing a high resistant. He got my car started and wish me luck .could it be a relay or a bigger problem cheers Jp

[chesters1]

does the engine turn :confused: all the ignition switch does is trip the relay ,is the battery ok ,is the starter motor ok ,a sticky starter will need more amps to turn ,if the engine spins but doesnt catch its a fuel or spark trouble

check the earth strap between the battery and body and to the engine

 

[ 08. August 2002, 11:33 PM: Message edited by: chesters1 ]

[Elton]

I had similar symptoms on my old Mini when I had a dodgy coil.

 

Elton

[chesters1]

i had a problem with my landrover ,it had intermittant ignition problems when hot ,one day it broke down on a single lane bridge just down the road ,a suzuki jeep towed me off it (ow the embarrasment) i found after 1/2 an hour it started ok ,at home i found that the low tension wire side of the ignition was faulty ,the wire had broken inside the rubber covering ,when it got hot the rubber stretched causing the wire to "break" ofcourse when it cooled it contracted and all was normal the vibration of the engine wiggled it enough to run,it took several hours of hard work with a meter to track the devil down

[Elton]

The other problem similar to this I had was an Escort that overheated once because of a loose wire. Engine turned, but wouldn't start. Let it cool down and it was fine.

 

Elton

[Nugg]

Two areas feul or ignition, could be running too rich, i pump problem, but more likely ignition and I without seeing it would go for carbon on the distributer terminals, but more likely it's cracked, you can't always see the crack but sometimes you can just pick out a slight dusty looking line running down it.

[JackPike]

ok thanks for that i will check all of them suggested the AA man said the battery was ok the also said the the starter was fine but he said it was a mystery why the starter was only recieving 8 volts instead of 12, the earth strap is fine it could be a faulty relay or a broken wire i will let u know how i get on with it thanks again chappies

[Jim Roper]

BMW: Breakdown Most Weeks

 

So a garage friend of mine tells me.

 

Jim Roper

 

http://www.thisisdorset.net

http://www.searchlineuk.com/FishList.htm

[JackPike]

whats happening is after a run and i stop when i come to start the starter motor seems dead but when i leave it for an hour it will start no prob she runs like a dream theres no trouble with the engine jp

[chesters1]

did he test the battery under drain ,you may have a duff cell ,it will read 12v but when the starter draws current it will drop very fast ,try borrowing another battery and see if the result is the same ,all the relay does is switch the voltage through its contacts ,they usually work or dont :confused: check the pos conection to the starter for tightness ,if your technically minded you could bypass it with a VERY HEAVY bit of wire from the battery to the starter +pos terminal( not for the faint hearted i take no responsibility) without the rotor arm in place this will see if its the relay (do it while hot) or if the relay is cheap enough replace it ,this only leaves the starter it could be starting to sieze ,they can be stripped and spray grease CAREFULLY put on the bearings ,if its the old fashioned type that uses centrifugal force to engage the cog do not grease the spiral it attracts dirt and makes it worse