No Spark

[Michael in MD]

Hi Guys,

I in a jamb with this car and the mechanic doesn't know what else to do.

We have no spark... the engine turns over and over but nothing ignites.

We've replaced both main and fuel relays

We've now replaced both sensors for the crank that are on the bell housing

We've swapped out the coil for one known to work. He said he's getting positive side power but no trigger (I have no idea what this means)

Without wiring diagrams he feels there's nothing else he can do, or doesn't know what else to do.

Suggested it is the brain (ECU) but has no way to check it.

The tach doesn't jump or move at all while cranking the engine

Thoughts?

This is the problem I had weeks ago when it just died while driving down the road.

Thanks for any help you can give us.

Michael [stranded] in MD

[Sheldon]

For about $80 they will go through it and diagnose if there are any problems.

-Sheldon
138k

[pm179]

Thanks Sheldon,

I posted here and on the Yahoo group and all responses say to look for ECU problems. Will do ASAP

Gotta love these old cars... 200k+

Michael

[mike325i]

mike, send me an e-mail and let me know where your located. I'd be willing to drive over and swap your ecu into my car so we can see if we get the same symptom. That would be a pretty good indicator that your ecu is bad.

mike

BMWCCA #285348 National Capital Chapter
'88 M5 black/tan 5-spd 145k
'91 325i white/black 5-spd 212k
'91 318is red/black 5-spd 135k
'95 525i gray/tan auto/vanos 122k

[mike325i]

mike

BMWCCA #285348 National Capital Chapter
'88 M5 black/tan 5-spd 145k
'91 325i white/black 5-spd 212k
'91 318is red/black 5-spd 135k
'95 525i gray/tan auto/vanos 122k

[pm179]

[gofast1]

This box contains a relay that prevents the ECU from turning on the fuel pump OR spark. You can jump it as a stopgap. Or, open it up, and see if any of the soldered traces are broken. Mine were, I soldered a wire to bridge over the gap, and that got my M5 running again.

Samir Shah.
88 M5
86 635
99 540i
81 745i
91 Lotus Elan
06 Lotus Exige (or order)

Samir Shah
81 745i
86 635csi
88 M5
99 540iT
91 Lotus Elan

[AJA]

Michael,
If you are able to eliminate the ECU I have a couple of suggestions. I just went through a very similar experience. Let me know if I can help! Art

[pm179]

Hi All,

I did send my ECU out to Programa and they fixed it (I have no idea WHAT they did though...) We put it back in the car and it fired right up.

However, we discovered other issues that had to be straightened out. I ended up replacing the coil, plugs, coolant sensors & TPS, the major problem being the weak coil.

I also replaced my problem custom e34 headers with the stock manifolds, and installed the track pipe in place of the DEC cat.

The car runs GREAT now, with pulling power all the way to redline. Removing the cat was worth 20 HP at the very top end. In all the repairs I did re-install the factory chip, removing a Gen 2 or 3 Dinan chip. This is messing with my fuel milage, also I now know what folks mean by a flat spot or notch at 4k ;-)

Thanks to everyone that helped me get this thing to where it is today... much appreciated!!

Michael

[ernest]

That is what I am running and it was a big improvement over the stock chip...removed the flat spot at 4k especially under partial throttle. I am running it with a track pipe and exhaust cam gear....although I really couldnt tell much difference when I installed the cam gear, at least the butt dyno couldnt.

ernest

[Michael in MD]

...any noticeable differences?

Thanks for the tip,

Michael

[ernest]

but it will get 20+ on the highway running a steady speed, probably close to 18 around town, normal driving. Personally, the jc chip is a big improvement over stock.

ernest

[Scottie]

what did programma charge for the overhaul?

[pm179]

Hi Scottie,

I don't mind... you're always willing to help me

$479 including shipping! Ouch... but when you get to the point I was at you don't have many choices. I could have opened it up myself and start to solder stuff myself -- Naa

Michael

[I miss stuff! --Scottie :-)]

[m5e28 video]