Posted by Lenny D. on January 25, 2000 at 02:57:36:
In Reply to: HELP! Weird, Intermittent Starting Problem posted by Susan Merritt on January 24, 2000 at 00:00:32:
If your engine is CRANKING but not STARTING (you only referred to this situation once) through every episode, be sure to check (replace, they're not too expensive) your combi relay which electrically controls your fuel pump (among other things). I had a similar situation where the car intermittantly would CRANK but not START. Turns out there was a cold solder joint inside the relay which I happily found (and fixed) but only AFTER I bought a new one (that sits in my trunk in a box of other goodies just in case!)
Hope this helps...
Lenny D.
'80 528i
: My 1980 is driving me crazy! Twice now it has cranked over but refused to start. The first time was coming out of a store after a short bit of driving. It cranked heartily but refused to catch. I was nonplussed, but figured maybe I had managed to flood the engine, so I shopped about for half an hour then came back and she fired right up. She then ran fine for two days, starts, stops, what have you. Then the second time was a bit more alarming, as I started her up after a stop and had just pulled out of a parking lot when the engine suddenly died and refused to restart. I also had no emergency flashers. I managed to get her at least out of the road (into and entrance to a parking lot!) where I popped the trunk and hood. After playing with the positive terminal on the battery the alarm system chirped at me and I had flashers and cranking but still no start. I tried turning the alarm system on & off to no avail. I pushed the car mostly into a parking space but it still wouldn't start. I called my sister to come and pick me up. When she arrived the car started immediately. I feel like I'm driving a ticking time bomb! To make matters worse, I have two very small children (ages 1 and 2) so getting stranded means juggling car seats and dealing with a great deal of fussiness. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.
: Susie