BMW E36 Forum

Hi guys am new here, wondering if any1 knows why my 318 has difficulty starting. Engine rolls well, coil sparks, can feel the fuel pump pumping but wont start. Sometimes wld start 1st time then die 10secs after idling roughly.

tanx

Could be a few things. Depends on if this is happening only cold or only hot or both? Do you get a check engine light when it happens? If you do a code will be stored with some very valuable information. But in general make sure your plugs are in good shape. Sometimes if they are worn the car will be hard to start when cold, not so bad when hot. Make sure your fuel filter is not clogged. When was it replaced last? If you cant remember and the dirt is getting through then the injectors may not be atomizing the fuel (makes a bigger difference when the engine is cold). You can reverse most of the build up by using one of those magnetic fuel savers if the buildup is petro based. If it is dirt based that is a different story, try using some Techron for a tank. Same thing for the air filter make sure it is in good shape (whould be worse when the engine is hot). Could also be a vacuum leak (would be rough at idle warm or cold). If you are lucky you get a check engine light and can retrieve the code and bypass the guesswork. I think you can use the pedal trick on a 318i to get the code. Turn the key to position 2 I believe and imediatly pump the gass pedal 5 times. You must make sure it goes to the floor and you release all the way. It is a bit like finding the right double click speed on a pc so you might not get it the first time. The check engine light will blink in a repeated sequence to give you the code. You decode it in the Bently manual (email me if you dont have one and I can scan and send you the whole procedure and codes.

Good luck

SilverM3
1999 M3 RD sways, ECIS intake, 50w HID coinversion, slotted brakes, ss brakelines
1994 325ic M3 suspension, Bilstien sports, Hamman brace, Bavauto coils, Dinan chip, centerforce clutch, Turner Aluminum flywheel, Sparco WHeel
2005 Mini Cooper S