e39 Will Not Start

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18-02-17, 20:40
99belle99

e39 Will Not Start

HI, I have a 1998 520i that will not start I ruled out the ignition switch as I found a read out of all the wires on another forum.

3 red (power wires)
1 green(ignition)
1 purple (ignition 2)
1 Black (starter)

The black is the starter so I put the positive lead on this black wire and black lead on ground and turned the key to start the car and held it on and read 12 Volts so the ignition switch is fine. I then tested the two big black wires on the EWS 3 module and read 12 Volts across each wire when I held the key to the start position.

I seen a video on youtube where the guy said if you short two wires on the EWS that it will crank the starter. I tried this but couldn't get it to work. I am assuming it is the two big black wires but I cannot get it to work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipPKNoqhsp0

Anybody any idea what is wrong.
18-02-17, 23:38
dergside

Is it turning over but not firing or not turning over at all?

Have you had a reading of diag codes?
18-02-17, 23:53
99belle99

It is not turning over at all. I turn the key all lights on dash come on and nothing happens when I turn the key to start the car no clicking or even starter trying to start the car. I have a feeling it has to do with the EWS. As I said previously the car is sending a signal to the EWS as I get 12 Volts when I try to start the car. That rules out the ignition switch. I also changed the ring antennae as I read they can be problematic and still the same, car still will not crank or turn over.

I have INPA so I will look to hook that up to the car tomorrow. I hooked INPA up to the car a few days ago and there was no faults stored in the EWS section.

I am 100% sure it is EWS that is the problem, but I do not know what I can do to fix it.
19-02-17, 09:50
spike

i know its a long shot,try spare key.
19-02-17, 19:23
99belle99

Unfortunately I do not have a spare, and the car is not worth very much to go spending and getting a new key off BMW.
19-02-17, 23:02
99belle99

What happens in this video is exactly what is happening in mine. There is no error codes in INPA either so I do not know what is wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hJO8el2hoQ
20-02-17, 19:48
99belle99

Turns out to be a bad starter. I have no idea how it just went from working to not working. It never gave any hesitation before it went, it just stopped working, but I'm glad I found the problem. I have a new one ordered so I am just waiting for it to arrive so I can fit it.
23-02-17, 17:59
99belle99

Well I couldn't get at the starter from underneath so I took out the intake manifold to gain access. So the good news is the new starter starts the car first turn and the bad news is the car runs and then revs up and then cuts out.

Anybody any idea on what could be wrong?
23-02-17, 18:31
dergside

Any chance you damaged any of the bellows getting the manifold out or back in?
23-02-17, 18:32
hamish262001

Vacuum hose left off I would say

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23-02-17, 18:49
99belle99

Quote:

Originally Posted by dergside

Any chance you damaged any of the bellows getting the manifold out or back in?

Excuse my dumbness but what is the bellows?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamish262001

Vacuum hose left off I would say

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I'm pretty sure I connected them all. I know it is not easy for you guys to diagnose as you never seen the car but I will have to have a proper look tomorrow sometime.

I know one thing and that is the MAF could have gotten wet as it was left lying on the front of the car the day I was working on it and it was raining. Would that cause the problem?
23-02-17, 18:51
hamish262001

Could you have left an electrical connector off?

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23-02-17, 18:56
99belle99

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamish262001

Could you have left an electrical connector off?

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I didn't have much time to see today so I only looked for a while but I am pretty sure they were all reconnected and I even went out in the dark as well with a torch and couldn't see anything disconnected.

All I do know is the MAF could have gotten wet and so could the throttle body.
23-02-17, 18:58
hamish262001

Not ideal getting them wet but they should be ok when dried out.

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23-02-17, 19:01
99belle99

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamish262001

Not ideal getting them wet but they should be ok when dried out.

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Maybe I sould disconnect it and put it on the radiator so. Would putting it on the radiator be bad for it?
23-02-17, 19:03
hamish262001

No but make sure it can't fall off! Or kids pick it up and kick it about the house.

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23-02-17, 19:04
hamish262001

Hot press might be safer,

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23-02-17, 19:08
99belle99

Well I actually went out side and disconnected it and it looks dry so maybe that isn't the cause of the problem after all.
23-02-17, 22:10
dergside

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99belle99

Excuse my dumbness but what is the bellows?

They are the flexible (rubber) hoses connecting the air intake to the air filter housing and from there to the inlet manifold. Check for splits, holes or loose clips on any connections between pieces.