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Thread: e39 Will Not Start

  1. #1
    Junior Member
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    Feb 2015
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    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.

  2. #2
    BMWHaus Guru
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
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    2,920
    Is it turning over but not firing or not turning over at all?

    Have you had a reading of diag codes?
    Current: BMW 530e M-Sport - '17, BMW 630i Sport auto - '07, BMW 325i Coupe - '93, BMW Z4 2.5si Auto - '07, '90 BMW 316i Lux.

    Previous: BMW 328i Coupe - '96, BMW 530i SE auto - '07, BMW 530i Sport auto - '02, BMW 318i SE Touring - '07, BMW 330Ci Sport - '04, BMW 520d SE - '11, BMW 523i SE - '00, BMW 328i SE Touring - '00, BMW 523i SE - '97, BMW 323i SE - '98, 330Ci - '00, 325i Coupe - '93, 318Ci - '01, 316iSE - '98, 325iSE 2dr - '91, 320i Conv - '91, 325i Coupe - '92, 320i 2dr - '91.

  3. #3
    Junior Member
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    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.

  4. #4
    i know its a long shot,try spare key.

  5. #5
    Junior Member
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    Feb 2015
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    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.

  6. #6
    Junior Member
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    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

  7. #7
    Junior Member
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    Feb 2015
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    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.

  8. #8
    Junior Member
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    Feb 2015
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    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?

  9. #9
    BMWHaus Guru
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    Any chance you damaged any of the bellows getting the manifold out or back in?
    Current: BMW 530e M-Sport - '17, BMW 630i Sport auto - '07, BMW 325i Coupe - '93, BMW Z4 2.5si Auto - '07, '90 BMW 316i Lux.

    Previous: BMW 328i Coupe - '96, BMW 530i SE auto - '07, BMW 530i Sport auto - '02, BMW 318i SE Touring - '07, BMW 330Ci Sport - '04, BMW 520d SE - '11, BMW 523i SE - '00, BMW 328i SE Touring - '00, BMW 523i SE - '97, BMW 323i SE - '98, 330Ci - '00, 325i Coupe - '93, 318Ci - '01, 316iSE - '98, 325iSE 2dr - '91, 320i Conv - '91, 325i Coupe - '92, 320i 2dr - '91.

  10. #10
    BMWHaus Contributor
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
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    408
    Vacuum hose left off I would say

    Sent from my XT1068 using Tapatalk

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