Starter cranks for long time
#1
Hey all,
So I took my 04 in last week into the Center BMW in the SF valley last week (where I bought the car) and for a cranking problem. The problem is the starter cranks for an extended period of time, sometimes for 3-6 seconds before the engine catches. I follow the normal start up procedure where I push down the brake and turn the key once. It doesn?t happen all the time but does happen daily. Also it doesn?t happen in the morning when the car has sat the whole night (so not a cold start problem).
It just sounds like the starter is turning and the engine is on but the starter keeps going until the engine turns completly. So the dealer says it?s either the starter or fuel problem. They ran some diagnostics on it and said it was the starter. So they replaced the starter out of warranty (my car had 70K on it) for $800 bucks. I get the car back the other day and few hours later the problem reappears!
I call my SA and told him the problem came back and which point he told me he guessed it was the starter because the fuel test didn?t show any problems. He also said it was hard to replicate the problem at the dealer so it was hard diag it and I would have to leave the car for at least a week so his shop foreman can drive it home and see what happens.
I searched the threads for similar problems and found this thread: http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=20104
Which the OP has similar sounding issues.
HELP
Also attached is a clip of how it sounds.
So I took my 04 in last week into the Center BMW in the SF valley last week (where I bought the car) and for a cranking problem. The problem is the starter cranks for an extended period of time, sometimes for 3-6 seconds before the engine catches. I follow the normal start up procedure where I push down the brake and turn the key once. It doesn?t happen all the time but does happen daily. Also it doesn?t happen in the morning when the car has sat the whole night (so not a cold start problem).
It just sounds like the starter is turning and the engine is on but the starter keeps going until the engine turns completly. So the dealer says it?s either the starter or fuel problem. They ran some diagnostics on it and said it was the starter. So they replaced the starter out of warranty (my car had 70K on it) for $800 bucks. I get the car back the other day and few hours later the problem reappears!
I call my SA and told him the problem came back and which point he told me he guessed it was the starter because the fuel test didn?t show any problems. He also said it was hard to replicate the problem at the dealer so it was hard diag it and I would have to leave the car for at least a week so his shop foreman can drive it home and see what happens.
I searched the threads for similar problems and found this thread: http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=20104
Which the OP has similar sounding issues.
HELP
Also attached is a clip of how it sounds.
#3
Originally Posted by Nolan222' post='772594' date='Jan 20 2009, 03:45 PM
Anybody?
Good luck.
#5
Contributors
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 1
From: Birmingham AL
My Ride: 2010 VW Passat Wagon 2.0l Tsi
Grey/Grey Budapest 18"
Lost to HPFP issues:
08 535i sport pkg
Lost to Dreaded E61 Sun roof leaks:
07 E61 530Xi
Try the fuel pumps that would be a good guess as any if you know for sure it is not a bad Batt. or bad cell on the Batt.
#6
Originally Posted by bigbadbull' post='772824' date='Jan 20 2009, 07:19 PM
Try the fuel pumps that would be a good guess as any if you know for sure it is not a bad Batt. or bad cell on the Batt.
Turns out the reason the fuel pumps are so expensive is they rarely fail. That was true in my case. Also there was discussion of a known TSB regarding failed/leaking injectors causing hard starting. They test by monitoring the fuel pressure drop after key is turned off.
#7
Mine is suffering exactly the same problem that occures usually when the engine is "half warm". Crank shaft pulsesensor has been replaced without any results. Let me know if the reason/fix will be found!
#8
Will do. The car is with me right now as Im waiting for BMW loaner. My SA wants me in BMW loaner as it might take a while to figure this out, so he says.
#9
Contributors
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Afghanistan- Passing out some Peace!
My Ride: 2004 530i Black/ Smoked LED side markers/ CF kidney Grille/ Shadowline Trim/Miro 346 V2/General Exclaim 19"/CF Badges/H&R Sport Springs/ Koni FSD shocks/struts/R1 Concepts Drilled & Slotted Rotors/ Hawk Pads/ Mtec V2 lights/
Originally Posted by Nolan222' post='773433' date='Jan 21 2009, 10:48 AM
Thanks for the heads up, I will let my SA now of the TSB. My SA is nice guy so I dont want to get on him to much right now and let him figure it out along with the shop foreman. But I will mention all the items listed in this thread.
Will do. The car is with me right now as Im waiting for BMW loaner. My SA wants me in BMW loaner as it might take a while to figure this out, so he says.
Will do. The car is with me right now as Im waiting for BMW loaner. My SA wants me in BMW loaner as it might take a while to figure this out, so he says.
#10
Originally Posted by gbaty0001' post='773507' date='Jan 21 2009, 09:08 AM
had almost the exact same thing with my 04 530i, they replaced the batt and starter, no problems to speak of now. good luck
Good to know, thanks!