My car is dead. I was about to take my lovely chica out for her BDay dinner :eek: So I start the car, and it doesn't turn over, just a hissing noise and some fan was on. Or at least, some sort of mechanical whirring noise perhaps? I popped the hood, and I see no pullies or fans moving. I hear a loud hiss. No fluid leaks at all. The electrical starts to go nutty, the steering wheel moves up and down, the panel lights flicker. A noise emanates from the left passenger side. The hissing sound seems to exhude a freon scent? The ac and heating work. The hiss kept on for about 5 minutes. The obc throws no signals of error. The hiss stopped. Interior lights work, radio works, batteries are not dead. The car simply is dead.

Any thoughts? :mad:mad:mad

Batteries, General Module....

... when my car caught fire, it was doing all those things AFTER the flames were put out.

Shit! I checked the current on my batteries last month, and they were healthy. I changed them in the fall.

How do I tell if the general module is damaged?

does she turn over? or do you mean by dead... not even cranking?

Not even cranking, no starter sound. Electrical is ok (seemingly). That hiss sound freaked me out. No fluid leaks. Initially, I tired to start the car, nothing engaged. Just some fan sound and a pressurized-type hiss.

Shit! I checked the current on my batteries last month, and they were healthy. I changed them in the fall.

How do I tell if the general module is damaged?

hang her onto the diagnosis if you got the wires and software
or try the self diagnosis
http://www.e31faq.com/Default.aspx?catId=88

Not even cranking, so sound. Electrical is ok (seemingly).

if you can get to it you might want to check if you get juice to the starter.
if yes then it might be that...

here is how to remove the starter
http://www.e31faq.com/attachments/att184.pdf

Check relays and fuses first, it is far easier than changing out a starter.
Do you have the ETM for your car?

Check relays and fuses first, it is far easier than changing out a starter.
Do you have the ETM for your car?

of course the fuses and relais first...

I'm going into my garage right now to check the fuses/relays.

I don't have the damn ETK, the discs are at my mechanic's and he's on vacation :mad

BTW, I just installed a new starter 3 weeks ago!

Well, the fuses etc look good, nothing went out. That hissing and strange scent/vapor that was spewing for 10 minutes? Could these symptoms be the starter?

BTW, I just installed a new starter 3 weeks ago!

you might be having a lose wire then...

Koizumi, pull the module out and check it out . it might have a bad smell or the cover would be darker now if it is the problem.

I'm going to pull the cover off of the module now.

... That hissing and strange scent/vapor that was spewing for 10 minutes? Could these symptoms be the starter?
i have no idea about that. i have never heard about or seen that hissing you talk about before

Does your car have a secondary air injection system? This is typically in the control module box on the right edge of the firewall. That thing can whirr and make a terrible noise for about a minute after the engine has started. If the engine doesn't start I think it just keeps running.
They whirr after exhaust gases and moisture are pushed back into them and that may be the smell you are getting.
If the starter was just swapped I'd suspect that. Not that you did a bad job, but it seems awefully suspicious. Maybe a loose crimp or corroded connection that was made worse when it was moved around?

i would think a bad connection as well.
car's don't usually go out just like that... if something fails it takes a (noisy) while
or goes out with a bang.

The general module exhibits no signs of being fried. That is good news thus far.

The whirring did seem to come from around the general module area. It was hard to tell exactly where as it was pretty loud. I figured that if it was something really horrible, the car would've gasped and screamed for a bit longer than 5 or so minutes of weird hissing and spewing weird gases.

I hope it's the starter or a connection related to the starter.

This makes me think that I will not pull the trigger on an 80s M6. I almost did and I think, for the time being, I'll continue to focus on the wonderous 8 and all of its prima donna intricacies. Just when I'm about to get another BMW, my 8 acts up. I'll just continue to save and spring for a CSi one day to park next to my 840.

sounds like a shorted starter armature and it blew the fuseable link on the pass side battery.

wow, I'm really sad to hear this bro. I hope everything turns out AOK. I'll cross the toes and fingers for you man.

Best of luck.

sounds like a shorted starter armature and it blew the fuseable link on the pass side battery.

Does this mean a new starter and fuse?

make sure you disconnect the batteries before you go to bed if u didn't figure it out to avoid any fire.

I will do so after dinner, thanks for reminding me.

Cheers

Good Luck, Brother. Hope it turns out to be either nothing at all, or something very minor. Have one on me:beermugdr

Thanks guys. I'm getting a flatbed to tow her. The damn problem is my narrow driveway. She's going to the shop.

Cheers

I was going to suggest that you rock the car back and forth a little bit and try to start again. Also check the Fuseable link in the trunk.

Fingers crossed, hope it sorts out well.

I'd start with the ignition switch , relay and the module diagnosis. Disconnect the relay and cross it to see if the starter is functioning when connection is crossed.

I appreciate the help, gentlemen. I will post as soon as any developments occur.

I will do so after dinner, thanks for reminding me.

Cheers

Chill! You did not bring her this far to wig-out on something that's probably not a Blown engine!

A fix will come soon!

840ways to C :redspot

now you have me scared lol hope everything works for yours i am going home right after work to drive mine haven't driven it in a good 3 weeks although i do keep it on a trickle charger

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/7981/photoar3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


After a tough battle pushing her out of the garage and thru the narrow driveway, she safely made it to the shop. Here's what we came up with:

Batteries were low, around 11v. Strange. It seems like the + & - connectors were tight were the bolt is but not tight enough where the battery posts were. I did not know this as my many visual inspections always indicated that the terminals were on tightly. Of course, I don't own the very cool little tool to spread those bent terminal connectors (go figure). So maybe the connectors were not always allowing charging? Anyhow, we charged the batteries and reconnected them tightly and appropriately.

Checked all the fuses, nothing went out. Computer module is fine as well. Relays seem ok, too.

We tried to start the starter directly. No go. Starter is dead. Ahhh, finally an answer! So I ordered a new Bosch starter which will arrive tomorrow at the shop. I just replaced the starter 3 weeks ago with a brand new chinese-made starter. I should've gone with a remanufactured Bosch. For some reason I thought that a new starter would be better, stupid me.

Anyhow, hopefully there won't be anymore problems along the way. Hopefully it is indeed just the starter. I will post again once I find out any more info.

Thanks again to you gentlemen!

:drink1

Where do you get a starter made in China? JC Whitney?

"JC" stands for Just Crap.

I didn't know that it was made in China until I got it in the mail. :devillook

And you guys know that I don't skimp out when it comes to my cars. This time 'round, it was inadvertent :(

For the record, it was made by NHT. I've seen a lot of NHT starters in garages, shops, etc. Obviously, stay away from 'em!

"JC" stands for Just Crap.

And that's putting it nicely.
JunkChina

NHT: No Honest Transaction????

:lol

I didn't know that it was made in China until I got it in the mail. :devillook

ooooooh
mail orda bride! Last lon tyne:D
Sucky sucky

The good thing is you didnt get stuck on your date somewhere in the boonies.:buttrock

we had it right then... the starter...

I've heard that sometimes low batteries can damage starters as well, among other things. I could be wrong though.

Just in case did you try jumper cables?

happy to hear the great news!

Cheers bro,
Thomas

Here's another thought... there is a cooling fan at the bottom of the ECU box that is just a small computer fan. Mine makes some noise but, regardless of whether it has sleeve or ball bearings, these things can whirr up a lot of noise.

I am mad at you KOIZUMI, if you would've told us that it is a chinese starter since the begining , we could've saved time and guessing.....:mad:mad
btw, a used starter from a 540 for the 840 or from a 750 for the 850 is the same and easy to find and better.




We tried to start the starter directly. No go. Starter is dead. Ahhh, finally an answer! So I ordered a new Bosch starter which will arrive tomorrow at the shop. I just replaced the starter 3 weeks ago with a brand new chinese-made starter. I should've gone with a remanufactured Bosch. For some reason I thought it would be better, stupid me.

:drink1

Here's another thought... there is a cooling fan at the bottom of the ECU box that is just a small computer fan. Mine makes some noise but, regardless of whether it has sleeve or ball bearings, these things can whirr up a lot of noise.

wow, i didn't know there is one... does it run all the time?
or periodically? then i might know what the loud fan noise is under my hood

I am very happy to report that I got the car back, and all is good in the land of 8!

I had a new Bosch starter installed. The chinese starter melted on the inside. Lasted only 3 weeks! For the record, I did not know that the defective starter was made in China until I got it in the mail. Buyer beware! Stay away from NHT brand starters. The odd fumes that I smelled was from the melting starter. This was confirmed when I sniffed the old starter. It stunk like my whole garage did when it had its meltdown.

I would now like to take the time to thank everyone here for your keen insight, opinions and help. Thank you very much :drink1

Best regards from Koizumi in sunny L.A.

PS. Now it's time for me to crack open many cold ones and watch the game... Cheers :D

:handclap
cheers mate :beermugdr

Congratulations Koizumi :)

Happy that it was "only" the starter!

wow, i didn't know there is one... does it run all the time?
or periodically? then i might know what the loud fan noise is under my hood

I'm not sure how long it runs. One would guess it is controlled by a temperature sensor in the ECU itself. I'd send a picture, but being new to the forum they won't let me attach one! Just take off the top of the e-box and it is clearly visible at the bottom, below the ECU.
Looking again, mine is a good quality Papst fan, but it is noisy with the e-box open. If your noise only lasts a minute on a cold start, then it is the secondary air pump (pumping fresh air into the exhaust to heat the O2 sensors).

Hello Koizumi

Great news, the Bosch starter will be excellent.

kind regards

Prit