I have a friend whos 97 318i wont start he replaced the battery thinking that was the problem at first but now the car is not getting any spark but cranks over. I am going to look at the car sometime tomorrow to see if I can figure out the problem with him as its down in Pearlridge somewhere. Does anyone have any clues as to what it may be. Thanks in advance.

No spark plugs? :shifty

Does that motor still use a distributor? If it does, it could be a fried coil. If it doesn't have a distributor, it could be a bad (crank/cam) position sensor so it doesn't know when to fire the coils.

I'm guessing that if it uses an individual coil per cylinder, they won't all go bad at the same time, but rather wouldn't be getting the signal to fire from a sensor.

check the main DME relay, that would kill the spark.

dead CPS would stop the fuel pump through a safety interlock with the fuel pump electrical system.

ok got a update from my wife (its her boss) someone gave him the car for free. He was driving it yesterday stopped in a shopping center the battery was dead. He got a battery for the car put it in and now the car cranks but wont start she said he told her it has no spark. So thats the story I will check the Crank sensor tomorrow I guess yes it has plugs. Not sure if it has a distributor or individual coils.

no dizzy on the motor, just coil packs, DME, CPS Etc.

thanks bob hopefully I can figure it out tomorrow when I go look at the car.

if there is absolutely no spark i would bet money its the coils, its the most reasonable explanation.

not 100% certian on the absolute no spark, you know how messages get and not sure how up to speed he is on mechanical part

I guess confirm if there is spark first..

See if the spark plugs are snug and gapped correctly, and they are clean.

If that doesnt work, just give the car to me :devillook

If that doesnt work, just give the car to me :devillook


was going to tell him to give it to me make it sound like its not worth the hassle:buttrock:buttrock

:lol:lol:lol

was going to tell him to give it to me make it sound like its not worth the hassle:buttrock:buttrock


Now thats not honest... :nono

But if its given to me, you don't profit, and your conscience is clean! :D

I would rather pull the wool over his eyes and show you what I got.:devillook

The same thing happen to my 325i and it was the main DME. I was lucky I had a spare one.:D

Now thats not honest... :nono

But if its given to me, you don't profit, and your conscience is clean! :D



I would rather pull the wool over his eyes and show you what I got.:devillook




:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

even better, you both can stop arguing, and give it to me.... :)

The same thing happen to my 325i and it was the main DME. I was lucky I had a spare one.:D


DME = ??? :shifty

DME = ??? :shifty


DME=ECU

or Da motor putor thing a ma bob

got it thanks!!

Sometimes the smoke escapes through a small crack in the case.

Like the other electronics on our cars, that system runs on smoke; when it escapes, or if you happen to see it come out of the system, you'll know it is kaput. ;)

Update!!!

I went out and looked at the car today. Its a 94 318i E36 model 4 Cylinder under the hood. My friend said that his wife drove the car stopped and went into a store when she came out the car wouldnt start he said it was the battery, he replaced the battery and the car cranks but there is absolutely no spark when cranking the engine.I verified this today, It has one large coil my guess is its about 8" long and 2 to 3" wide. Does anyone know if you can check this or a way to check it? if so how do you check it and what would the readings be? or does anyone have a extra one laying around thats used and still good that I could use to switch out with the other to see if its bad or not. Also does anyone know how to check the dead crank sensor if so how and what would the readings be? Hoping its the coil myself as its parked out near circuit city and thats where I was working on it at. If noone has a extra coil of this type where can I get one that will not cost a ARM or LEG thanks in advance.

Brendan i was painting when you called. I dont know much bout these kinna cars sorry....

Brendan i was painting when you called. I dont know much bout these kinna cars sorry....


No problem...you and Cal where the only ones I could think of at the time..

can anyone help me out?

It has one large coil my guess is its about 8" long and 2 to 3" wide. Does anyone know if you can check this or a way to check it? if so how do you check it and what would the readings be?...Hoping its the coil myself as its parked out near circuit city and thats where I was working on it at. If noone has a extra coil of this type where can I get one that will not cost a ARM or LEG thanks in advance.

One coil is definitely easier to deal with, as they're pretty basic devices and not as customized to the degree that the multiple coil packs are. They generally fall into 2 categories; "resistance coil" or "non-resistance-". You ought to be able to pick one up at a NAPA for that car.

Testing a coil involves an ohm-meter or multimeter to test the resistance. It is usually easier to just replace it, as by the time you find a meter, locate the specs, etc., you can juts buy a new one.

Whatever you do, don't disconnect the old one without noting which leads go to which side of the coil. The center lead from the distributor is pretty easy not to mess up, but some cars don't have unique plugs for each side of the coil, leading to more electrical issues if you swap sides. Knowing BMW, though, they've made each side impossible to connect to the opposite side.

good luck.

Sometimes the smoke escapes through a small crack in the case.

Like the other electronics on our cars, that system runs on smoke; when it escapes, or if you happen to see it come out of the system, you'll know it is kaput. ;)




:lol:lol:lol:lol


dood! yur so nuts

:rofl :rofl