X5 Cranks but just wont start up

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 3:39 pm

My 2005 3.0D sport keeps cranking but just wont start.

I had driven it the previous night with no issues. Also plugged in the Veepeak odbcheck scanner to see if there are any fault codes but nothing is coming up.

I'm just wondering where to start off my initial checks before trying to get it to the garage

Thanks

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:43 pm

Ours did exactly this. It was the fuel relay above the fuse box. £10 part - £270 to diagnose (10 years ago)! Also check fuse 51 (in the front).

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=61_4036

You need to lower the front fuse box (passenger side) to get to the relay which plugs in on the back. It’s quite a common fault.

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:34 pm

Thanks very much. I’ll have a look at this

Alan Gunn · Post by **Alan Gunn** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:19 am

My 2002 did that once and i gave it a spray of easy start and it started never done it again in five years.
Touch wood.

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 4:32 pm

It appears I'm not so lucky. I replaced the relay and no luck. Just keeps cranking.

I'm going to lift the rear seat up and use a multimeter on the power pump I think...... still looking at YouTube videos ...

What else can I look also look at or test?

Leslie · Post by **Leslie** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:16 pm

I think if its the same as my 330d it will have a small fuel pump under the floor , can you check fuel pressure with your scanner ?It should be around 4 bar for that small pump . IF you can locate it turn on the ignition and you should be able to hear it run for a few seconds if no start is attempted . Often a tap on the case will start it moving again briefly but the brushes wear out and are not easily replaceable so its new pump time.

Themoog2 · Post by **Themoog2** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 5:48 pm

Is there any fuel in the tank.. Thieves about..

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 1:18 am

I put the car in on position and could hear the fuel pump noise vibrating for a bit so I'm assuming it "may" be working.

Instead of the veepeak, I plugged in the creator c311 scan tool and that brought out the following fault codes
4501 Exhaust-gas recirculation
41F2 Electric fan
4390 Charge-air temperature sensor
4212 glow plug, cylinder 1,
4222 glow plug, cylinder 2
4232 glow plug, cylinder 3
4242 glow plug, cylinder 4
4252 glow plug, cylinder 5
4262 glow plug, cylinder 6

Cleared the codes and only the first 2 disappeared.I remembered changing the glow plug control module (and possibly all glow plus due to a faulty one/2) a few years back. It was a nightmare job having to take so much off.

Strange that the fault code is on all cylinders .... could the glow plug control module alone be the issue here?
Could it also be a red herring considering I've been cranking the engine a couple of times?
Do I need more tests on the fuel pump to completely rule it out?

Leslie · Post by **Leslie** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 3:07 am

The glow plugs won't stop it starting till it very cold indeed. I think if they are actually trying to operate they can show a fault code but with showing all 6 I'd assume its the controller if anything. Car will be a bit lumpy for a few secs if plugs are not operating once temps get below 0c

Leslie · Post by **Leslie** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 3:17 am

I don't think the air temp sensor would not hold it from starting but may make it drive not as well with hesitation.
Looking at that egr code I'd take the hose of the front and see if its badly gummed up as if it's stuck open it won't start.

Alan Gunn · Post by **Alan Gunn** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 4:51 am

Have you tried easy start or brake leaner.
If it runs on that you know it's a fuel problem.

cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 9:51 am

Thanks for the update guys, so I can ignore the glow plugs for now as not relating to the startup issue.

I’ll check the egr valve. Do i just spray the easy start over the valve when starting the engine?

Alan Gunn · Post by **Alan Gunn** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 4:42 am

Spray it in the intake.

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:56 am

Is there any smell of fuel when you’ve unsuccessfully cranked? Just wondering if low temperatures might have caused water in the line to freeze. I would have expected some kind of fuel supply warning to be visible as the pressure in the rail would be low, but…

All 6 plugs being out is most likely a controller failure, but plugs do fail - though all six in a short period is unusual. Worth checking the fuse though. As said, even with all 6 out it should still at least attempt to fire (and smoke a bit).

Fuse 2 (20A) is the supplying fuse. You should also see a ‘preheating’ message on the dash (though only for about a second or two).

There are two fuel pumps, one in the tank and one under the floor (an inline pump in the fuel feed) - are they both running? The car should start if the tank pump fails, but not if the inline one goes down. Unit M11 here (under bench seat, left side)…

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cooa99 · Post by **cooa99** » Sat Jan 21, 2023 2:28 pm

Some great new guys!

I used the easy start mentioned and it worked!

I'm assuming this is a temporary fix.

The fuel pump under the rear seat does hum a fair bit with car in on position before cranking.

Whats the next step of finding the root cause? Would the culprit still be be fuel pump or fuel pressure?

Not sure how to narrow down further

I'm taking the car for a drive too see if the fuel will cut out somehow..

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