Crank no start

[Themoog2]

Two days ago the wife moved the X5 (01 4.4i) from our driveway to the neighbour for photos of the house to be taken , then she put it back.
Today I go to start it and it runs really rough for maybe 5- 10 seconds then cut out. It will not restart but turns over.
I’ve noticed that I can’t hear the fuel pump running so I lifted the rear seat and put my multimeter across the 2 fat wires going to the connector. No reading when ignition is on but there is 12v across the two slimmer wires on the connector.
Fuel pump fuse is ok.
Am I looking in the right direction or am I doing something wrong? Granted it was blowing a gale and raining a bit too so I wasn’t fully committed..

[X5Sport]

Just a thought. Check the fuel pump relay. You’ll need to drop the glovebox and then the fuse board above it as the relay is on the back.

The image below is from the LHD model, but having had exactly this on our E53 I know where it is. The relay is about £10 (or was a few years back). Have a look at Realoem to get the part number. It’s not an unknown issue. If it fails then the fuel pump won’t run.

Realoem has this page: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=61_4036

Part is common across multiple BMWs and all E53s. It’s light green from memory.

IMG_3101.jpeg (96.43 KiB) Viewed 1344 times

When mine went it cost over £200 in diagnostics to find a £10 part. The Indy went looking for all sorts of other things before the relay was identified as gone bad. I wasn’t impressed…..and stopped using them altogether shortly after (they’ve since gone bust anyway). My wife had taken the car to Wales and had to come back in a 1.0L Corsa with a speed limiter (hire car). She wasn’t impressed either!!

Might not be this, but for the sake of a few quid and use of a screwdriver, well worth eliminating.

[Leslie]

I think 2 very short moves and turned back off might have something to do with it and its maybe flooded itself/fouled the plugs

[Themoog2]

I found a YouTube video by 50skid and he runs through complete diagnostics of the E53 fuel pump. Something that concerns me tho is when I turn it over it doesn’t make that ‘ugh ugh ugh ugh’ sound - it’s much smoother like a turbine. Almost like there is no compression.. Saying that, I have never heard my engine just turning over as it’s always started first and every time in the 10 years I’ve had it.
I’ve checked the timing chain and it’s tight not floppy in the oil filler hole.
When I get the motivation I’ll do a proper diagnosis and hope it’s not something serious..

[marti]

If its anything like the e38 V8....a short move will flood it....so what you do is....(battery fully charged)..put throttle flat to the floor, turn key to crank and dont let it go!...dont pump the pedal!...flat to floor...keep the key at crank position...dont stop....eventually it will start to fire...keep it going dont let the key go and foot to the floor until it fires on all pots and loads of smoke out the rear ....dont ask me how I know

[Themoog2]

Ah the two short drives to next door then back. I didn't even think about that.
I've got the back seat up now anyway so may as well carry on..

[Leslie]

Ah the two short drives to next door then back. I didn't even think about that.
I've got the back seat up now anyway so may as well carry on..

Just as well I mentioned it 2 days ago then lol

[henrym3]

Diagnostics if you’ve got it, might be a sensor. If not pull a plug see if it’s wet and check for spark.

[Themoog2]

Who said 2 short runs flooded it..
Turned the key with my foot flat down and just let it crank. Eventually it popped and spluttered back to life with a smoky exhaust.
I've left it running for 1/2 hour to let it sort itself out.
Looks like the wife flooded it. Better chain her back to the kitchen sink for safety.
Thanks for the ideas chaps

[Leslie]

[X5Sport]

It was the ‘no fuel pump’ bit that made me think relay. Every day’s a school day. I’d not have considered something as simple as flooding. Duly noted.

[Themoog2]

Yes but why would it flood? Surely bmw wouldn’t design an engine that you can’t run for say a minute or two then it won’t start a few days later..

[X5Sport]

Hence me not thinking about flooding. I thought the injection systems these days had something within that prevented flooding due to overfuelling. I believe there’s something about ‘cold running’ mode that replaces the good old choke we used to have, but the fine detail of its operation I can’t find. I suppose if the plugs get ‘wet’ then the engine stops playing.

The main thing being that you’re up a running again……and without breaking the bank. That has to be a positive for any BMW owner.

[Leslie]

The colder damper climate here may need a more rich fuel mixture on startup than usual , the unlikely situation of 2 cold starts and not going more than a few yards possibly combined with the previous runs not getting fully warm/slow low rev town running to clean the plugs has all come together to beat you. Its one of those situations that was more common in days gone by with carbs etc . (i'm only guessing here ) If there turns out to be an actual fault you will know soon enough and when was the air filter last changed in case its adding to the problem but I'm sure you keep on top of stuff like that

[Themoog2]

Hmm..
You know what - I haven't changed the air filter or spark plugs for a while.. 2015 when the timing chain was done. Guilty as charged.
In my defence it's only done about 30k miles since then and has always started first time and ran sweetly.
I actually have a brand new set of plugs in the garage that I've had for a while. Maybe an engine service is due..
I have changed the oil and filter 3 times since then so don't go to hard on me