the car turns but it wont start what could be the problem
someone told me it might be the water pump. but i think it
may be a relay switch or something.
it started just fine this morning then when i went to start
it again it would jus click so i replaced the battery and
nothing happened i wiggled the hot wire and now its back to
turning but still not starting?
ANSWER: When you tried to start it and it just clicked, there wasn't enough power getting to the starter to turn it. Replacing the battery didn't do it (at least by itself). When you wiggled the hot wire, you improved the connection and it now turns but doesn't start.
First you need to make permanent the better connection. If the wire you wiggled was at the starter, take the wire off the starter, clean the connection with a wire brush and then put it back together. If your battery was that dirty, do the same.
Let it sit for a while before trying to start it again. You may have excessive fuel in the cylinders after the attempts. (This may already have happened.)
Try it again. If it's turning but not starting, it's either fuel, spark, air, or timing. Most likely spark or fuel. Confirm you are getting both to the engine.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: ok wen i tryed today ther battery was completly dead how do
i confirm its gettin furl or spark.
can you get my a link to a free manual?
also is there anyway i can hook a battery directly to the
start and try and start it that way
Answer Not aware of any free manual site for these. Best on-line source is www.roadfly.com, in the BMW e38 section. Best manual to get, no debate, is the manual by Bentley. Check on line for it....eBay often has used ones.
You have something that's causing your battery to drain. Likely not the reason it won't start, but keep it in mind during your trouble shooting.
You should be able to smell gas if you are getting it into the engine. If not, disconnect the fuel hose at the fuel rail, and have someone else turn the key just long enough to see if you are getting gas coming out the line. If not, check fuel pump.
Spark is tougher to check on these distributed-coil BMW's. There are ways to check, but they involve some danger, and I'm not comfortable stating them to someone over the internet.
Good luck. There's a valid point in troubleshooting where the next step is to take it to a BMW mechanic.
