Subject: 1988 735i won't start :^( Author: clarkmorris : member since September, 2006 : 7 posts Posted on: 2007-09-11 11:51:45

I had a warped head on my 1988 735i... So I had the head overhauled and I reinstalled it ...
Car had sat for a year while I tried to decide what to do with it..
Got fixed head on and car started and ran fairly well ( except it had an irratic idle .. not too bad) .. Drove it for several weeks and thought all was fine... but after I let my wife take it to work.. it developed a problem in that after a while of driving it would run very rough and I had a hard time keeping it idling without having to play with the throttle to keep it running..

Thought maybe the fuel filter was clogged.. changed that..

Read the forum and researched oxygen sensors... and found out that after a head warping event that coolant most likely contaminated the o2 sensor... So ... I bought a Bosch Universal and replaced that. NO change... car started OK... but after a while started putting out black smoke (like the mixture was running rich) and had a hard time keeping it running...

Then I remembered I bought a Peake Research Code Reader tool years ago... so I got that out and ran the test... and instead of it telling me a fault code ...all I got was a "flashing E" . The Peake Research web site says this means the tool could not communicate with the DME computer. I tried the several suggestions that their web site recommended such as resetting the tool several times; turning the ignition key on and off several times; disconnecting the battery and running the emergency flashers to drain power from all modules which might need reset... but still kept getting the dreaded flashing E.

Now.. I decided to try and start the car.... It will not start. Before I could easily start it.. it just ran rough. Now it turns over, and tries to catch, but no starting.

Checked for spark.. I have spark.... Checked fuel output on the return side of the fuel rail... gas coming out... regulator hooked up correctly to it's vacumn line... with key on... no gas comes out... when cranking... fuel comes out of regulator... So I think it is working...

Any suggestions before I declare total defeat and try and find a BMW shop which will work on old bmws...

Thanks...

• 1988 735i won't start :^( - clarkmorris 2007-09-11 11:51:45 (221 views)
  • Fuel is not coming out the vacuum line is it? - Shayne 2007-09-11 16:16:12 (149 views)
    • Re: Fuel is not coming out the vacuum line is it? - clarkmorris 2007-09-11 16:46:54 (146 views)
      • coil? - Patrick C 88 750 160K 2007-09-11 17:19:29 (115 views)
        • 'flashing E' = cannot communicate - shogun 2007-09-11 18:17:57 (132 views)
          • testing procedure crankshaft sensor - shogun 2007-09-11 20:54:02 (842 views)
            • Re: testing procedure crankshaft sensor - clarkmorris 2007-09-12 12:20:42 (184 views)
              • Re: testing procedure crankshaft sensor - Patrick C 88 750 160K 2007-09-12 22:32:05 (243 views)