car just died - Page 2

Eurostyle · 11-20-2012, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabela

lol.. true, you never know.
So you couldn't restart your car with the MAF problem?
It happened so quickly that it's hard to believe it could be a vacuum problem. 30 seconds after the first hesitation it died completely. Certainly felt like fuel starvation.

E46's can run with the MAF fully unpluged!!! Unless its automatic, where the trans goes into limp mode...

Sounds exactly like fuel pump...Very easy to find out...

Blackedout95 · 11-20-2012, 08:45 AM

^yep

On a side note again I did a fuel pump on my e46 at about 115000km, when we took the back seat out and uncovered the pump it all looked good and it would even test good BUT around the top it had a very thin hairline crack as if it was about to be opened like a can. It doesnt take much

But hey let us know what it was, helps us all to add to the book lol

cormier · 11-20-2012, 09:13 AM

Ya I'm sure a dozen of us will have this happen this winter now :p

Good luck!

DANIMAL · 11-20-2012, 04:09 PM

Consider replacing the fuel pump relay first. I have a fuel pump failing in the E36, it has been acting up the last few times the car has been out, but it didn't just die completely. It starts cold no problem then begins to hesitate when warm. If I turn the car off and then back on when its warm it can take two or three long attempts to get it to start.

Its a much cheaper fix (~25 bucks for E36) than replacing the whole pump. I'd hate to replace the pump only to find it was the relay all along.

CoEEzi · 11-21-2012, 12:30 AM

Plus one on the relay.

ScotcH · 11-21-2012, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DANIMAL

Consider replacing the fuel pump relay first. I have a fuel pump failing in the E36, it has been acting up the last few times the car has been out, but it didn't just die completely. It starts cold no problem then begins to hesitate when warm. If I turn the car off and then back on when its warm it can take two or three long attempts to get it to start.

Its a much cheaper fix (~25 bucks for E36) than replacing the whole pump. I'd hate to replace the pump only to find it was the relay all along.

This sounds a lot like a crank position sensor issue (or the wire to it ... cracked/worn insulation). One day it just won't start at all.

cormier · 11-21-2012, 10:07 AM

If you're not getting fuel pump output, meter your fuel pump relay with an ETM in the other hand and it will be evident if it is working or not.

jabela · 11-23-2012, 01:17 AM

Thanks for all of the input guys. In the end, it was just the fuel pump.
One nice thing about replacing it is that the slight hesitation around 3500rpm under hard acceleration seems to be gone.

I'll also be doing my fuel filter soon, as the car has 162K km on it and it was last replaced at 100K km.

Apparently it's relatively common for the fuel pump on E46's to die, starting around 160-200K km.

Blackedout95 · 11-23-2012, 08:43 AM

At least it was a quick find, the fuel filter is a piece of cake to do really and easily tested, blow hard lol

My e46 fuel pump lasted just 115000, not sure if it is a hugely common issue. I see several e46's a week and haven't done many tbh. Just a luck of the draw thing I think.

Since winter is coming you mine as well consider when the last time you did other things, like plugs, look for the common vac leak in the elbow and what not.