Brian C.
03-16-2004, 08:57 PM
...or.......How much am I gonna get ph*#ked?
A little recap.........My car wouldn't start, it would crank endlessly, but no coughs or even an idea of kicking in. Much thought, (that was my 1st problem) much discussion with many here, many good ideas given, many of them tried. Relays, pumps, jumpers, crank sensors, pressure gauges, even an idea to check the "code" feature. Never thought of that one! But no. Not that either. I TRIED to try most of those ideas.....but finally gave in. Here's my tale of woe.
OK....I'm finally home from work, after a long one today and an even longer one yesterday. I got home yesterday around 10:30pm and didn't even touch the PC, just crashed and went to bed.
So, Monday I got up early and tried to find the cam and crankshaft sensors. I couldn't see them anywhere near where the photo in the ETK showed. Nothing but hoses and cable(throttle?)linkage and ......stuff. I finally thought that maybe if I removed the air intake going into the manifold, that came from the air filter box, maybe I'd see them easier. Not a good move. The first screws and connectors that I loosened all seemed to make the hoses move a little but as I almost separated the metal part(what the hell is that thing anyway....looks like a carb?)I saw a gasket that I didn't want to damage and I still couldn't really see anything...and....and....and. My "buddy" who was going to give me a lift to a parts place Monday morning was no where to be found. I called two others and no one could give me a lift. Not that I knew what to buy anyway! It was now around noon and sometime that day I HAD to be in my office, so I just said "#@!*&!#" and called AAA and had him tow me to the dealer. I was just too frustrated and dirty to try anything else. I needed to get to the office and I had a very important(and$$$)dentist's appointment at 6pm too.
So it was real easy. A little ride in the tow truck, they gave me a "free" '04 325i loaner, I get on with my day. All I have to do is wait for my credit card bill. At least I can play with the 325 for a day or two. So I guess I have to give back my Junior Mechanic's Merit Badge back, huh? My biggest problem.....well, car-wise at least.....is that I can't afford to have my car immobile for more than a weekend. Or I need another car. I don't want to go that route.
So that's the story. Go ahead, you remember my symptoms, guess. Guess what my bill's gonna be. I'm thinking it ain't gonna be fun. Between that and the dentist......ouch! Bad day.
But thanks for all your help anyway. If I'd had more time, tools, patience, and assistance here I might have been able to figure it out.
Brian C.
A little recap.........My car wouldn't start, it would crank endlessly, but no coughs or even an idea of kicking in. Much thought, (that was my 1st problem) much discussion with many here, many good ideas given, many of them tried. Relays, pumps, jumpers, crank sensors, pressure gauges, even an idea to check the "code" feature. Never thought of that one! But no. Not that either. I TRIED to try most of those ideas.....but finally gave in. Here's my tale of woe.
OK....I'm finally home from work, after a long one today and an even longer one yesterday. I got home yesterday around 10:30pm and didn't even touch the PC, just crashed and went to bed.
So, Monday I got up early and tried to find the cam and crankshaft sensors. I couldn't see them anywhere near where the photo in the ETK showed. Nothing but hoses and cable(throttle?)linkage and ......stuff. I finally thought that maybe if I removed the air intake going into the manifold, that came from the air filter box, maybe I'd see them easier. Not a good move. The first screws and connectors that I loosened all seemed to make the hoses move a little but as I almost separated the metal part(what the hell is that thing anyway....looks like a carb?)I saw a gasket that I didn't want to damage and I still couldn't really see anything...and....and....and. My "buddy" who was going to give me a lift to a parts place Monday morning was no where to be found. I called two others and no one could give me a lift. Not that I knew what to buy anyway! It was now around noon and sometime that day I HAD to be in my office, so I just said "#@!*&!#" and called AAA and had him tow me to the dealer. I was just too frustrated and dirty to try anything else. I needed to get to the office and I had a very important(and$$$)dentist's appointment at 6pm too.
So it was real easy. A little ride in the tow truck, they gave me a "free" '04 325i loaner, I get on with my day. All I have to do is wait for my credit card bill. At least I can play with the 325 for a day or two. So I guess I have to give back my Junior Mechanic's Merit Badge back, huh? My biggest problem.....well, car-wise at least.....is that I can't afford to have my car immobile for more than a weekend. Or I need another car. I don't want to go that route.
So that's the story. Go ahead, you remember my symptoms, guess. Guess what my bill's gonna be. I'm thinking it ain't gonna be fun. Between that and the dentist......ouch! Bad day.
But thanks for all your help anyway. If I'd had more time, tools, patience, and assistance here I might have been able to figure it out.
Brian C.