Z4 will Crank but not turn over

[Zowen]

Hi Guys,

I have a Z4 e85 2003 3L auto.

The battery died due to me not being able start it for around ~2-3 months but was working perfectly fine before hand. I've installed a new battery and tried starting it up but it just cranked without starting.

I have a C110 code reader so I plugged it in and checked codes, it seems the only permanant code is 185 - transportation mode, which would add up to the battery being flat but I'm not having any other symptoms of it, the windows still work, radio etc but the code is stuck there.

Any ideas or a way I can take it out of transport mode?

EDIT: I can also smell fuel when cranking so I dont believe its that, immobiliser is fine, checked a bunch of fuses including F50 and F33.

Thanks!
Owen

 

[colb]

Hi Transport mode needs either resetting using a higher end scanner that can do it orBMWScamnner 1.4 on a laptop.Transport mode should not prevent the car from starting so you have something else going on as well
.if it cranks over sounds like you have no spark at the plugs

 

[Zowen]

Hi Transport mode needs either resetting using a higher end scanner that can do it orBMWScamnner 1.4 on a laptop.Transport mode should not prevent the car from starting so you have something else going on as well
.if it cranks over sounds like you have no spark at the plugs

Ive got a spare set of plugs I'll throw in and see how that goes.

I really thought the Transport mode can stop it starting especially on those old m54 engines

 

[Joez4]

Do you have any ews codes?
The ews can allow the car to crank but not start, and stop cranking altogether.

I would resync your ews using inpa if you can

 

[Zowen]

Do you have any ews codes?
The ews can allow the car to crank but not start, and stop cranking altogether.

I would resync your ews using inpa if you can

I had 09,43,00,E2 No Found on first read, but it didnt come back after clearing so I assume it was a history code. I can try though do you have any links for what I need (software and the laptop cable) as I have never used inpa.

Thanks

 

[Zowen]

I had 09,43,00,E2 No Found on first read, but it didnt come back after clearing so I assume it was a history code. I can try though do you have any links for what I need (software and the laptop cable) as I have never used inpa.

Thanks

@enuff_zed Maybe you can help, you've helped me a lot in the past and seem to have come across every issue in the book

 

[enuff_zed]

@enuff_zed Maybe you can help, you've helped me a lot in the past and seem to have come across every issue in the book

Well thank you for the compliment.
I would have agreed with @colb - transport is a separate issue. Did new plugs not cure it?
I have had one where it flooded and took an age turning over before it finally cleared itself. You really have to abandon any mechanical sympathy you have and keep the starter churning for a while. If it starts to cough and sound like it almost caught then persevere and it may well sort itself out.
I also considered EWS. If it has a falling out with the DME it will turn over but not start, though I am pretty sure in this case it prevents the fuel pump running as well, so no fuel smell.
Another option could be crankshaft sensor. But any sensor issue would certainly give you a code.

 

[smorris_12]

Don't know about M54s particularly but cars often won't throw an error code for crank sensor that's out of spec (rather than actually dead which the ECUs can detect) because it doesn't know the engine is actually spinning as it gets that info from... the crank sensor!

Flooding is a good call: does the engine sound like its lost compression, ie like a washing machine on spin rather than a bit of chugging? Very common if the engine has been started and almost immediately stopped again. The excess fuel washes the oil off the bore and it loses compression.

 

[NZ00Z3]

Here is a link to a thread on what to check. It's from the E46 guys, they use the same M54 engine as your car.

No Start Guide

If your car won't start, the fix can be as simple as replacing the battery, but there are many other potential causes and troubleshooting can be challenging. The following is an overview, intended to help with the diagnosis. 1. Low voltage Battery If the starter isn't cranking, or there is only...

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