help e38 730i ignition issue

[Jaybond750]

Hi again. Sifus and gurus helpppppp!Went to a friend's place today driving my favourite car the UDM of course. But after few minutes stop (with engine off and alarm locked) tried to start it again... Aiyooh! The UDM just won't start, no cranking whatsoever. With the ignition switch still on all electrical i.e. windows, lights etc were all functioning.She's a 1995 e38 730i v8....Checked the battery voltage hmmm...still ok.Any idea forumers ? ....Being a newbie and with very limited source of competent mechs fuhhh what a headache now..Thanks in advance.

 

[ssmann]

Hmmmm....no cranking...may I suggest the following: -

1. Starter motor
2. Battery terminals

Was your car in P or N? Sorry to point this out, but car won't start if D and R.

 

[Jaybond750]

Thanks ssmann. What a quick reply.....

Yeah. It was on P and later tried to start on N. But no luck it seems...
As you suggested.. I'll look into it tommorrow.

Could it be the ignition key chip failure?.

Thanks.

:25: Starting to miss the joy and happiness of the Seventh Heaven

 

[ssmann]

Also a possibility....that needs to be diagnosed I believe....your mech familiar with BM's especially the 38 should be able to trouble shoot

 

[Jaybond750]

:20:
pity we dont have e38 expert here in indera kayangan state....and the only bmw mech with diagnostic tool could only scan for 3,5 series. thanks again for your reply.

 

[ssmann]

Where is this state? Come to KL/PJ got many....

 

[badrul880]

Perlis la Bhai... Kasi bukak balik buku Geografi wei haha...

 

[ssmann]

Hehehehe.....Perlis ah...I know a very good mechanic at the border.....

 

[badrul880]

You memang borderman..

 

[Vincent Hor]

Jaybond, as suggested by Ssmann the problem could be the starter motor. Ask your mechanic to check that first or give the starter motor some good knocks.

 

[Jaybond750]

Thanks badrul, ssmann and vincent. Will ask the mech to give some 'nice' knock tomorrow. Good to know that fellow UDM drivers really care and support each other.

He he he come to Perlis and i'll show you fellas what 'border' can do to you :hmmmm: hmmm... or the other way round....:cheers:

 

[YaZmEeN]

Agreed, if ur immobilizer chip is malfunction, ur car still can start but will only last for 10 minute if i'm not mistaken. If no cranking, most likely is ur starter motor, or might be the gear sensors that tells ur car that the gear knob is still at either D or R mode.

 

[Jaybond750]

Thanks yazmeen for the info..

But this morning the mechs tried to bypass the starter and the engine could crank but not fire up. Any idea how to check gear sensor status without diagnostic tool?

Is it possible to bypass EWS and replace it with other aftermarket alarm system?

 

[Jaybond750]

Hi forumers, any one heard before that the transponder chip has a battery like item called inductive coil. This inductive coil is charged through ews antenna ring around the ignition switch.

See http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q/original/EWS II Ring Ant 1.jpg

This what i did before (almost 3 months back) i took out the transponder chip out from the ignition key and place it somewhere near the start switch. The action was due to lost of ignition key. Meaning another one key left.

So maybe ; just to 'tembak2' - this ignition trouble might be caused by transponder chip was out of power.

So sifus, gurus and UDM elders ; is this a possibility?

But how to charge up the chip back

 

[Jaybond750]

Anyone made duplicate transponder key for E38 before..? How much roughly?

 

[ssmann]

I know someone made one for 39 and it was 900 I think. I been told some guy a Mister Minit in Tropicana City can make for 350....I really have no experience around this. I recall Vincent Hor making mentioned about modifying transponder key next to ignition. Check with him bro

 

[Jaybond750]

Thanks Mr ssmann, i'll check with the nearest bmw agent first in Alor Star. Yes you're right, i did follow Mr Vincent's write up in this forum before.

But the trouble might be the faulty transponder chip.

I'm clueless now, should i risk on new replacement key from BMW that quite costly. What if after getting the new key and nothing happens....haiyaa headache laaaa......

 

[mdzamrie]

My experience finally pointed to a relay in the glove box, not the fuses. Its a amertyst colour fuse.One way to test it is to hear closely to the relay. Let someone else switch on and off the ignition. You should hear a clitch sound if the relay is ok. If it remains silent, just take out the relay. Open it up and use a fine sandpaper to rub off any oxidation on the terminals. The best way is to replace the relay. I have forgotten the number. For emergency use, there is one similar relay in the boot, right hand side, above the battery. Good luck.
zameri

 

[Jaybond750]

Thanks mdzamrie. I'll try tomorrow. Today workshop close lahh.....

 

[YaZmEeN]

How issit bro? any luck?

I guess the immobiliser chip doesn't use any power, as when i looked at mine, it's just a plain grey plastic and not connected to the key battery.