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| | | Saturday Job
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 14/05/2008 16:01:28
Posts: 18, Visits: 61 |
| | Hi Guys , hope someone can help..... my wifes 2002 e39 530d will very occasionally not start. Engine turns fine, but behaves as if the tanks empty when in fact it's half full. 2-3 months may pass without it happening. There appears to be 2 fuel tanks on the car under the rear seat and as I understand it there is an electric pump which pumps from one tank to the other. Because of the nature of the problem I suspect a sticking point on this pump. Can anyone advise me what is involved in removing/replacing it? Does the tank/tanks need to be dropped, or can the pump be accessed from under the back seat? Myles |
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| | | Forum Master Technician
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 21:01:54
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| | Myles You may have two fuel pumps; but only one is in the tank. These have one lift pump and one intermediate pump halfway down the chassis. Either - or neither - could be the fault. Transferring fuel across the saddle-tank is a syphon affair powered by the return line. .
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| | | Forum Master Technician
Group: Advanced Members
Last Login: Today @ 05:37:46
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| I cannot see why this would be a fuel supply issue. Unless someone who knows BMW comes on to suggest a 'known' shortcoming on this model, I think you should approach this with a open mind. How has the engine started previously, was it just by tryng at intervals ? I'm off now, the NASCAR has restarted.
I stand, to be corrected. |
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| | | Saturday Job
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 14/05/2008 16:01:28
Posts: 18, Visits: 61 |
| | I can't thinks what else it could be, the car drives beautifully otherwise. 99% of the time it starts within a second of turning the key, but the other 1% it will just spin & spin without so much as a cough or splutter. The last time it happened I tapped the tank & under the passenger seat with a bit of 1x2" and it started. Previously, I pressurised the fuel tank to force fuel to the engine & it started (I could hear the diesel in the tank). The first time it happened, my missus was driving & it just died as if it had run out of fuel, though the guage showed 1/3-1/2 a tank. Local garage recovered the car & said the tank was empty. Since then we haven't relied on the fuel guage, and any time it has failed to start since it has had about 1/2 a tank full. This led me to suspect the in-tank pump or `saddle' tank arrangement. No MIL shows , although I haven't been able to get cars0ft to connect to this car . Thanks for the replies. |
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| | | Forum Master Technician
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Last Login: Today @ 04:39:56
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| | Motokool. So it has died while being driven, which mean,s it,s not just a starting problem  From memory i think there is a problem with one of the supply pipe,s on the engine. Kev.
"If you dont KNOW how it works, don,t try to test or fix it" |
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| | | Forum Master Technician
Group: Advanced Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 21:01:54
Posts: 7,853, Visits: 19,527 |
| | Myles You could well be on the right track - a large percentage of faults on these are down to fuel pump issues. Getting the fault codes and live-data examined may show that the lift pump isn't working at all and the intermediate pump is doing all the work. .
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