My Z3 cranks, no start

HenryChinaski

Regular Member
The M44 Massive
Joined
Apr 14, 2016
Points
15
Model of Z
M43/TU
Hi good people!
I have Z3 1.9 87kW, '98 without alarm and without central locking.. I own it for one year and it never had issues with engine. Last monday I stared my Z, and then after few meters rpm felt down for one second, nearly stopped engine and then it went back. It happened once again after next hundred meters and then I went 10km to my job, with no failures, hesitation, performance problems, etc. But after one hour staying, I tried to start it again and it was only cranking. No unusual warnings on dashboard, only cranking. Tried fuel prssure in rails - yes there was pressure. Then checked all fuses, relays, also that ones under steering wheel, I hear fuelpump when turning key. I followed some yt videos and found that maybe crankschaft sensor can be problem. I changed it for new one- still the same... So it went to garage. Today my mechanic tried some old delphi diagnostics on it, because his new one showed no errors. And he found some "144Error code", which says immobiliser failure. He also found there is no sparking. He also tried new set of coil and spark cables... Fuelpump, fuelfilter are ok, battery is ok,... Now he left the car as it is because he is not electrician.
Do you guess where can be problem?

I realised that few days ago I locked my keys inside car and needed to use grey key. Maybe I mixed them somehow and used grey one for starting...I dont know. I'm getting lost a bit.

Thanks for any advice!
 

t-tony

The Legend
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Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
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E89 Z4 23i Auto
I would try disconnecting the battery for 30 seconds or so the re connect and try again. My suspicion is the inlet camshaft position sensor has failed. Possibly the key mix up may caused an issue.

Tony.
 

Jimmy Weston

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
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Aug 13, 2016
Points
77
Location
Midlands
Model of Z
2.8 induvidual
I ve suffered recently with the same problem,Tony's spot on ,first try inlet cam sensor,iff no joy exhaust cam sensor as well.good luck
Thanks
Jimmy
 

Zeti

Zorg Guru (IV)
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Romanian Zeds
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Location
Bucuresti/ Romania
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Z3 roadster 1.9
If isn't the immobiliser issue, looks like a loose or broken wire to me!
 

HenryChinaski

Regular Member
The M44 Massive
Joined
Apr 14, 2016
Points
15
Model of Z
M43/TU
Thanks friends! At least the unpluging battery is stuff worth to try before I call for tow car...
 

HenryChinaski

Regular Member
The M44 Massive
Joined
Apr 14, 2016
Points
15
Model of Z
M43/TU
so... battery off for one hour and still the same. only cranks...
 

buze

Zorg Guru (I)
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British Zeds
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Jun 5, 2017
Points
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Location
Berks/Powys
Model of Z
2.8 Facelift
Mine does that sometimes too -- so I'm interested. I mean, sometime it won't start on the key -- I turn the car off -- and on again, wait for the lights to diseapear and it then starts in 1/2s. Happends perhaps 1/10 starts...

I ALSO had the (cold) idle weavering a bit -- seems it tries to reduce RPMs too quickly and the car almost stops, then recover.
 

t-tony

The Legend
Deceased
Supporter
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
My Z3 had identical symptoms but it didn't show codes for the immobilizer. I changed the crankshaft and inlet cam sensors, however the cam sensor failed soon after so I replaced it with and OEM (Bosch) one.

Tony.
 

HenryChinaski

Regular Member
The M44 Massive
Joined
Apr 14, 2016
Points
15
Model of Z
M43/TU
I have news from garage. They replaced one "starting" relay (light green one in fusebox under the hood) which was too hot. They showed it to me dismantled - lot of black stuff on the contacts seems like it was sparkling a bit... Consequence of that was probably blocked immobliser. So they needed to program ECU to the values from my keys. Work for few hours, but my Z runs again:whistle:
Crank&Cam sensors remain original ones.

Thanks to all of you!
 

Dino D

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
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Mar 28, 2014
Points
176
Location
Kent
Model of Z
2.8 Manual
I have news from garage. They replaced one "starting" relay (light green one in fusebox under the hood) which was too hot. They showed it to me dismantled - lot of black stuff on the contacts seems like it was sparkling a bit... Consequence of that was probably blocked immobliser. So they needed to program ECU to the values from my keys. Work for few hours, but my Z runs again:whistle:
Crank&Cam sensors remain original ones.

Thanks to all of you!
That's a new one for a Z I think.

I've recently had that on a Ford Galaxy - the starter relay gets dry joints and a tap would get it starting. No codes to speak of, the internet diagnosed it as it apparently common on those - the only issue is they buried the relays into the dash so a bit of dismantling needed to get to it.

At least on the Z they easy to get to and check
 

Zeti

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Romanian Zeds
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Location
Bucuresti/ Romania
Model of Z
Z3 roadster 1.9
I like when dramatic brake down ends with very simple repairs!
 
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