Engine cranks like normal but doesn't start. Try it again and it starts.

[mattkins99]

Sorry, tried to be very descriptive in my title. I've been doing some searching and it's really hard to filter through posts when the titles just say something like "Doesn't start" or "Spark plug"

Anyway, as the title states, for the last 2 days, my X5 starting having an issue starting. The battery is only about 2 weeks old, so plenty of juice. Also, just FYI, I've only had the car for a month so I don't know its service history.

Anyway when the car has been sitting, for say half an hour or more and I come to start it, the engine cranks like normal... the car just doesn't start. Or sometimes it does after 5 seconds or so and then it seems to stumble to life. If I let it crank or 5 seconds and get nothing, I turn the key back and then start it again. So far every time I've done this it starts up immediately like normal.

My first thought was the fuel filter. With 130k miles I have no idea if it's been changed so I'm assuming it hasn't and it's on my list of things to do. I'm also thinking fuel pump but I don't know how hard this is to do so I'll start with the filter first.... Anyway, reading posts, with similar but not the same problems (some cars don't start at all, some start up fine in the morning, but not later... etc.) it seems I need to consider spark plugs and the MAF too.

Also, in the interests of full disclosure, I'm getting sporadic 1158/1160 codes. The light goes on and off so my guess is I've got a small air leak somewhere, I just haven't had time to track it down.

As cheap as all these things are to do (with the exception of the fuel pump I'm sure...) I'd just do them all, but I moved earlier this year and no longer have a garage. My building doesn't allow us to work on our cars in the garage, so I have to be sneaky about whatever I do or find a friend with a garage to borrow to do the work.


Anyway, what does the wise forum think?

[Ghost-Flame]

For the last 18 months mine has done exactly the same thing. I starts on the first try about every 10 times, it always starts on the 2nd try. I've gotten so used to it I just hit it once turn back and do it 2nd time.

My Indy mechanic can't figure it out. My coils are original at 143,000 miles someone thinks it might be the coils. I would have replaced them when I replaced the valve cover a few weeks ago but, it was another $500 for parts for my 3.0. I can live with it unless it starts getting worse.

[mattkins99]

So did you try the other things like MAF, Fuel filter, fuel pump and spark plugs?

Not the kind of response I was hoping for.... :-S

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by mattkins99

So did you try the other things like MAF, Fuel filter, fuel pump and spark plugs?

Not the kind of response I was hoping for.... :-S

I didn't know this was multiple choice,

None of the above... can you give me some more choices, Snarkman?

Spark plugs I replaced at 99,000... irridiums are forever or 100K whichever comes first. Fuel filter and fuel pump I don't think so; a bad fuel delivery is a problem throughout the running cycle of the engine it would show other symptoms... like stalling, What makes you think it would be the MAF... mine is in excellent shape, new filter, no cracks, no bad seals, clean, no faults

[mattkins99]

Sorry, I guess I was just hoping for a "Do this and all is good" kind of reply. Not an "I have the same problem and I don't know" reply. Not your fault, just damn... not what I was hoping to hear.

My thought with the fuel filter is actually more the fuel pressure regulator. If this is bad, maybe after sitting the pressure slowly leaks out. On first crank the engine just isn't getting enough fuel and by the time of the second crank the fuel pump has built the pressure back up. Same theory with the fuel pump if it's getting weak or leaking. If this leak is really slow (like half an hour or so to reduce the pressure enough...) then maybe I wouldn't smell the fuel?

As for spark plugs this was just a suggestion I saw in another post when someone said their car wouldn't start. Their car wouldn't start at all so the problem was a bit different and spark plugs make sense at that point... but still... cheap and probably should be done anyway.

MAF is always an unknown. On the M5board, we go through them like candy... fortunately, someone found out we could buy two cheap MAFs meant for VW Golfs, throw away the housing and use them on in the M5 housings. When MAFs go, they don't always throw codes and can prevent the car from starting. The first time they went on my M5 it started out with the car dying shortly after starting. Very quickly (within a day) it progressed to the car not starting on some tries and while I was waiting for the MAFs to arrive in the mail, the car just stopped starting all together. This was my experience, but others have had similar but different symptoms. The problem with the X5 is similar enough I didn't want to rule it out.... plus a can of CRC MAF cleaner is so cheap... why not try it.

[steelheader]

Fuel pump thats easy and its under the seat ,than go from there ,thats were i would start mine did the same thing got one from the junk yard fifty bucks and starts first try now a have a back up hahahah

[wallyx5]

Unplug your MAF sensor and then try starting the car. If it starts then the MAF needs to be replaced. I have had that happen before.

[bnw]

Key up a couple of times without cranking. That is, key on/key off, key on/key off. Then crank. The pump should prime the system. If it starts right up, your fuel rail may be bleeding down through a leaking injector or fuel line.

[Ghost-Flame]

Here is a inexpensive version. 1/3 the cost at BMW dealer

BMW*X5*Mass Air Flow Meter from CarPartsWarehouse

[mattkins99]

Originally Posted by bnw

Key up a couple of times without cranking. That is, key on/key off, key on/key off. Then crank. The pump should prime the system. If it starts right up, your fuel rail may be bleeding down through a leaking injector or fuel line.

Started in about 3 seconds. Better.