Cranking endlessly
 

Hi guys,
Here what I've got into:

Yesterday came back home to pick up some documents and had to run back,so I attempted to restart after may be 3 minutes I halted the engine,so..it would crank endlessly,so when the point of usual start up was passed I would turn the key to stop cranking.I tried several times with no luck,so I took the wife's key and it catches,but after few revolutions dies,all while starter is still cranking,and finally fires up.
I halt the engine and swap the key,and to my surprise it continues cranking,so after may be 3 or 4 attempts it finally starts.
So I think,should be immobilizer or ignition switch related,departed to do my business and didn't have the problem until today's afternoon,when I went to pick up some stuff from a friend and had to restart in 5 min.
SOOOOOO embarrassing to crank with the friend in the door checking out,anyway...so it finally starts after I hit lock and unlock.
Come back home and try again let the X sit and go inside for an hour or so,go back start and it fires up as usual,halt ,restart and get just cranking,lock...unlock and 3 attempt I get it started.
Weirdddddddddddd.
Any ideas?
Ignition switch? Bad gas? Clogged fuel filter ? EWK module or how the hell it is written...
I tried searching here...not much luck so far.
Any ideas?
it's 2000 4.4i

Happened to My 2005 X5 N62 also today. Try pulling the fuse (#49 if I remember correctly) to the fuel pump (located in fuse box in the glove compartment. It may be the relay is stuck open. Could be either that , or the ignition switch or a dirty fuel filter or strainer by the fuel pump.

yep, check the fuel filter and/or fuel pump.
i had the same symptom when i had a dirty fuel filter and bad fuel pump to boot.

Thanks for your replies guys,
well,I am pretty sure the filter is clogged,I had it in the shop for 10 days for transmission warranty call and X was returned to me with 19 kms left on the range estimate(f#$%,I would say) along stuck caliper and a bunch of fault codes stored...anyway,it was about 3 weeks ago.
I owe the X for 2 years and hadn't changed the filter myself yet,so there are some chances it wasn't replaced ever since the X was new.
About a fuel pump,I can hear it from time to time,shouldn't I? If it's that loud it should be an indicator of a bad filter or it's its normal operation ?
I am gonna get the filter ordered anyway,pity they are a bit costy .

Today spent 20 minutes trying to start it up.
Well,already gave up at on point and called CAA to get it towed to my indy.
But after decided to play with the fuses and pulled the Fuel Pump fuse and plugged it in and it Started just as usual.
So,at this point the Fuel Filter is already new.
Tomorrow I am gonna clean up the ignition switch.
If it's not the switch I am bringing it to my indy on Monday,either towed or if it starts at least once it goes straight there.
Man,this situation sucks.

Mine's started doing exactly the same!!! A week ago it wouldn't start for about 20 secs, then did, and the other day it took about 5 mins, but today it was nearly 15 mins (I eventually fiddled with the fuses in the glovebox then it started) then I drove for 5 mins, stopped for 10 and it started up first time. But an hour later it took 30 secs again.

And I had someone in the car with me... :thumbdown

... Keep us posted, As my 00 X did same thing, took 2 times restart to start as it kept cranking in a gas station after refuel(week ago). never happened since, but still interasting. Also thinking about changing fuel filter and O2s since I get Lean bank 1 and 2.

Fuel filter is changed and O2s as well ALL FOUR of them.
I hope it's not an immobilizer that is getting picky.
Yes,I am gonna post any progress.
It happened few times with people around,what a disappointment :(

I chased a similar problem on my 2001 but it turned out to be the mass airflow sensor. I kept getting a lean in bank1 CEL, replaced the O2's, replaced the fuel filter, cleaned out the oil separator. I never got an error for the MAF sensor, but on a hunch I replaced it and never had the issue again.

It is about $200 from AutoHausAZ

As far as I know the MAF is not used on the start up and you can unplug the MAF and X is gonna run just fine,except may by the CEL,not more than that.