EWS question

bmwz3tower

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Dec 5, 2024
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I'm getting power to the solenoid (I can hear it click), but the starter won't crank the engine. Has anyone experienced this/ does anyone know if this maybe an EWS issue.
 

Grumps

Always happy, apart from when I'm not 🤬
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British Zeds
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Apr 27, 2014
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226
Location
Forest Town, Mansfield
Model of Z
Z4 e85 2.5i
Starter motor likely. Give it a decent tap with a hammer and try it.
 

bmwz3tower

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Dec 5, 2024
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Starter motor likely. Give it a decent tap with a hammer and try it.
Sorry, should have said in the question, I've removed the starter, cleaned and regreased it and changed the solenoid. Prior to this, the non starting only occurred when the engine was hot. Now it just won't start. I've got a suspicion the solenoid may not be the exact same model.
 

bmwz3tower

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Dec 5, 2024
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Bit more info, the battery is at 12.1V so should have enough juice to turn the starter. I have also tested the starter and new solenoid outside of the car (with same battery and it worked). Finally, have connected a multimeter to the copper strap that goes to the starter brushes and found that when turning the key, the starter does not get power.
 

smiffy

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British Zeds
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Nov 1, 2015
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Lowestoft
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Z3 2.8 pre-facelift in Montreal Blue
Bit more info, the battery is at 12.1V so should have enough juice to turn the starter. I have also tested the starter and new solenoid outside of the car (with same battery and it worked). Finally, have connected a multimeter to the copper strap that goes to the starter brushes and found that when turning the key, the starter does not get power.
12.1v is flat, very flat! You need to give that a good charge or get something to jump start from.
 

bmwz3tower

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I've got a new battery and it didnt change anything. Tried starting with the ews connector pulled and I couldn't hear the solenoid click suggesting its not an ews problem.
So I'm going to check the starter relay does anyone know where it is or how to test it.
 

bmwz3tower

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I also tried to crank it with no spark plugs (to reduce compression and therefore power needed by the starter) but it made no difference just the solenoid click again
 

bmwz3tower

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Dec 5, 2024
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Another update, when you turn the key the wire to the post on the solenoid that closes the solenoid gets 12v. As it should.As far as I can tell everything is perfect.
 
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