Flooded Engine

[Firefox116]

Had to call breakdown out to the house to start the Zed. It just wouldn't start. Ignition lights and on good power but rather than turning over a loud squeal could be heard. Breakdown guy arrived and after some encouragement the engine eventually started. He thought it was flooded with fuel ???

He did record some engine fault codes but didn't pass them to me. These cleared almost immediately.

It has been really wet. I have garaged it over the weekend to try to give it a break from the constant rain. The alarm was playing up last week and now this. Any coincidence ?

 

[5harp3y]

If it wasn't turning over and you had a squeel I would say the starter was jamming

 

[Antm72]

The alarm has a tilt sensor in the boot on the left hand side under the light its not uncommon for a water leak to fill where this sits and it rusts it out and causes alsort of spurious alarm faults.

 

[smiffy]

extremely unlikely to be flooded with fuel.
If a single injector failed open, you might flood one cylinder.
If the ECU failed and somehow did this, you'd never start it.
As @5harp3y suggests, most likely the starter, more specifically the bendix sticking so the motor just spins without engaging in the flywheel.

 

[Firefox116]

You know my gut feeling suggests a starter issue. Alarm keeps going off even when the car is unlocked. I've pulled the fuse for the time being however that fuse also serves the clock and instrument panel. Bugger.

 

[5harp3y]

If you have the original alarm key you can deactivate it under the bonnet.

Little round key (like a bike lock)

 

[Firefox116]

Ok thanks. I'll try that.

 

[g8jka]

I've had it before where it was a fuel issue after moving the car from one part of the drive to another. It's happened a couple of times and I've had to remove the fuse for the fuel pump and try and start the car with my foot flat to the floor on the accelerator and it eventually gets it started. Had the same issue when I had my E36.

 

[Firefox116]

If you have the original alarm key you can deactivate it under the bonnet.

Little round key (like a bike lock)

Okay have the round key, whereabouts under the bonnet ?

 

[jonco]

Okay have the round key, whereabouts under the bonnet ?

You are looking for something like this - right side of engine underneath fuse box. Yours is a later model so may look a bit different. You take the plastic cap off and turn as indicated.

 

[Firefox116]

Brilliant. I'll give that a try later. Cheers.

 

[5harp3y]

on my 97 z3 its on the passenger side engine bay