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Having troubles starting my car

 
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Bhowe84 Bhowe84
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 09/11
Posted: 09/08/11
07:13 PM

1996 BMW 328i. I took it to a shop and they told me to replace my camshaft position sensor. So i did. Now its running better but it still doesnt start easy. I recorded what it sounds like. Im really hoping someone on here can help me figure out what is really wrong.

http://s593.photobucket.com/albums/tt15/bhowe84/?action=view¤t=VIDEO0018.mp4  

 
waynep7122 waynep7122
Addict | Posts: 4562 | Joined: 08/09
Posted: 09/09/11
08:58 AM

all 1996 and newer cars are OBD2....  they all use the same generic diagnostic connector.. usually under the dash...

borrow an OBD2 code reader... borrow a OBD2 scan tool... buy a OBD2 scan tool...

read codes. post codes here...

with scan tools like the Harbor freight 98614.. you can look at the life data stream the computer is looking at to control the motor..

you will also need access to some kind of repair manual information.. either a factory service manual in print or the electronic version...

or an online subscription  from eautorepair.net or alldatadiy.com  

there are Thousands of codes possible..    warning..   just because it shows a code like the cam sensor..  you have to find the proper page in the manual and do the testing outlined there..    to Verify that the sensor is actually the problem..

this is where a LOT of people including mechanics have problems...   i got a code and i changed the part for that code and it still does not fix it..   the codes send you to a manual page for testing..  the code description is the circuit effected..

a code reader is not  going to really help other than tell you what code...

with a proper scan tool....   you can actually look at the sensor signals for that code and other sensors to see what is actually going on...


this might be a hard problem do diagnose... could be fuel related.. could be ignition related..

 

 
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