trouble starting

[rh71]

update: un-solved <eot>

'08 X5 with only 22k miles after 3.5 years.

On Monday & Tuesday morning heading to work, it would crank and not start - took a few tries, but subsequently turns over. All other starts during mid-day and evening were perfectly normal. On Wednesday and Thursday, the very first crank it would just crank for as long as I let it. I stopped it, then push-buttoned it just a 2nd time and it turned over perfectly, both days. Fine the rest of the days' starts also.

Dealer kept it overnight last night and today says battery tests out ok and there are no codes, nor a light that would show up for a battery warning. I thought for sure it was that since batteries only last 3-4 years but they say these are made to last 7. I do very local driving daily though, not much highway.

Any ideas? Fuel injectors? Spark Plugs are a 100k mile replacement item, I saw.

 

[punjabiplaya]

well, it's gotta be fuel, spark, or air.

did they check the plugs and coils?

 

[LTC8K6]

Sounds like it might be cold engine related?

 

[rh71]

Sounds like it might be cold engine related?

It's been at least 70F every morning... some warmer days than others.

They say this morning it started right up and it's been the same temp.

I will ask if they checked those others.

 

[PricklyPete]

'08 X5 with only 22k miles after 3.5 years.

On Monday & Tuesday morning heading to work, it would crank and not start - took a few tries, but subsequently turns over. All other starts during mid-day and evening were perfectly normal. On Wednesday and Thursday, the very first crank it would just crank for as long as I let it. I stopped it, then push-buttoned it just a 2nd time and it turned over perfectly, both days. Fine the rest of the days' starts also.

Dealer kept it overnight last night and today says battery tests out ok and there are no codes, nor a light that would show up for a battery warning. I thought for sure it was that since batteries only last 3-4 years but they say these are made to last 7. I do very local driving daily though, not much highway.

Any ideas? Fuel injectors? Spark Plugs are a 100k mile replacement item, I saw.

You should have bought a honda! J/K.

Have you tried cleaning the MAF?

 

[rh71]

^ I was just saying that cause after you put a new battery in, you gotta get the dealer to program it with the idrive too. It's just a stinkin battery.

I didn't touch anything under the hood... warranty and all that I was hoping they would... I'll see if they'll check it out.

 

[JCH13]

Try turning the key to 'run', give it a 6-second count (or longer) then try starting. The theory being that it may take a few seconds for the fuel pressure to build to an acceptable level. If that solves the problem you may want to have the fuel filter changed.

 

[LTC8K6]

The fuel filter already being clogged that bad would be worrisome.

Perhaps it's the fuel pump or the regulator?

 

[JCH13]

The fuel filter already being clogged that bad would be worrisome.

Perhaps it's the fuel pump or the regulator?

So is a 2008 that's having starting issues!

 

[LTC8K6]

IIRC, the filter and regulator are one piece on those X5's.

 

[SSSnail]

Common problem, my bet is the fuel pump. Do this the next time you crank - turn key to on, wait for fuel light on gauge to go off, turn to crank. Thank me later.

 

[rh71]

verdict: bad solenoid

 

[LTC8K6]

verdict: bad solenoid

Cranking but not starting is most definitely not a bad solenoid.

Unless they mean some other solenoid than the starter solenoid.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Common problem, my bet is the fuel pump. Do this the next time you crank - turn key to on, wait for fuel light on gauge to go off, turn to crank. Thank me later.

i remember when you used to try giving car advice. i see not much has changed, lol.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

another reason i will never own a bmw, as much as i love the M3.

the reliability just doesn't compare to japanese or even korean cars.

 

[Hellotalkie]

Parents have an 09 x5. Reliability is shit.At one point the steering wheel's finish was starting to peel. This was with only 20k miles. Heater went out at one point, Navigation went completely out. Brakes needed work as they kept making a pressurized noise.

The steering wheel issue isn't that big of a deal but the amount they paid for that car, it should be.

They are thinking about trading it in for a new audi suv, waiting for the warranty to end.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

My 335 has been flawless so far. I do only have like 600 miles on the thing though, lol.

 

[SSSnail]

i remember when you used to try giving car advice. i see not much has changed, lol.

I remember when you were relevant, wait...

Anyways, the fuel light on the gauge is there for a reason, and that is to tell you that fuel pressure if ready. Because you know, after the engine shuts off, some of that pressure might be lost due to, I don't know, a minuscule leak in a seal, or gravity... You know gravity? The very thing that has affected your mental well being since childhood? Something about being dropped.

Happens on my car, I was going to change the pump, but decided against it after discovered the "fix".

 

[SSSnail]

another reason i will never own a bmw, as much as i love the M3.

the reliability just doesn't compare to japanese or even korean cars.

And the primary reason is that (channeling alkemyst) you can't afford one.

 

[JulesMaximus]

^ I was just saying that cause after you put a new battery in, you gotta get the dealer to program it with the idrive too. It's just a stinkin battery.

I didn't touch anything under the hood... warranty and all that I was hoping they would... I'll see if they'll check it out.

BMW had my friend's 650i for a few days after Sirius changed their station lineup a few months ago because it wouldn't play nice with idrive. They gave him a 128i though as a loaner...how thoughtful of them.

 

[rh71]

Parents have an 09 x5. Reliability is shit.At one point the steering wheel's finish was starting to peel. This was with only 20k miles. Heater went out at one point, Navigation went completely out. Brakes needed work as they kept making a pressurized noise.

The steering wheel issue isn't that big of a deal but the amount they paid for that car, it should be.

They are thinking about trading it in for a new audi suv, waiting for the warranty to end.

yeah it hasn't been the best but I have gladly lived with it - I still look forward to driving it every time I go outside after 3.5 years. I'm pretty sure most owners are in the same boat. Peeling trim was replaced under warranty (fairly common in 07s-09s). Now they use a different material. My idrive screen also went dark, also replaced and haven't had an issue since. All in all, I'm glad I have the warranty, hopefully only worry about few and far between major issues after year 4. I'm not gonna pay $2.5k for a 2-year extended warranty. Or maybe I should sell and start all over with something else while I can still get 40k for it... that has also crossed my mind. Oh yeah, right I have kids. But no, no Odyssey/Sienna for me.

 

[rh71]

Cranking but not starting is most definitely not a bad solenoid.

Unless they mean some other solenoid than the starter solenoid.

says intake vanos solenoid, both replaced. They found a bulletin on it too.

 

[KentState]

Glad it was diagnosed down to a part. Hopefully that will fix the issue.

 

[slag]

'08 X5 with only 22k miles after 3.5 years.

On Monday & Tuesday morning heading to work, it would crank and not start - took a few tries, but subsequently turns over. All other starts during mid-day and evening were perfectly normal. On Wednesday and Thursday, the very first crank it would just crank for as long as I let it. I stopped it, then push-buttoned it just a 2nd time and it turned over perfectly, both days. Fine the rest of the days' starts also.

Dealer kept it overnight last night and today says battery tests out ok and there are no codes, nor a light that would show up for a battery warning. I thought for sure it was that since batteries only last 3-4 years but they say these are made to last 7. I do very local driving daily though, not much highway.

Any ideas? Fuel injectors? Spark Plugs are a 100k mile replacement item, I saw.

I'm confused.
If it cranks, then its turning over. It can crank and turn over, but not fire or start. A car can fire, but not start, but has to be cranking and/or turning over to do so.

 

[slag]

I remember when you were relevant, wait...

Anyways, the fuel light on the gauge is there for a reason, and that is to tell you that fuel pressure if ready. Because you know, after the engine shuts off, some of that pressure might be lost due to, I don't know, a minuscule leak in a seal, or gravity... You know gravity? The very thing that has affected your mental well being since childhood? Something about being dropped.

Happens on my car, I was going to change the pump, but decided against it after discovered the "fix".

Stop giving advice. Fuel injected cars do not depressurize by just sitting there. And gravity? WTF.. Do you really think that your fuel system will depressurize because of gravity?