Annu 1 Report post Posted January 31, 2017 My e30 won't start occasionally. When I turn the key the engine used to crank. To turn the car on I either had to push start or jumpstart the car. I dropped off the car to get it resprayed and that guy couldn't turn it on so he got his mate who was apparently a mechanic to start it and he used a screwdriver and touched two bolts (sorry I don't know what they are called) on the starter to turn it on. After I got the car back it won't start and won't crank the engine either. Please help me out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brockie123 31 Report post Posted January 31, 2017 If the mechanic jump started it straight off the starter that rules out the starter as an issue. i've had a problem like this recently, turned out the keyway in the back of my ignition barrell was spinning inside my ignition switch. i could turn the cars ignition on but couldn't get to the cranking position on the key. a handy trick to know if your car is motronic 1.3 as your profile suggests. Is, open up the diagnostic port in the engine bay and with the ignition on and the car in neutral and jump pin 11 and pin 14 this will crank your starter and get you going. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allanw 1071 Report post Posted February 1, 2017 If he shorted two bolts and it worked, it's bypassing the starter solenoid. If the solenoid is knackered, the starter often won't crank, or does so intermittantly. You probably either need the solenoid replaced, or maybe a used starter. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topless 13 Report post Posted February 1, 2017 12 hours ago, Allanw said: If he shorted two bolts and it worked, it's bypassing the starter solenoid. If the solenoid is knackered, the starter often won't crank, or does so intermittantly. You probably either need the solenoid replaced, or maybe a used starter. Rubbish! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
polley 916 Report post Posted February 1, 2017 1 hour ago, topless said: Rubbish! Huh? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Annu 1 Report post Posted February 1, 2017 On 2/1/2017 at 0:31 PM, brockie123 said: If the mechanic jump started it straight off the starter that rules out the starter as an issue. i've had a problem like this recently, turned out the keyway in the back of my ignition barrell was spinning inside my ignition switch. i could turn the cars ignition on but couldn't get to the cranking position on the key. a handy trick to know if your car is motronic 1.3 as your profile suggests. Is, open up the diagnostic port in the engine bay and with the ignition on and the car in neutral and jump pin 11 and pin 14 this will crank your starter and get you going. I'll try tht Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eliongater 718 Report post Posted February 2, 2017 25 minutes ago, Annu said: I'll try tht That worked for me, turned out my ignition switch had died Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites