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Main & fuel pump relay (archive)

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Posted by Walter K on May 14, 2001 at 14:35:29:

In Reply to: 1984 733 Motronic, Please Help, out of ideas! posted by Kiwi John on May 13, 2001 at 21:45:54:

Assuming you know that the main relay and fuel pump relay are on the passenger side firewall. Main relay would be a likely culprit if you haven't already swapped/replaced.

Do you have a 5 series Benleys, it has a Mototronic test that see every signal the brain see. Could test when working and when not.


We have a 1984 733, one family owned since new, approx 107,000 miles. Very original, very nice condition. I bought the car in damaged condition. Replaced fender, nose panel and had frame rail straightened.
Main relay on firewall was bad, replaced it and car ran well for about 12 months to Florida, Smokey Mountains & New Jersey (we live in North Carolina.)
Bought a parts car one weekend, had to jump it with the 733 about 3 times to get it running.

2 days later the 733 refused to start, car had been parked for about 20 minutes after a short run. Cranked, wouldn't start, left it overnight started immediately ran about 5 miles and died. wouldn't start. No fuel, pump not running, no fuel pressure. no ignition, no spark. Car cranks & all accessories like lights work OK. Have tried changing out parts, including relays, air flow meter, fuel pumps & filter, ignition coil. Tried jumping fuel pumps they run when jumped.
At Christmas, while I was on vacation, my son swapped out the air flow meter and the 733 cranked up. Ran for a few hundred miles then started acting up on the interstate at about 70 mph, hesitating and running rough. Just made it to the airport, had to push it into the parking space. 5 days later, cranked right up and ran for a few more days.
Yesterday, ran a couple of errands around town, Stopped at Wal Mart, started the car, ran for about 30 seconds, pulled out of the parking space and stopped dead.
Doesn't miss or run rough, just shuts down. Left it all night, wouldn't start, cranks, doesn't fire, no fuel pressure, no ignition.
I have spent time with BMW tech service advisors who have been very patient with me.
I've tried unplugging the air flow meter & plugging it back in. Ive tried disconnecting the battery and reconnecting and all of the other things mentioned above.

Only other thing I can think of mentioning is that the on- board computer has not worked since we have had the car also, the car has a strange problem with the instruments. The green turn signal lights on the display as well as the blue hi beam light cause the instruments to malfunction. The speedometer drops to zero and the temp gauge goes to max.
This happens when the car is running and doesn't seem to affect its performance.

I realize this is a long explanation but I thought anything here could be causing this hard to find problem.

Sure would appreciate any ideas I have run out.





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