p38 wont start 2.5 diesel bmw

Stu3010 said:

Hi. I have had problems with my P38 not starting especially when there is warm weather. It turns over well but does not fire and was told it is a fuel problem (or lack of fuel getting to the injectors). I was told that as the vehicle gets older the timing chain on the fuel pump stretches and on the P38 this is quite critical. My mechanic who specialises in 4X4s does not have the piece of kit to set it up so it means an expensive trip to a main dealer. However mine has now let me down once too often and it has got to go. Being replaced by a Ford Ranger.

Click to expand...

Stu3010 said:

Thanks for the advice, i fitted the hot start kit bought on ebay a couple of years ago and yes it did help with hot starting. However, the stretched pump timing chain is a problem when the weather is very hot. I think my mechanic would have bought the kit if it was as cheap as you say.

Click to expand...

landyman2005 said:

pump timing, bit of a black art that! BMW specialist over here told me scribe 2 marks from the FIP to the block then slacken the 2 bolts and rotate the FIP towards the engine about 1.5mm(width of a hacksaw blade!) he said thats what they do with older 525's that suffer from the same thing ONLY after the usual leak off pipes,fuel pump issues, glow plugs etc have been looked at. he also told me to make sure that the fuel pump inertia switch was not tripped.

Click to expand...