E36 wont start

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s - 10 Aug 2005 00:21 GMT

Hi,

I have a 96 328i

About 4 weeks ago the Airbag check light came on.
Hadn't yet had a chance to look at it.
Then 2 weeks ago the horn started to fail intermittently, and then died
completely.
Then today while driving I noticed the Fuel & temp gauges went dead. However
the car drove fine
Reached my destination & switched off.
An hour later tried to start the car, ignition goes on but starter doesn't
turn, engine's totally dead.
Also it was raining & I had the wipers on.
When trying to start now, although wipers in off poistion the wipers came on
randomly, yet not starting.
With ignition on the air flow meter's also making a buzzing sound. Is this
normal?

Any ideas

Thanks

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V - 10 Aug 2005 09:48 GMT

How can it be normal if your car is like this?

Do a dash check to see if the little motor for the gauges are faulty
Turn off your key (position 0), then press and hold the trip milage
reset button, while holding it in, turn the key to position 1 then
release the button. Wait a while then all needles should move.

Do that first and post your result and go from there....

>Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
>Thanks

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Corey Shuman - 10 Aug 2005 15:18 GMT

Sounds like something either in the alternator or voltage
regulator...at least thats where I would start.. Can you get OBD codes?
There is a pattern, turn key, press pedal down 5 times or something and
then count the flashing check engine light. Do a google search.. Im
sure you will find it. The car should not be started to do this test
and you already have that covered.. ;) Good luck!!

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Karl Winkler - 10 Aug 2005 17:08 GMT

> Sounds like something either in the alternator or voltage
> regulator...at least thats where I would start.. Can you get OBD codes?
> There is a pattern, turn key, press pedal down 5 times or something and
> then count the flashing check engine light. Do a google search.. Im
> sure you will find it. The car should not be started to do this test
> and you already have that covered.. ;) Good luck!!

I have a '96 328i as well. It's my understanding that this car has
OBDII and you can't get the codes in the way you describe. I ended up
getting the Peake diagnostic thingie...

Karl Winkler
http://www.karlwinkler.com/Giovanni.html

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J Strickland - 10 Aug 2005 17:17 GMT

The car is OBD II Compliant, this means you can go to AutoZone and get the
code reader to read what the computer is complaining of.

It sounds to me like you have lost ground somewhere though, and I'm not sure
if this will show up in the codes.

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Thanks

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