[deadbandblack]

am I screwed?

I got my oil changed at a Quick Lube this Monday. By Tuesday my power steering was moaning and the brakes were mushy. On Wednesday, the engine overheated with really no warning and even after I let it cool down, it would not turnover when I tried to crank it. No sound whatsoever when I turn the key, no clicks or anything. Is the engine seized or is a sensor cutting out the ignition signal?

 

[TheAngryBear]

Start with the basics: what is your battery charge? Do you have spark? Fuel? All your connections and groundings good?
Start there then expand out.

 

[deadbandblack]

Are any sensors that could be keeping it from trying to crank?

 

[moe_e39]

No, even if your sensors were garbage the engine would still crank over, like mentioned above, check your battery, your ground cables, and your starter

 

[jmy60]

Are you getting any power anywhere? Check battery voltage. Just a wild one but there's a post regarding the sun visor operation affecting the ignition system!

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[Burning2nd]

No, even if your sensors were garbage the engine would still crank over, like mentioned above, check your battery, your ground cables, and your starter

or your automatic's neutral safety switch

 

[AH673000]

You took your BMW to a quick lube in Texas.... You are screwed !

 

[deadbandblack]

Battery checks out good. Still no kind of sign that the car is trying to start. No sounds, no nothing. Is there something I need to reset maybe? It did overheat so I'm thinking maybe a sensor is cutting out the ignition.

 

[deadbandblack]

or your automatic's neutral safety switch

How does the neutral safety switch work?

 

[moe_e39]

If the switch is garbage, it doesn't know whether the car is in park or in neutral so it doesn't allow it to start, your best bet at this point is to hook up a scanner and see if there is any codes

 

[hbluthi]

Check all of your fluid levels. Did they drain your junk? I can't believe it went to a quick lube.

 

[540 Hammer]

If the switch is garbage, it doesn't know whether the car is in park or in neutral so it doesn't allow it to start, your best bet at this point is to hook up a scanner and see if there is any codes

I think this is good advice. From what I understand from reading posts on here about overheating, the BMW's, for the most part, are prone and very sensitive to overheating.

A worst case scenario just flashed in my head. If it got hot enough, it's also possible the engine seized.

When I attended SCCA events, like auto-x and "Production" class racing, I saw a guy cook a 3 series motor. My friends pit was next door. I heard the dude yell to all hell when he found out the engine seized up.

Hopefully, it's something relatively easy to fix. Just haven't heard of a BMW overheating and it being a minor fix. :dunno:

 

[jmy60]

You would still get a clicking sound from the starter solenoid tryin to engage the starter....even with a siezed engine.

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[deadbandblack]

Check all of your fluid levels. Did they drain your junk? I can't believe it went to a quick lube.

Oil level is good. When it overheated, the radiator boiled over but I have since replaced the fluids. I wouldn't think it would have a "low level"switch on the radiator but that's almost what this looks like.

 

[deadbandblack]

You would still get a clicking sound from the starter solenoid tryin to engage the starter....even with a siezed engine.

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Yeah, no sounds what so ever. I'm going to attempt to find this transmission switch today but I have no idea where to look.

 

[MKJS]

Haven't been there, but usually the neutral safety switches work off the shift linkage. That's where I'd start looking anyway.

Another thing would be to check the voltage to the starter. I'd try and jump the solenoid and see if it will turn over, this would bypass all the safety switches and sensors.

Jim

 

[moe_e39]

Or put a 22mm socket on the crank and try to turn it over by hand

 

[acoste]

If the switch is garbage, it doesn't know whether the car is in park or in neutral so it doesn't allow it to start, your best bet at this point is to hook up a scanner and see if there is any codes

The switch get's worn in the P position. When it is at fault, it's very common that the car will start in N position.

 

[acoste]

I got my oil changed at a Quick Lube this Monday. By Tuesday my power steering was moaning and the brakes were mushy. On Wednesday, the engine overheated

These are 4 independent systems. I totally don't get it.

 

[deadbandblack]

The switch get's worn in the P position. When it is at fault, it's very common that the car will start in N position.

I tried it in neutral yesterday with no luck. I leave work in about 2 hours and will take a look at this again.