help identifying this wire

[BMW_sauberf106]

Ok, as some of you guys know, I am having no start problem. We have found a wire that is not getting any power. please take a look and let me know what this wires is for.

thanks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/turd_ae86/11140004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/turd_ae86/11140003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/turd_ae86/11140002.jpg

[GruntE30]

Hmmm... That car looks so familiar...

[BMW_sauberf106]

LOL...your wheels look beautiful!! any close up pics?
I forgot to mention that the wire in the pic isz located on the firewall on the passenger side.

thanks

[nickmpower]

its the fusable link. there should be a fuse on the wire near the battery that will need replacing

[BMW_sauberf106]

thanks for the info.
do you know what its for?, I mean besides it being fusible link.
I looked inside the trunk near the battery, is the fuse located under the black plastic cover?

thanks

[Vladi]

It's a +.

[john318isau]

Is that a factory wire? That connection is often used for accessories to get power from. Could it be for something like an alarm/immobiliser that could cause a starting problem?

[Gunni]

It´s a factory wire, probably meant for low noise as the battery charge goes through the big wire,

That has nothing to do with starting though

Always begin with the basics
are you getting fuel?
are you getting spark?

either answer will get diffrent answer as to the resolution

[ak96ss]

According to my diagrams, that is the fusible link, and provides power to the fuel pump relay. FWIW.

Edit: Oh, and it should NOT have a fuse - it is supposed to melt if it goes over a certain amperage. You have to replace it. Should be a single 8ga (6mm) wire that runs parallel to the battery cable, connected to the positive battery terminal connector itself. Trace that wire, you will probably find a spot that looks 'melty' or 'crinkly' where it melted.

I'd recommend figuring out why it melted before you replace it.

[Gunni]

That most certanly does not provide power to the fuel pump relay,

the fpr gets switching power from the computer and mains power from the fuse box

[ak96ss]

That most certanly does not provide power to the fuel pump relay,

the fpr gets switching power from the computer and mains power from the fuse box

OK, well...

On page 0670-2, POWER DISTRIBUTION, of the 1991 BMW 318is Electrical Troubleshooting Manual, at the top left of the page, it shows that there is a 6mm black cable that connects to the battery junction block post and leads to a 2.5mm red cable leading to post 30 of the fuel pump relay. The other end of that 6mm black cable is the fusible link.

In looking at the fuse block diagram, there is no fuse listed for the fuel pump, just two 7.5A fuses for Injection Electronics.

Page 1360-1, same manual, in the upper right corner, shows a 6mm black cable leading from the fusible link to the battery junction block - coming from that is a 2.5mm red cable leading to post 30 of the fuel pump relay.

Shall I go on?

I'm just RTFM.

[2002maniac]

ak96SS is right. I blew that same link and had no power to the DME or fuel pump.

[M42boy]

You can follow that wire all the way from the engine bay to the battery in the rear trunk. I traced it on my parts car this past weekend.

I was actually trying to pull the whole cable out of the car, but never got that far.

[Gunni]

I´ll stand corrected, but very often on alot of E30´s I have seen that cable isn´t connected to anything, but the rest of the engine power is connected to the battery cable connector

[ak96ss]

I´ll stand corrected, but very often on alot of E30´s I have seen that cable isn´t connected to anything, but the rest of the engine power is connected to the battery cable connector

That would actually not surprise me a bit - I can see having that fusible link blow and, rather than trying to splice in a replacement, just moving everything that ran off of that wire to the main battery cable.

No hard feelings? ;)

[GruntE30]

Hurry up and get that thing started so you can take it to the track! If you dont get it started in time, will you be taking the M3? Just 10 more days!!!:D