BMW Repair: 1998 BMW 7401l, coolant leak, 740il


Question
The car will turn over but will not start.  I just finished replacing a front pump seal in the transmission.  I also pulled off the flywheel to check a coolant leak; seems to be the lower valley gasket and running down the rear of the engine.  I put everything back together and now it will not start.  I have checked the impulse sensor connection as well; its ok.  I did not put the flywheel back at the same location as original; would this make it not start?  1998 740iL Vin# DM12724

Answer
Larry, reinstalling the flywheel in a different position will cause the engine not to start 100% of the time. I thought there was an oversized hole on the crankshaft to allow a dowel sleeve to be installed. There should be a corresponding larger hole in the flyweel for the dowel. Install a new dowel if it is missing. Make sure you replaced that little coolant plate gasket behind the flyweel since you are there. Torque the Flexplate/flyweel bolts.
-Evan