Help! 328i Starting / Central Locking Problems!
Discussion
Hey guys,
This evening I decided to start up my 1996 328i after having it sat there for a few weeks whilst I was away on holiday, I used the remote central locking to unlock the car but then had to go and do something, and then after about 5 minutes or so had to go back into the house so didn't have a chance to start her up.
I closed the door, pressed the remote central locking button and.... Nothing. The doors wouldn't lock via the remote, so I figured that the fob needed a new battery, I then used the key to lock the doors manually which worked fine, but then when I tried to open the doors again later the fob nor the key would work at all.
So I was locked out of the car completely.
Then after trying some of the other keys I had for it the alarm went off, with me trying desperately to get into the car. Eventually I managed to get the car open by opening the lock manually via the key from the passenger side, although the lock went upward extremely slowly with me having to have the key turned in the lock for quite a few seconds whilst the pin gradually made its way upward and unlocking.
Once I'd done that the drivers side door unlocked via the key with ease, but when I tried to start the car up nothing happened, it wouldn't turn over at all, although all of the lights came on and that. I tried the electric windows and they worked although very slowly.
The fob still won't work at all though, why is this???? Is the central locking via the fob not working because the car hasn't been used in a few weeks do you reckon? The fob light comes on though just fine. It's just the bloody car won't start and the central locking is acting right up.
I'm assuming that it's just because the battery hasn't been active in the last 2 weeks, so it's just being a bit lazy. I hope that's all it is anyway.
Tomorrow I'm going to try and jump start the car. How do I do this? There's a red positive terminal on the left hand side of the engine bay, but what do i do with the negative jump lead?
Any help, tips and advice on this rather annoying matter would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Darren
This evening I decided to start up my 1996 328i after having it sat there for a few weeks whilst I was away on holiday, I used the remote central locking to unlock the car but then had to go and do something, and then after about 5 minutes or so had to go back into the house so didn't have a chance to start her up.
I closed the door, pressed the remote central locking button and.... Nothing. The doors wouldn't lock via the remote, so I figured that the fob needed a new battery, I then used the key to lock the doors manually which worked fine, but then when I tried to open the doors again later the fob nor the key would work at all.
So I was locked out of the car completely.
Then after trying some of the other keys I had for it the alarm went off, with me trying desperately to get into the car. Eventually I managed to get the car open by opening the lock manually via the key from the passenger side, although the lock went upward extremely slowly with me having to have the key turned in the lock for quite a few seconds whilst the pin gradually made its way upward and unlocking.
Once I'd done that the drivers side door unlocked via the key with ease, but when I tried to start the car up nothing happened, it wouldn't turn over at all, although all of the lights came on and that. I tried the electric windows and they worked although very slowly.
The fob still won't work at all though, why is this???? Is the central locking via the fob not working because the car hasn't been used in a few weeks do you reckon? The fob light comes on though just fine. It's just the bloody car won't start and the central locking is acting right up.
I'm assuming that it's just because the battery hasn't been active in the last 2 weeks, so it's just being a bit lazy. I hope that's all it is anyway.
Tomorrow I'm going to try and jump start the car. How do I do this? There's a red positive terminal on the left hand side of the engine bay, but what do i do with the negative jump lead?
Any help, tips and advice on this rather annoying matter would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Darren
Well Darren156, I would have thought someone out there would be able to have come to your aid, but it seems not. It's not as if you have asked a difficult question (eg how do I remove the engine without opening the bonnet), and I'm sure that loads of people have had a problem with batteries/immobilisers/alarms/going on holiday for a fortnight etc, but to hear nothing is frankly disgraceful! And you explained it so well too. COME ON GUYS....assistance is urgeently needed here, I can't help as I own an 07 Pug and it never fails to start...boring as HELL!!
I'm sure you've fixed this by now, but quite clearly a flat or dead battery. Once the voltage drops all sorts of strange things happen with control modules and random stuff doesn't work.
There should be an earthing point near the battery terminal, look for a big shiny bolt attached directly to the inner wing or a bracket etc.
There should be an earthing point near the battery terminal, look for a big shiny bolt attached directly to the inner wing or a bracket etc.
Edited by john_p on Tuesday 28th October 00:21
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