Stupidly jump started e61, now not charging, help!
Discussion
Hi everyone.
Yes, I was stupid (and sleep deprived) and I jump started the old e61 525d at the battery, not the jump terminal in the engine bay, and now the battery voltage across the terminals stays the same whether engine running or not. I have replaced the alternator regulator but no joy. I have a scanner and can’t find any direct faults - when I unplugged the exciter wire the correct fault showed for this, and went away when plugged back in. I am only seeing 7.5 volts in the exciter wire with engine running, though.
Battery is a bit shagged (which is why it broke down) so I will replace but obviously I have done something to it. Any help tracking this one down appreciated!
Cheers all
Schmo ( and feeling like one)
Yes, I was stupid (and sleep deprived) and I jump started the old e61 525d at the battery, not the jump terminal in the engine bay, and now the battery voltage across the terminals stays the same whether engine running or not. I have replaced the alternator regulator but no joy. I have a scanner and can’t find any direct faults - when I unplugged the exciter wire the correct fault showed for this, and went away when plugged back in. I am only seeing 7.5 volts in the exciter wire with engine running, though.
Battery is a bit shagged (which is why it broke down) so I will replace but obviously I have done something to it. Any help tracking this one down appreciated!
Cheers all
Schmo ( and feeling like one)
Notes for Service department
General notes
Notice! Charging and trickle charging of the battery
The battery may only be recharged with a battery charger that has been approved by BMW and that has a constant charging voltage of 14.8V.
If possible, the battery temperature should be between 15 °C and 25 °C during charging. Under these preconditions, the battery is adequately charged when the charge current drops below 2.5 amps.
If the battery is recharged at low temperatures, the charging procedure should not be ended until the charge current drops below 1.5 A.
On vehicles with IBS, recharging the battery directly at the battery terminals could lead to a misinterpretation of the battery condition and even unwanted Check Control messages or fault entries.
If the battery is recharged while it is installed, it must be recharged using the jump start terminal points, whenever jump start terminal points are provided in the engine compartment. Only then can you be sure that charging is correctly recognised by the vehicle electronics on vehicles with an intelligent battery sensor (IBS).
General notes
Notice! Charging and trickle charging of the battery
The battery may only be recharged with a battery charger that has been approved by BMW and that has a constant charging voltage of 14.8V.
If possible, the battery temperature should be between 15 °C and 25 °C during charging. Under these preconditions, the battery is adequately charged when the charge current drops below 2.5 amps.
If the battery is recharged at low temperatures, the charging procedure should not be ended until the charge current drops below 1.5 A.
On vehicles with IBS, recharging the battery directly at the battery terminals could lead to a misinterpretation of the battery condition and even unwanted Check Control messages or fault entries.
If the battery is recharged while it is installed, it must be recharged using the jump start terminal points, whenever jump start terminal points are provided in the engine compartment. Only then can you be sure that charging is correctly recognised by the vehicle electronics on vehicles with an intelligent battery sensor (IBS).
naturalaspiration said:
Notes for Service department
General notes
Notice! Charging and trickle charging of the battery
The battery may only be recharged with a battery charger that has been approved by BMW and that has a constant charging voltage of 14.8V.
If possible, the battery temperature should be between 15 °C and 25 °C during charging. Under these preconditions, the battery is adequately charged when the charge current drops below 2.5 amps.
If the battery is recharged at low temperatures, the charging procedure should not be ended until the charge current drops below 1.5 A.
On vehicles with IBS, recharging the battery directly at the battery terminals could lead to a misinterpretation of the battery condition and even unwanted Check Control messages or fault entries.
If the battery is recharged while it is installed, it must be recharged using the jump start terminal points, whenever jump start terminal points are provided in the engine compartment. Only then can you be sure that charging is correctly recognised by the vehicle electronics on vehicles with an intelligent battery sensor (IBS).
Thanks...... would a simple disconnection and reconnection of the terminals not reset it ?General notes
Notice! Charging and trickle charging of the battery
The battery may only be recharged with a battery charger that has been approved by BMW and that has a constant charging voltage of 14.8V.
If possible, the battery temperature should be between 15 °C and 25 °C during charging. Under these preconditions, the battery is adequately charged when the charge current drops below 2.5 amps.
If the battery is recharged at low temperatures, the charging procedure should not be ended until the charge current drops below 1.5 A.
On vehicles with IBS, recharging the battery directly at the battery terminals could lead to a misinterpretation of the battery condition and even unwanted Check Control messages or fault entries.
If the battery is recharged while it is installed, it must be recharged using the jump start terminal points, whenever jump start terminal points are provided in the engine compartment. Only then can you be sure that charging is correctly recognised by the vehicle electronics on vehicles with an intelligent battery sensor (IBS).
What happens when the battery is replaced, does it need recoding ?
Edited by V8covin on Friday 11th February 19:08
On further reading of tinterweb it seems jump starting a Beamer via the battery tends to fry not only the alternator but possibly many and varied of the control modules. I’m getting quite a few error codes and having a bit of trouble finding out if 7.5 volts to the exciter wire is ok….
I’d be a bit fed up trying a new alternator and still getting no charge and being none the wiser why…
I’d be a bit fed up trying a new alternator and still getting no charge and being none the wiser why…
schmokin1 said:
On further reading of tinterweb it seems jump starting a Beamer via the battery tends to fry not only the alternator but possibly many and varied of the control modules. I’m getting quite a few error codes and having a bit of trouble finding out if 7.5 volts to the exciter wire is ok….
I’d be a bit fed up trying a new alternator and still getting no charge and being none the wiser why…
I jump started both my 320d and 330d (E9X generation) without any problem from the batteryI’d be a bit fed up trying a new alternator and still getting no charge and being none the wiser why…
Try the battery cable, but it makes no difference if it's on the battery or on the under-bonnet terminals, in my understanding
The (somewhat reduced) battery voltage was 11.8v
Codes I got were E18C monitoring message, E18F config does not match and E714 KCAN: power management, battery voltage, 3 BE. Googling these makes me think they might be battery related for the first two and alternator output for the third.
Codes I got were E18C monitoring message, E18F config does not match and E714 KCAN: power management, battery voltage, 3 BE. Googling these makes me think they might be battery related for the first two and alternator output for the third.
Edited by schmokin1 on Saturday 12th February 09:53
schmokin1 said:
The (somewhat reduced) battery voltage was 11.8v
Codes I got were E18C monitoring message, E18F config does not match and E714 KCAN: power management, battery voltage, 3 BE. Googling these makes me think they might be battery related for the first two and alternator output for the third.
Have you cleared the codes ?Codes I got were E18C monitoring message, E18F config does not match and E714 KCAN: power management, battery voltage, 3 BE. Googling these makes me think they might be battery related for the first two and alternator output for the third.
Edited by schmokin1 on Saturday 12th February 09:53
Olivergt said:
11.8v is not really enough. A lot of BMWs are very temperamental about low battery voltage.
How old is the battery?
Have you taken it out and given it a good charge?
11.8v is flatter than a flat thing.How old is the battery?
Have you taken it out and given it a good charge?
A good battery fully charged should be around 12.7v, every 0.1v below that is a loss of around 20% of its capacity, so yours is stuffed.
You need to get it back up to full charge or replaced then reset codes before even trying to start the car or fault find further.
They are very susceptible to low battery voltage causing multiple apparent errors that then clear when the battery is up to scratch.
RUSSELLM said:
Any chance you’ve blown a mega fuse or the old battery has dried out and blown it ?
Check for continuity from the large red wire at the alternator, to the battery positive terminal.
Ok will do. I’m away for work for a few days so it’ll be Thursday before I can report back!Check for continuity from the large red wire at the alternator, to the battery positive terminal.
naturalaspiration said:
If your battery voltage is 7.5V disconnected, and you cannot charge it with a smart charger Ctek or the likes it's shot.
It was the exciter wire that was 7.5v which isn't unusual because it's ECU regulated not internally regulated, it may well be a PWM signal not a DC voltage anyway.There are alternator faults that can give no charge and no battery light if OP can find someone who actually checks and repairs alternators rather than firing parts at things it would be worth taking it off and getting it tested.
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