Low battery and car cutting out

[finglas]

Hi everyone just looking for some advice.

Car is an older 51 plate e46 330ci. Has been running well for 2 years for me.

Anyway its been really bad weather up here near glasgow recently. Plenty of snow and i basically didnt drive the car for a week. When i went to start it, it wouldnt start. Just clicking and not turning over. Anyway took the battery out and charged it overnight, put it back in and it started first time no problems. Drove it but probably not enough to really get it charged up. Drove it a few times between then and now.

Went out this morning and it wouldnt start. Put it on to charge again for about an hour but was going somewhere so thought id try it back in quicker than i nornally would. Plus the battery charger said it was charged and maintaining.

Had some stuff to shift and so battery back in turned the car on l, let it run for 30 mins because had to fill it up with stuff so didnt want to fill it all up and realise it wouldnt start. And didnt want to start it, turn it off and then start it again.

Anyway drove fine and that was it. Went out to start the car 5 hours later turned on no bother. Sat idling for 15 mins and now it was over heating. Right up at the max. Turned it off for 30 minutes to try let it cool down a bit. Jumped back in turned on and it was sounding rough. Revs bouncing about on their own. Droved about 300 metres and the car was spluttering. Throttle was unresponsive. Cwr spluttering away and then it cut out.

So anyway im just posting to ask what the problem might be ? I think the battery probably neesds changed which is why its running out so quickly.

Thinking its overheating when its idling because the battery doesnt have the juice to run the fan and cool it down ?

Dont understand why the car is spluttering. Do other parts need the battery even when driving ? Like the maf ?

I would appreciate any help and ideas.

Jamie

[GreenV8S]

Get the battery and charging system checked. It sounds as if at least one of those is faulty. Places that sell batteries will often do this sort of test free or inexpensively. Many of them will also include a residual load test.

[finglas]

Okay thanks ill get that checked first

[imagineifyeswill]

Modern cars with loads of electrics throw up all sorts of faults when the batteries are low, I would suggest a new battery, although it would be wise to get the charging system checked too.

[finishing touch]

Alternators don't charge to any great degree when just ticking over. The engine needs to rev.

A ten minute run round the block will do more good than ticking over for an hour.



Like previous advice, get it looked at by someone with the equipment.


Paul G