Car won't start - what's wrong?
Discussion
E36 318is - 1999 - 39000 miles
Just tried to start engine - nothing but electrical whirring noises from behind dashboard and clicking sounds as dashboard lights flash on and off. I'd assume it's a flat battery as the car doesn't get used enough, except when I had a flat battery a couple of months ago the alarm went off whenever I tried to do anything and the central locking was uncooperative. This time there is no alarm and the central locking is working fine.
Any ideas?
Just tried to start engine - nothing but electrical whirring noises from behind dashboard and clicking sounds as dashboard lights flash on and off. I'd assume it's a flat battery as the car doesn't get used enough, except when I had a flat battery a couple of months ago the alarm went off whenever I tried to do anything and the central locking was uncooperative. This time there is no alarm and the central locking is working fine.
Any ideas?
Pork_n_Beem said:
sounds flat to me
C
That's what I'm thinking. I'm just wondering why is isn't setting the alarm off. Usually anything - unlocking the car, turning the key in the ignition, etc. causes the alarm to go off when the battery is flat. Is it that it isn't quite flat enough for it to drop into 'alarm going off' mode or is it that it's too flat for even the alarm to go off? As I said, the central locking is behaving normally - the last time I had a flat battery it was really struggling.C
I'm also wondering what to do to solve this in the long term. The car doesn't get used during the week and while it gets a decent run most weekends it sometimes just gets used for the odd short trip. I can't attach a trickle charger 'cause it's parked outside. I feel like I should flog it to someone who can give it a better life but I like it too much!
8Tech said:
Dead battery!
I'm inclined to think the same, except, as I have said, when the battery last went flat the central locking struggled to work and the alarm went off when I tried to fire-up the engine, maybe 'cause there's some type of back-up supply so that the alarm remains functional when all else is lost. This time the central locking worked fine and the alarm didn't go off, so the battery is either not quite dead enough for everything to be gone and the back-up supply for the alarm to be activated, or it's not the battery at all.8Tech said:
Why not fit a solar panel trickle charger?
Good idea... Wonder how long it would last in my neighbourhood while the car and its solar panel sits outside all day while I'm at work though... or would it still work if it was inside the car collecting light via a window?Okay... been looking at the solar chargers - looks like I can have one inside the car. What wattage would I need? Of the following two (see links) should I buy the 1W or the 2W? There's little price difference so I might as well go for the 2W if there's a noticeable benefit.
http://www.solarequip.co.uk/acatalog/1w_Solar_Vehi...
http://www.solarequip.co.uk/acatalog/2w_Sunsei_SE-...
Also, the product notes suggest that some cars have an inactive connection on the cigar lighter when the car is switched off, such that the charger won't work and will have to be connected directly to the battery. Does anyone know if this is the case with the E36?
http://www.solarequip.co.uk/acatalog/1w_Solar_Vehi...
http://www.solarequip.co.uk/acatalog/2w_Sunsei_SE-...
Also, the product notes suggest that some cars have an inactive connection on the cigar lighter when the car is switched off, such that the charger won't work and will have to be connected directly to the battery. Does anyone know if this is the case with the E36?
Talkwrench said:
Realistically, it should be fine only being used at weekends.
I think the lack of it having a good run on some weekends is part of the problem - it sometimes might go two or three weeks without a decent charge-up.Talkwrench said:
I suspect that your battery is near the end of its useful life.
Replace it with a decent, heavy duty battery and it should last ok.
Any recommendations?Replace it with a decent, heavy duty battery and it should last ok.
Talkwrench said:
No harm in a trickle charger but they won't cure a weak battery on a cold, frosty morning!
True. Will probably buy one anyway though as it'll probably help when lack of running means going without a decent charge-up.Perhaps I should bob over for you to check the alternator as we discussed before Christmas - if that's on its way out it won't be helping! Just got to get my car fired-up first!!
Edited by MitchT on Saturday 12th January 20:25
Talkwrench said:
If its more convenient, I can pop over and take a look. I could bring jump leads to get it started and check out the alternator.
That would be fantastic - not sure when as I'm out all day tomorrow though I might be back in the evening - but any time after 4pm Monday would be excellent. Ideally I'd like the car working for my Monday evening trip to ASDA but I appreciate how awkward that could be so basically let me know when you can fit it in - I can bum a ride to ASDA with someone else on Monday evening so it won't be a problem really. I'm at home any week day after 4pm - just send me a text to let me know when's good!Talkwrench said:
If your battery is 8.5 years old it has done phenominally well!
First registered in May '99 and three months old when I bought it. I have no knowledge of the battery being changed during my ownership so I'm guessing it really has lasted that long!MitchT said:
My Dad's has just been round with a meter to test the battery. It's reading 11.8V. I guess that means the car should be starting, but instead it's just making a loud 'tapping' noise like a machine gun!
No. How many volts the battery produces doesn't mean very much. Its how much current the battery can produce (Amps) that decides whether the starter will turn or not.I bet the voltage would drop away considerably under load.
WHen the starter 'clicks', do the instrument lights flicker dramatically?
If so, then this indicates the dramatic voltage drop under load.
Talkwrench said:
No. How many volts the battery produces doesn't mean very much. Its how much current the battery can produce (Amps) that decides whether the starter will turn or not.
I see. To be fair to my Dad he isn't a car person. He used to do AV equipment.Talkwrench said:
I bet the voltage would drop away considerably under load.
WHen the starter 'clicks', do the instrument lights flicker dramatically?
If so, then this indicates the dramatic voltage drop under load.
Yes, it's like a Jean Michel Jarre light show coming out of the dashboard! I guess we'll get to the bottom of it when you get a chance to take a look. The battery is a white BMW one - should I be thinking of replacing it with the same? At 8.5 years' life I guess it would be a good idea to buy another like it.WHen the starter 'clicks', do the instrument lights flicker dramatically?
If so, then this indicates the dramatic voltage drop under load.
On some BMW's there is a clever way of opening the drivers door when the battery is flat.
If you can establish that then i would and do sometimes disconnect the battery if i am leaving the car for a long time.
Things like radio code need to be considered but it means a good battery will always be ready for you when you return.
Keep some latex gloves in the car also to keep your hands clean.
C
If you can establish that then i would and do sometimes disconnect the battery if i am leaving the car for a long time.
Things like radio code need to be considered but it means a good battery will always be ready for you when you return.
Keep some latex gloves in the car also to keep your hands clean.
C
Pork_n_Beem said:
On some BMW's there is a clever way of opening the drivers door when the battery is flat.
The remote seems to do the job fine for me, though trying to start the engine sets the alarm off even though it has been disarmed with the remote!Pork_n_Beem said:
If you can establish that then i would and do sometimes disconnect the battery if i am leaving the car for a long time.
I was planning on buying a solar trickle charger, though I still ahve a couple of issues to clear-up...1: Will it work - ie; is the connection between the battery and the cigar lighter 'active' when the car is switched off.
2: Charging a battery creates gasses according to my Brother. Will this be a problem if it's in a constant state of being charged for a week at a time?
burriana said:
Just whack it down to your local battery place and get them to fit the biggest battery they have! It'll probably cost you about £60-£70.
I'll probably get one from Lister Park BMW. It currently has a BMW one in and that has lasted 8.5 years so no reason to buy anything different... and hopefully the need for a battery will force me to go up there and buy my long overdue replacement 'hedgehog'!burriana said:
Incidentally, if you jump start your car off another and it starts then that's your confirmation that it's the battery.
Indeed. I'll find out what's wrong, battery or otherwise, when Michael gets a chance to bob over. I've managed to persuade my brother to take me on my weekly food shop tomorrow evening in his new Z4, so I should be okay without my car until next Saturday.Test the battery with a battery drop tester.This will give you the state of the battery.
Most battery drains on E36 if there are no after market cd changers,parrots etc fitted tend to be down to the 3G alarm siren or the control unit-at our dealer.
Good area to check.
Most battery drains on E36 if there are no after market cd changers,parrots etc fitted tend to be down to the 3G alarm siren or the control unit-at our dealer.
Good area to check.
Edited by < FORZA WEST on Sunday 13th January 22:59
burriana said:
MitchT said:
I'll find out what's wrong, battery or otherwise, when Michael gets a chance to bob over.
Will you guys please stop distracting him from the job in hand 
You've just bagged yourself a lovely Ferrari to play with. Now run along and enjoy it or I'll have to confiscate it to use while my E36 is poorly 
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