E39 - Wont Start (Clicking)

Strange one.

My E39 is only used about once a week for Dublin to Galway/Clare runs and some times it would need a jump from a battery pack (maybe once every 2 months or so).

I took the battery in the last day to give it a good winter maintenance charge - left it for about 48hrs and the car started up no problem.

Drove to Clare on Friday night, used the car twice on Saturday and then woke up on Sunday and it just wouldn't start - All lights, radio working (nothing dimmed) but just clicking when you turn the key.

Went to jump it with a friends car and it started as soon as I connected his car without even his being on.

Took it for a spin for 30min and it started that evening again - woke up the next day and it started but went to the shop and same thing - clicking.

Took the battery in last night and the charger says it's 90% full so it looks like it's not the battery, but something stopping it from starting? - EWS? Earth wire? Fuse blown?

One thing that has happened recently is the oil level sensor isn't working - car was very low on oil and no light?

Battery is heavy duty Bosch about 3 years old.

http://www.webareal.sk/fotky17091/fo...eria-100Ah.jpg

Any ideas?

Car is 2002 520i Auto with 134k Miles.

S.

Sounds like a similar problem we had with my dads e39. A new battery sorted it. The old was only 2 or 3 years old but was a dud

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Originally Posted by JohnH

Sounds like a similar problem we had with my dads e39. A new battery sorted it. The old was only 2 or 3 years old but was a dud

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If i was a betting man, my money would be on the battery too.

Is it a sealed or serviceable type battery? Might need topping up with battery acid. If sealed type tho, as above, new battery req'd.

Mine did that when I left the lights on, car seemed to have enough power left to start but I just got the clicking sound. Once I put jump leads on it it started first turn but I had the transmission fail safe light on. Drove for a few miles like that to charge the battery and then turned ignition off and restarted with no fails. The thing with battery's is they wear out very quick when the car is used occasionally.if the battery has to be changed have a look into those trickle chargers to keep battery topped up.

It's the battery. Mine did the very same, you just hear a clicking noise.


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I'm not totally convinced, the battery was charged for 2 days straight and driven 300 miles - Wouldn't that imply alternator or something causing the battery to not charge while driving?

The previous battery died and it was really obvious as the lights dimmed and the stereo was low etc. None of that is happening this time. It seems like full power but just not getting from the battery in the boot to the starter.

Also, the battery that did start it was a tiny little thing out of a 1.2 skoda... Car wasn't even started, just connected directly to the engine bay terminals.

Any other ideas?

S.

Have you got a multimeter handy?

Jump it if you can.

Loose connection between the batt, alt and starter. Batt is not being charged as you have said. If batt was the issue car would never start

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Originally Posted by Ketron

Have you got a multimeter handy?

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I do somewhere - why?

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Originally Posted by seanpburke

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ketron

Have you got a multimeter handy?

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I do somewhere - why?

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Test your battery and see if there is a voltage drop, and see if its charging correctly?

Should be 13.5 - 14 volts when car is running and alternator is working as it should. It will drop to just over 12v when the engine is off

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Originally Posted by 318 iS Cosmos

Should be 13.5 - 14 volts when car is running and alternator is working as it should. It will drop to just over 12v when the engine is off

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Right, I'll dig out the MM and give it a go.

S

What was the problem in the end?

My poxy car wouldnt start on Sunday evening!
Moved it on the driveway on Saturday, not a bother, but wouldnt budge on Sunday evening - same clicking!

Had a few orange lights appear on the dash over the past few days, but have a wheel bearing gone, and assumed it was that playing havoc with the DSC system, or whatever.
Bit of checking back, shows that I last replaced the battery back in Sept 2010, with a cheap enough one, 85 quid, so Ive done well to get 5 years out of it! :)

New battery tomorrow morning - at least I wont get stuck short somewhere during the winter now! :)

Car is in with Valdas today for the starting issue and a couple of other little things - I'll report back!

Popped in a new battery this morning, and she fired first turn of the key!
Fingers crossed that there isnt an underlying issue that is draining the battery - no multi-meter to check it the old battery, but Im fairly confident it'ss shot!

Wheel bearing it the next thing on the list...hmm, might wash it tomorrow if I get a chance, then the bearing this weekend! :)

Turns out after all the messing that it was the battery, but to be fair it was acting strange, showing strong voltage on the multimeter but as soon as the key was turned, the amp-age dropped like a stone.

Swapped it out with a new one and it's all good - Valdas also spotted the thermostat was on the way out - Aux fan never kicked in and Engine temp was a solid 108' on the OBC - Now at a lovely 90-95'

Also changed out the oil and filter as it was probably a little burnt so it's ready for the winter ahead.

Next time I'll listen to the 10 people in a row telling me it's the battery! :-)