Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.
Car not starting
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:46 pm
Car not starting
Hello all,
I've awoken with an issue to my 2011 BMW 23i. The car isn't starting. It allows me to put the key in and press the start button, giving me the first ignition. However, upon pressing it for a second time it turns the car off without starting.
My first thoughts were that the battery was low, I've had a battery warning light over the past couple of weeks since having had a new battery put in and haven't really driven during the current lockdown. However, I went for a roughly 3 hour drive the night before this issue arose. All readings of the battery look fine, it was receiving 14.1v when trying to jump and this didn't work. Standing battery voltage was 10.96, which is slightly low, but the fact it didn't work whilst being jumped implies it isn't the issue.
Other signs do point at the battery - interior lights not working, no heated seats or AC. Could just be because the car isn't reaching to the second ignition stage.
Has anyone got any advice on where to start from here? I'm hearing no noise when the button is being pushed - the weird behaviour of the ignition insinuates it's something to do with this.
Many thanks,
George
I've awoken with an issue to my 2011 BMW 23i. The car isn't starting. It allows me to put the key in and press the start button, giving me the first ignition. However, upon pressing it for a second time it turns the car off without starting.
My first thoughts were that the battery was low, I've had a battery warning light over the past couple of weeks since having had a new battery put in and haven't really driven during the current lockdown. However, I went for a roughly 3 hour drive the night before this issue arose. All readings of the battery look fine, it was receiving 14.1v when trying to jump and this didn't work. Standing battery voltage was 10.96, which is slightly low, but the fact it didn't work whilst being jumped implies it isn't the issue.
Other signs do point at the battery - interior lights not working, no heated seats or AC. Could just be because the car isn't reaching to the second ignition stage.
Has anyone got any advice on where to start from here? I'm hearing no noise when the button is being pushed - the weird behaviour of the ignition insinuates it's something to do with this.
Many thanks,
George
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1043
- Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:54 pm
- Location: Devon
Car not starting
Hi George. the Z4 is very prone to misbehaving with low battery voltages... will it jump start with another car? I am assuming you have the clutch down. that confused me a few times when jumping in and out of different cars.
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:46 pm
Car not starting
Hello mate,
The clutch is down. I've also checked the voltages, it's reading 14.1v when being jumped and it's still not turning on. I'm getting no noises upon pushing start either. I'm thinking possibly a fuse has blown somewhere but not sure where to start checking.
Cheers,
George
The clutch is down. I've also checked the voltages, it's reading 14.1v when being jumped and it's still not turning on. I'm getting no noises upon pushing start either. I'm thinking possibly a fuse has blown somewhere but not sure where to start checking.
Cheers,
George
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1043
- Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:54 pm
- Location: Devon
Car not starting
strange. I'm assuming you have no codes coming up as you've not mentioned them.Geor74 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:57 pm Hello mate,
The clutch is down. I've also checked the voltages, it's reading 14.1v when being jumped and it's still not turning on. I'm getting no noises upon pushing start either. I'm thinking possibly a fuse has blown somewhere but not sure where to start checking.
Cheers,
George
Fuses are a nightmare to access on the Z4 if you haven't tried before - the designer must have thought, how can I make this REALLY hard to access. if he did, he certainly did it properly (in a bad way)!
I'd check the battery cables/earth too.. always worth a go.
- enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 14809
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Car not starting
I'd be leaning towards why you had a battery warning light after you fitted a new battery?
Sounds like something is draining it.
Did you have that warning before?
Has it been correctly connected?
Was it registered to the car on fitting?
Is it the same type of battery?
Are you jumping it through the connectors under the bonnet?
As with all these things, if you change something, then get issues, it's worthwhile re-checking everything you did (or had done) before you look elsewhere.
Sounds like something is draining it.
Did you have that warning before?
Has it been correctly connected?
Was it registered to the car on fitting?
Is it the same type of battery?
Are you jumping it through the connectors under the bonnet?
As with all these things, if you change something, then get issues, it's worthwhile re-checking everything you did (or had done) before you look elsewhere.
- Smartbear
- Lifer
- Posts: 13685
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
- Location: a barn in Somerset
Car not starting
What you describe sounds like normal behaviour, unless you depress the clutch the car won’t start.Geor74 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:56 pm Hello all,
I've awoken with an issue to my 2011 BMW 23i. The car isn't starting. It allows me to put the key in and press the start button, giving me the first ignition. However, upon pressing it for a second time it turns the car off without starting.
My first thoughts were that the battery was low, I've had a battery warning light over the past couple of weeks since having had a new battery put in and haven't really driven during the current lockdown. However, I went for a roughly 3 hour drive the night before this issue arose. All readings of the battery look fine, it was receiving 14.1v when trying to jump and this didn't work. Standing battery voltage was 10.96, which is slightly low, but the fact it didn't work whilst being jumped implies it isn't the issue.
Other signs do point at the battery - interior lights not working, no heated seats or AC. Could just be because the car isn't reaching to the second ignition stage.
Has anyone got any advice on where to start from here? I'm hearing no noise when the button is being pushed - the weird behaviour of the ignition insinuates it's something to do with this.
Many thanks,
George
Pressing the start button for a second time will turn the ignition off just as you say.
Rob
e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold
- buzyg
- Legend
- Posts: 26546
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
- Location: Cornwall
Car not starting
May not apply as I have an MR, but it took two cars to jump start my Zed from a flat battery today. I had 14v from my alternator and ended up with 12.3 volts from the battery after an hours running.
- Chippie
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2324
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2019 9:11 pm
- Location: Wakefield
Car not starting
10.96v is very low for the battery, it should be around 12.6v, I f this is a new battery then either your cars alternator isn’t charging correctly or something is draining the battery, when jump starting the car it can take several minutes of the 2nd car running at a fast idle to put enough change across to get your car to start, if the jump leads don’t have a good connection or aren’t thick enough you may not be getting enough amps across to start the car, with the leads attached try pulling the crocodile clips across the connection points and see if you get any sparks, and if nothing then you have a bad connection
E89 35is space grey Kansas coral red leather
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:46 pm
Car not starting
Hi all,
Many thanks for your replies.
I've booked in a local mobile mechanic to see if he can diagnose further, I don't have a code reader at hand (or quite frankly the know-how).
Had some interesting behaviour that perhaps might be a signal to someone. I'd had a go at attacking the fuse box but gave up out of fear of causing more damaging, it is indeed a minefield trying to get the f'ing thing out! Around 2-3 hours after locking it up, the car went berserk, the alarm was going off; the key fob no longer worked. Managed to get into the car with the manual key, but the ignition wasn't registering the key. Hazard lights were flicking at a thousand miles an hour and the interior lights very dim/ also flickering. Car appears dead this morning.
Seems to be a case of something draining the battery, it lost ~1.5v standing for around 45 minutes. Possibly an alternator?
Cheers,
George
Many thanks for your replies.
I've booked in a local mobile mechanic to see if he can diagnose further, I don't have a code reader at hand (or quite frankly the know-how).
Had some interesting behaviour that perhaps might be a signal to someone. I'd had a go at attacking the fuse box but gave up out of fear of causing more damaging, it is indeed a minefield trying to get the f'ing thing out! Around 2-3 hours after locking it up, the car went berserk, the alarm was going off; the key fob no longer worked. Managed to get into the car with the manual key, but the ignition wasn't registering the key. Hazard lights were flicking at a thousand miles an hour and the interior lights very dim/ also flickering. Car appears dead this morning.
Seems to be a case of something draining the battery, it lost ~1.5v standing for around 45 minutes. Possibly an alternator?
Cheers,
George
- enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 14809
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Car not starting
Are you sure the new battery has been correctly connected? Nothing shorting out around it?Geor74 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:54 pm Hi all,
Many thanks for your replies.
I've booked in a local mobile mechanic to see if he can diagnose further, I don't have a code reader at hand (or quite frankly the know-how).
Had some interesting behaviour that perhaps might be a signal to someone. I'd had a go at attacking the fuse box but gave up out of fear of causing more damaging, it is indeed a minefield trying to get the f'ing thing out! Around 2-3 hours after locking it up, the car went berserk, the alarm was going off; the key fob no longer worked. Managed to get into the car with the manual key, but the ignition wasn't registering the key. Hazard lights were flicking at a thousand miles an hour and the interior lights very dim/ also flickering. Car appears dead this morning.
Seems to be a case of something draining the battery, it lost ~1.5v standing for around 45 minutes. Possibly an alternator?
Cheers,
George
I think if it were mine I'd be disconnecting it until you find out what the issue is. Don't want to come out to a smouldering car!
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:46 pm
Car not starting
I had a check at the connections, everything appeared fine. I had it done by a reputable BMW specialist so not worried on that front. I now can't access the battery to disconnect as the car is dead with no manual access to the boot.enuff_zed wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:57 pmAre you sure the new battery has been correctly connected? Nothing shorting out around it?Geor74 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:54 pm Hi all,
Many thanks for your replies.
I've booked in a local mobile mechanic to see if he can diagnose further, I don't have a code reader at hand (or quite frankly the know-how).
Had some interesting behaviour that perhaps might be a signal to someone. I'd had a go at attacking the fuse box but gave up out of fear of causing more damaging, it is indeed a minefield trying to get the f'ing thing out! Around 2-3 hours after locking it up, the car went berserk, the alarm was going off; the key fob no longer worked. Managed to get into the car with the manual key, but the ignition wasn't registering the key. Hazard lights were flicking at a thousand miles an hour and the interior lights very dim/ also flickering. Car appears dead this morning.
Seems to be a case of something draining the battery, it lost ~1.5v standing for around 45 minutes. Possibly an alternator?
Cheers,
George
I think if it were mine I'd be disconnecting it until you find out what the issue is. Don't want to come out to a smouldering car!
- enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 14809
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Car not starting
Connecting a battery across the terminals under the bonnet will give enough power to unlock the boot I believe.Geor74 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:59 pmI had a check at the connections, everything appeared fine. I had it done by a reputable BMW specialist so not worried on that front. I now can't access the battery to disconnect as the car is dead with no manual access to the boot.enuff_zed wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:57 pmAre you sure the new battery has been correctly connected? Nothing shorting out around it?Geor74 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:54 pm Hi all,
Many thanks for your replies.
I've booked in a local mobile mechanic to see if he can diagnose further, I don't have a code reader at hand (or quite frankly the know-how).
Had some interesting behaviour that perhaps might be a signal to someone. I'd had a go at attacking the fuse box but gave up out of fear of causing more damaging, it is indeed a minefield trying to get the f'ing thing out! Around 2-3 hours after locking it up, the car went berserk, the alarm was going off; the key fob no longer worked. Managed to get into the car with the manual key, but the ignition wasn't registering the key. Hazard lights were flicking at a thousand miles an hour and the interior lights very dim/ also flickering. Car appears dead this morning.
Seems to be a case of something draining the battery, it lost ~1.5v standing for around 45 minutes. Possibly an alternator?
Cheers,
George
I think if it were mine I'd be disconnecting it until you find out what the issue is. Don't want to come out to a smouldering car!
However, I confess I'm not certain exactly how to open the bonnet manually.
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:46 pm
Car not starting
Thanks for confirming this Rob. Couldn't quite remember. Could this possibly be related to a switch that detects whether the clutch is down?Smartbear wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 8:59 pmWhat you describe sounds like normal behaviour, unless you depress the clutch the car won’t start.Geor74 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:56 pm Hello all,
I've awoken with an issue to my 2011 BMW 23i. The car isn't starting. It allows me to put the key in and press the start button, giving me the first ignition. However, upon pressing it for a second time it turns the car off without starting.
My first thoughts were that the battery was low, I've had a battery warning light over the past couple of weeks since having had a new battery put in and haven't really driven during the current lockdown. However, I went for a roughly 3 hour drive the night before this issue arose. All readings of the battery look fine, it was receiving 14.1v when trying to jump and this didn't work. Standing battery voltage was 10.96, which is slightly low, but the fact it didn't work whilst being jumped implies it isn't the issue.
Other signs do point at the battery - interior lights not working, no heated seats or AC. Could just be because the car isn't reaching to the second ignition stage.
Has anyone got any advice on where to start from here? I'm hearing no noise when the button is being pushed - the weird behaviour of the ignition insinuates it's something to do with this.
Many thanks,
George
Pressing the start button for a second time will turn the ignition off just as you say.
Rob
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:46 pm
Car not starting
I'd give it a go but... I left the jump leads and multimeter trapped in the bootenuff_zed wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 4:02 pmConnecting a battery across the terminals under the bonnet will give enough power to unlock the boot I believe.
However, I confess I'm not certain exactly how to open the bonnet manually.
- enuff_zed
- Lifer
- Posts: 14809
- Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 11:05 am
- Location: Attleborough, Norfolk
Car not starting
Geor74 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 4:06 pmI'd give it a go but... I left the jump leads and multimeter trapped in the boot