car is completely dead! help please

P

pugs

Member
went to nip out in the car, and the remote key failed to work, opened manually and when tried to start absolutely nothing, all i have is both lights next to the roof buttons are on until i turn the key, then they go off. nothing else lights up at all.
not even a click!
tried spare key still the same. surely if it was a flat battery i would get something? the car was used yesterday.

cars is a 53 plate 3.0 Z4

thanks in advance if you have any ideas.

pugs
 
Mine went completely dead when the previous battery failed - not even a click. On a replacement battery now (Bosche S6) and no electrical problems at all. Have you tried recharging the battery, or checking its condition?
 
Thank you im relieved that you had similar probs and a new battery sorted it.
im just waiting for a charger to be dropped off so i can check it.
im thinking its probably buggered.
thanks again
 
WLH said:
For sure sound like a battery issue...
Click to expand...
Just had exactly this on the weekend... haven't had the chance to take the car for a long drive for weeks. Went to start the car. Dead. Charged the battery for 30 mins, car started. Charged the battery overnight to full charge. Went to start it last night. Dead again. Battery obviously knackered, so just ordered a Bosch replacement.

Hoping new battery will sort, but also hoping that its not partially to do with the DICE that was fitted a few weeks back.... :cry:
 
I will charge overnight, hopefully it will start and get me to work at 5am, where i have ordered a new one to be delivered tomorrow...
Thank you for the replies and im hoping this might be the reason the alarm has been going off recently too....
I hope this solves your problems too..
cheers
Steve
 
pugs said:
I will charge overnight, hopefully it will start and get me to work at 5am, where i have ordered a new one to be delivered tomorrow...
Thank you for the replies and im hoping this might be the reason the alarm has been going off recently too....
I hope this solves your problems too..
cheers
Steve
Click to expand...

Steve - for your alarm, it may be related, but it might also be the bonnet switch (between the strut braces at the top of the bonnet opening). If, once your battery is replaced, the alarm keeps going off, look at replacing this part first. Its a cheap component (about a tenner), regular cause, and you can get it discounted (and sent) by phoning Jamie at Sopers BMW, Lincoln on 01522 690000.
 
pugs said:
I will charge overnight, hopefully it will start and get me to work at 5am, where i have ordered a new one to be delivered tomorrow...
Thank you for the replies and im hoping this might be the reason the alarm has been going off recently too....
I hope this solves your problems too..
cheers
Steve
Click to expand...


Your battery has probably suffered a serious internal failure so you're chancing it to expect it to start and run properly in the morning. I'd have a backup plan ready until you have a new battery in hand.
 
There should be an indicator window on top of the battery through which you can see a coloured circle. Green means it is fine, and I think amber means it is in trouble. Red obviously means dead. Got this on both my wife's Honda and my Z.

Note of caution - if you charge the battery and it runs, but the battery light stays on, then it means the battery is not charging from the engine and is discharging only. You will run out of juice very quickly - on my wife's car recently we ended up needing a new alternator. Worth saying that previous to it being replaced we had suffered weird electrical probs like the alarm going off, central locking randomly failing, dash lighting failing etc.

I didn't know about the alternator problem and bought a new battery. Which promptly discharged completely after 20mins...

cj is right - you need a backup plan :thumbsup:
 
Without the battery on charge stick a voltmeter on it. Should be around 12.4 to 12 6. If it's 11.x then you have a dead cell and shouldn't mess about trying to charge or drive it.
 
Hi And thanks again for all the replies, its on charge now and i checked the ignition and power did return, and strangely 2 days ago the speakers stopped working! stereo still lit up but no sound. now all returned to normal so will leave it charging all night.
work is only 5 miles and the new battery will arrive and be fitted before i drive it again.
fingers crossed and will report back tomorrow.
cheers
 
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