Electrical E85 2.5 2006

[Steve Conway]

Hi there,
Having a big electrical problem with my Z4, starter motor burnt out, changed and all ok, drove for half hour all ok then dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree and suddenly lost all electrical power, 10 minutes later, it started again, no lights on the dash all ok then the same thing happened. Battery out and fully charged.
Started again all ok no dashboard lights, connected a test kit and battery showed to be holding charge with all lights and heating on, drove for 20 minutes all good then suddenly the same again, dashboard lit up, loss of all power then would not start. It is like the battery suddenly lost all power, it is a relatively new battery one year old.
When I put it on charge the first time it had actually lost all voltage, I have not done this again yet as I am worried it could be something more serious than the battery?
Any help really appreciated as I cannot afford to put it in the garage due to divorce costs

 

[bigwinn]

That sounds like an electrical connection/short to earth OR a poor battery issue

If it’s doing something different that wasn’t happening prior to the starter replacement go back to that first and check the work done

 

[enuff_zed]

Agreed. If you did something and then it happened. good chance it's what you did.
Possibly disturbed the engine earth lead?

 

[Steve Conway]

Thank you I will try, in fairness when it happened I was at the service station and I asked a friend to tow me home, when being towed I dropped it in gear and it started, got home and it would not start again so changed the starter motor.
Tonight I will test the old starter - may be it was nothing to do with that? But when it happened at the service station smoke was coming from the starter motor area, thanks for your reply’s much appreciated! It started this morning all ok then 5 minutes later Christmas arrived on the dash and then nothing again like a totall Dead battery

 

[Zedebee]

Make sure the battery connectors are tight. Apart from a burnt out starter motor, the symptoms you describe are of a poor/intermittent battery connection. It is not enough to “press fit” them, the clamps need to tightened up.

 

[Steve Conway]

Clamps super tight, no corrosion so definitely not that, shame though- thanks for the suggestion

 

[Steve Conway]

Hi again,
Update on my situation- re tested the old starter motor and it’s definitely dead.
Checked earth terminal on battery - clean and tight
It is an aftermarket starter so had to put a new crimp on the cable to activate the arm on the starter.
This could be the problem?
Ok so yesterday it started again as normal, then I messed with the cable that I had extended and put a new crimp on, the crimp was loose! Re crimped it and the car started as normal, after a few minutes the dash lit up like a Christmas tree again - battery totally drained and would not re start
Battery totally flat and now on charge
My question is - would the poor crimp connection cause this problem? I have since change it but not yet tested it

 

[bigwinn]

Without wanting to push you toward more spend I think your issue is a battery with no life left…

 

[Usel]

Is the alternator definitely charging the battery when the engine is running? It should read around 14 volts or at least higher than the battery reads without the engine running.

A poor alternator could have killed the battery so you still may need both a battery and the alternator.

A battery can still charge upto 13v using a battery charger but have no umph left in it so it quickly dies when under load.

 

[Steve Conway]

I have not tested the alternator, the battery is new, well about a year old and very little use, the battery reading from a hand held fault diagnostics kit was around 11.6 with everything running, heaters lights the lot and went up to 12.3 when just the engine was running, I’m no real mechanic just trying to save some money as I live in France and they charge a fortune here

 

[Steve Conway]

The battery was definitely not getting up to 14v or anywhere near

 

[Usel]

Alternator sounds like it has packed up.

 

[Usel]

Probably why you could drive for 20 minutes and then all the lights came on the dash as the battery level got too low.

 

[Steve Conway]

Thank you all - this is all making sense! No chance to test tonight but battery is fully charged and ready to test again tomorrow night - if it starts straight away I think you are correct - new alternator

 

[enuff_zed]

Thank you all - this is all making sense! No chance to test tonight but battery is fully charged and ready to test again tomorrow night - if it starts straight away I think you are correct - new alternator

Or simply swap out the regulator on the back. Can be done in situ.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275877833800

 

[Steve Conway]

Would be happy to donate but not at this moment as going through a nasty and very expensive divorce, the reason I am trying to do it myself as I can’t afford to pay a garage, but in the future I bc would be more than happy too