Multiple warning lights, electrical bugs

[Smallsy99]

So I have been driving my E85 04 today as normal, lots of really slow traffic stop start etc.
Got home and coming into park I had some warning lights flash up. ABS, Power steering, Flat tyre warning and DSC, they would flash if I turned the wheel, but stayed on until I turned the car off.
Took the car for a short drive around the block after around 10 minutes, had a small stutter on start but other than that it was fine.No warning lights until half way around the red battery light came on for around 30 seconds then turned off. Came home and again going into reverse to park the same warning lights came on.
I left the car for around 2 hours and tried it again, no issues on startup and I made it 10 meters when all the warning lights returned and the power steering completely went, as did the headlights and the illuminated driver dials. I managed to park it fine (just) and have left it. Remote locking still works as do interior lights - it is just in no state to drive.

Any advice would be helpful - I am thinking potentially battery/alternator but I could be wrong!

 

[Mr Tidy]

Definitely sounds like a battery or alternator problem.

Can you check the battery voltage with and without the engine running? It should be quite a bit higher when it's running - if it isn't then it's probably an alternator problem.

Which may also have affected your battery. Dying batteries will often trigger random warning lights.

 

[Smallsy99]

That is my next step - I just don't have a battery tester with me or available at this time. A friend has one which he should be able to bring to mine tomorrow. I had something similar in my old car the alternator went but with that the battery light came on for a good long while before it did die. I had no warning today

 

[Mr Tidy]

Maybe your battery was on it's last legs anyway?

There should be a date stamp on the negative terminal with week code and year of manufacture.

 

[Smallsy99]

Okay I shall check that out - it might be as stupid question but how long do batteries last on a car. I have never really researched it?

 

[Ole gits rule]

The issue with zeds is that if the battery starts to go - it can throw a whole bunch of errors.

Batteries can last years but on a zed if you get 5 years you will doing well from my understanding especially if the car is not used regularly and if that is the case most people put the car on a trickle charger

 

[Mr Tidy]

It seems to vary so much depending on how the car is used. The battery on my previous Coupe lasted 10 years!

 

[Smallsy99]

So I have checked it and I can't find a specific code to match a year all I have are
KT3111
SAE PP
Also there is a battery indicator which I shall attach a photo of - there appears to be no light at all on it.
(also the car refuses to start now)

 

[Argyll Andy]

So I have checked it and I can't find a specific code to match a year all I have are
KT3111
SAE PP
Also there is a battery indicator which I shall attach a photo of - there appears to be no light at all on it.
(also the car refuses to start now)

IMG_0351.jpeg

The negative terminal should have a week and year date stamp on it similar to this

 

[Smallsy99]

I don't see this - will have another look in the daylight but nothing so far

 

[colb]

The condition indicator on your battery will not light up, its just a simple colour changing item, Green would indicate its OK if its dark then battery is not holding a charge. If the Battery is old its probably past its best and may not charge if you put a charger on it. Worth checking what the alternator is doing with the engine running in case thats not producing sufficient charge to the battery. Start the car and put a volt meter on the batty terminals, you should see around 14volts anything less or nothing will indicate the alternator is duff and need replacing. You could replace the diode pack in the back of the alternator if the bearings in it are still ok, thats cheaper and may correct the charging rate if that is the root of the problem. You will find diode packs on ebay just make sure you get the correct one for your alternator using make and model number found on its label.
Been through this with my Z3, mine wasn't putting out enough, after use of headlights car was dead next day with flat battery, I replaced the alternator and fitted a USB socket in the dash that includes a volt meter so I can monitor the battery state at all times. Put one in my Z4 as well to do the same.

 

[Smallsy99]

Thank you for this - I shall have a look later today with my mate. There are no date stamps on the battery which is weird.
The car starts but then just fades to a point where it will just switch off.

 

[colb]

That really sounds like a flat battery and a duff alternator if it starts then cuts off, battery probably has just enough to crank it to start but when running with no alternator input the flat battery can't provide enough to keep it going. Put the volt meter on the battery connections, start the car and see what voltage reading you get, anything less than 14volts would confirm the alternator is duff.

 

[Smallsy99]

So an update - I replaced the battery and that’s what it was! My old battery was outputting 95 of 650A …
It’s recharge date was 2014 so yeah the battery was so knackered

 

[Mr Tidy]

That's great news.

I suppose the battery was so knackered it just couldn't hold any charge despite the alternator's best efforts!

 

[Ole gits rule]

Great news - relatively cheap and quick fix

 

[Smallsy99]

Yeah exactly - I was all set to do the alternator so it is from my banks prospective a relief!

 

[colb]

Glad you got to the root of the problem, good news that the alternator is performing ok, seems that therer are quite a few batty problems cropping up recently, I do monitor mine and the alternator output using the volt meters I fitted to my Z3 and Z4, often thought our cars should have had a battery condition guage amongs the instruments when they were built.

 

[Smallsy99]

It would make sense for them to have that feature!
Although driving home today the battery light did flash on for around a minute or two so not sure what that means….

 

[Zulu4]

It would make sense for them to have that feature!
Although driving home today the battery light did flash on for around a minute or two so not sure what that means….

Did you check the voltage with the engine running as suggested above ?
If the battery light comes on at all, that points towards a dodgy alternator. You may find yourself with a flat battery soon.