not starting :( help needed!

M

maxy1606

Member
 Oxford
Hi all,

So after a lovely afternoon cleaning my E86 it's spotless inside and out but won't start :headbang: It's always seemed a little bit slow to turn over, but my Dad has one too and it's no different to his really. I last used the car yesterday for a trip to homebase and it was no different to usual. This morning was the last time it started when I moved it onto the drive to begin the pampering. I thought nothing of it at the time but looking back it perhaps did struggle a bit to come to life, although I'm not sure if that's just my mind thinking that now that this problem has come to light.

Unfortunately it's no exaggeration when I say I know next to nothing about how cars work, but after some searching through the forum and internet self diagnosis I'm thinking it may either be a weak battery or a starter motor problem?! When I switch on the ignition everything seems fine, the radio, lights, nav screen etc. all work but when I turn the key I get nothing but a fast clicking sound. It seems there are a few lights on the dash too and the clock and computer have reset?

I've taken a quick video which shows what I'm experiencing, hopefully it works...

th_IMG_1856_zps4dcdboj8.jpg

I've tried using the other key but no joy. Unfortunately I don't have anything to test the battery or the software to check the fault codes. I've only had the car a couple of months so I don't really have any troubleshooting experience. Any help from you mechanically minded folk would be greatly appreciated, although if it's something glaringly obvious and simple please go easy on me! :oops:

Max
 
Flat battery, probably faulty would explain the slow starting in the past.

All you did was start it move it and switch it off then spend a few hours with the doors open while cleaning, Battery is gonna be flat, that with the fact the dach goes out when you crank it over equals battery.
 
Battery. My coupe also started to take a split second longer to start over the Christmas period. Parked it up for four days while Christmas merriments ensued. Went to start it and was completely dead. Not even central locking, interior lights, dash etc working. Replaced battery and its been fine ever since. did your lights dim when off the throttle and get brighter if you revved the engine? If so deffos your battery.
 
Thanks guys. Can't say I'd noticed the lights get dim/brighter previously. Do you think it's worth getting a charger and juicing it up (probably a good time to invest in a charger anyway!) or am I wasting my time and should just get a new battery on order?

Just had a look at the current battery, looks like the original so it's approximately 8 years old I guess!
 
Just replace the battery if it is the original it will be money well spent.

Once fitted make sure you go for a drive to clear the unburnt fuel, you don't want to get into a flooded problem.
 
New battery arrived today, I opted for a Bosch S5 and fitted it after work.... Zedric is alive again! He's so much quicker to start up too the eager little thing! :D
 
Think the battery may be the cause of my intermittent headlamp washer jets
Finally realised that when not driving, the jets pop up but don't spray...driving pop up spray twice no problem.


So sat with the clutch off and rev'd a little while doing the jets, popped up sprayed no problem.

going order a Bosch S5 end of the month what's the difference between the 096 and the 100 , is it purely sizing?
 
Im not sure if it is the battery as the lights stay on throughout and dont seem to dim in my opinion.

Heres what I bought for the battery though: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=73421&hilit=battery

Yes its sizing, The one I went for was the step up (110 which is 80amps)
 
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