Odd Electrical Problems

[Doofus]

Hi All,

So having a strange issue with the car which you guys may be able to point me in the correct direction as to what it could possibly be or if there may be any underlying issues to think about.

Saturday took the car for a drive and all was well, Saturday night the alarm started going off randomly, which in my sleepy state assumed it could just be the torrential downpour that was happening. Sunday rolls around and try to start the car and nothing happens. Dashboard lights up as usual but nothing after that. A quick look on the forum and I assume it's just the battery dieing on me so order a new one from Halfords to be fitted today.

Today rolls around and and the guy comes to fit it, takes it out and put the new one and the new one is instantly zapped of charge. He checks the old battery and it apparently still has 90% charge, so he refits the old battery. Go to turn it over and nothing happens, think...'s**t, here we go again' but just then the alarm goes off, turn the alarm off and give it another go and the car starts no issue at all.

Could it just have been a loose connection on the battery that caused that issue? Wouldn't explain why the new one was instantly zapped though. Could there be issues with the starter motor, alternator or even ignition switch? :?

Hoping someone may have experienced this issue before or maybe be able to help with possible issues that it could be. Cheers in advance.

 

[Mike6]

could be water ingress which has dried out. Or a loose battery connector or even loose connectors at the starter motor. If car is running ok now think you will have to wait and see if it happens again.

 

[Nick W]

My alarm problems were caused by the bonnet switch. A five min fix and cheap. That's the first place I'd look.

 

[Doofus]

Well I have just taken it for a drive and more issues appeared. Didn't want to start first time and was just dead, a second attempt l, slightly harder actually got it to start, so that's says to me that it's the ignition switch....

Now the fun stuff...

Was driving fine for about half hour/45mins and then suddenly it got really juddery, battery light would flash red, followed by the engine and EML lights in yellow, then they would clear. This happened every so often, so headed home and the issues got more and more frequent to the point where the car died. So pulled over and gave it 5mins, restarted the car and limped home, with it occasionally juddering with the battery and engine lights.

Then just as I got on my driveway the car dinged and got the 3 yellow lights of death. So not entirely sure what the hell is going on.

Feels like there is a loose connection on the battery for the first part but not sure on the rest of the issues.

 

[Jas- USA]

Failing Ignition switch. When these start going, they can trigger electrical gremlins just like a low battery in a Z4.

 

[patriot66]

You need to eliminate the alternator first in my opinion. Put a multimeter across the battery with engine off and it should read 12v approx and with engine running 14v approx. If so then alternator is fine. Check battery terminals in the boot, starter motor connections, alternator connections and earth straps in engine bay. Have you got a code reader to check any fault codes?

 

[Doofus]

Failing Ignition switch. When these start going, they can trigger electrical gremlins just like a low battery in a Z4.

That was my first guess with starting issues. So will order one online.

You need to eliminate the alternator first in my opinion. Put a multimeter across the battery with engine off and it should read 12v approx and with engine running 14v approx. If so then alternator is fine. Check battery terminals in the boot, starter motor connections, alternator connections and earth straps in engine bay. Have you got a code reader to check any fault codes?

I don't have a code reader but the garage I use do so going to try and get it in there tomorrow to get it checked and see what comes up. I am hoping it's just the starter switch and looses connection somewhere causing havoc.