Wont Start

T

tsuiesque

Member
Looking for some brainstorm knowledge from you guys...a 2003 2.5i

Parked the car last night, get in it this morning and turn the key. Nada. Radios on, lights come on, but no start. No clicking, nothing. Pretty much the same thing that happens when you try to start without the clutch in. Took out my clutch stop to make sure it didnt expand from the weather and tried again, no dice. Im going to give it a jump when I get home today, but in the meantime does anyone have any ideas?

PS. Does anyone know where the starter is?
 
Check the battery. You may have enough juice for radio or lights and not enough to turn it over. Could also be the safety interlock switch on the clutch. Did you try pumping the clutch a few times and moving the shift lever to neutral?

Other than that, don't have a clue.
 
I had a similar problem last summer. Grabbed one of my keys and went to start the car, unlocked it and tried turning over the engine-and nothing!! Never really bothered with it as I believed as it was the spare key it just needed a charge in the ignition. Tried charging it several times and zip, nothing. When I got the car serviced last month I asked them to have a look and see if they could identify the problem, turns out the key is knackered and need a new one under warranty. I have hardly used the key since new and why it has packed up who knows, perhaps bad luck.
 
most likely it your battery.

get jumper cables, boost your battery just to start, run the zed a couple of kms and shut it down. after 3 hours try to start it again, if it did not start then its definitely your battery.
 
Thanks for the help guys. Turns out Mikey nailed it on the head. I thought it was strange that I didnt even get clicking, which to me means that it wasnt even attempting to crank - which I didnt think was the battery. I grabbed my spare key, started right up. Strangest thing eh?

Thanks again amigos.
 
I use one key during the week and the other over the weekend so they both stay charged.

Glad it worked out!
 
I had something similar some time ago (one key not working). The stealer went through a quick procedure for me (no charge) which I think was something like this http://www.programyourkeys.com/BMW_Z4_Key_Remote_Control_Fob_Programming.html

Best check with the stealer though, I wouldn't want you to have both not working :roll:
 
AJZ4London said:
Yeah, sounds like the immobiliser is not recognising the key. The key transmits a signal.
Click to expand...

Another reason to rotate the keys, at least occasionally. When you start the car, the code is advanced incrementally. If you only use one key, eventually, the code will be so far out, the unused key won't start it.
 
The weird thing was that it was my regular key. That very same key was used to start the car 6 days out of the week for the past year...while the spare key I used to start it has probably not touched the car in at least 8 months. Anyone have any idea what would cause it to die spontaneously?
All the other functions of the key work, which is even more frustrating.

Im going to go in for key surgery later this week and see if I could bring it back.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=451510
 
Does the key lock/unlock the doors remotely? If so, not the battery. Do you only drive short distances? Key battery may not have time to recharge. I think I would try just about anything to not break into that key (well, short of paying a couple hundred bucks for a new one!). :o
 
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