Car will not start

DahE90 · 01-27-2014, 06:01 PM

Okay, so yesterday my cars battery had completely died to the point that I could not even unlock the doors, so I went ahead and returned it (it is an it autozone battery and not from BMW)..I returned it and got it exchanged for a brand new battery and installed it.. Turned on my car, and voila, it worked perfectly fine. I wake up this morning and turn it on, voila, perfectly fine. Get back from school and the car has been sitting from 11am until 5pm and I went out to head out and now my car will not start at all. I insert the FOB and all the lights, dash, etc then on, but when I push the brake and start.. It makes no sound, but the car has no signs or indications of starting.. I tried jumping it from under the hood, still nothing... I'm lost right now, I'm 20 and my car will not even turn on. I have to be at school all week..

Any idea guys?

DahE90 · 01-27-2014, 06:11 PM

I'm 100% sure it's not registration, battery doesn't need to be registered... So that's out the window...

PichaDis11 · 01-27-2014, 10:45 PM

Seems like the old dreaded starter issue man. I would say to unplug the IBS cable from the battery in the trunk but I think those came in 07 an on e90s.

DahE90 · 01-27-2014, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PichaDis11

Seems like the old dreaded starter issue man. I would say to unplug the IBS cable from the battery in the trunk but I think those came in 07 an on e90s.

Shoot, which is the IBS cable? I disconnected practically all of them :/

bmw325i · 01-28-2014, 12:37 AM

Check the voltage at the battery terminals.

DahE90 · 01-28-2014, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw325i

Check the voltage at the battery terminals.

I don't have the voltage reader thing :/

DahE90 · 01-28-2014, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw325i

Check the voltage at the battery terminals.

By the way. The car has full electrical function, it's a brand new battery that was working great. So checking the voltage would read out good.

PichaDis11 · 01-28-2014, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DahE90

Shoot, which is the IBS cable? I disconnected practically all of them :/

The cable that connects from the negative terminal to one of the ports to the distribution block.

just a try though. I could also give the the steps to use the hidden dash menu to see your battery voltage too.

DahE90 · 01-28-2014, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PichaDis11

Quote:

Originally Posted by DahE90

Shoot, which is the IBS cable? I disconnected practically all of them :/

The cable that connects from the negative terminal to one of the ports to the distribution block.

just a try though. I could also give the the steps to use the hidden dash menu to see your battery voltage too.

Yeah I tried that :/ no luck.

Yeah sure man I would so appreciate that! I'm kind of lost right now.. No car.. Eh sucks.

E90_boostjunky · 01-28-2014, 10:42 PM

i havent registered my battery in 4 weeks.

DahE90 · 01-28-2014, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90_boostjunky

i havent registered my battery in 4 weeks.

Yeah I know it's definitely not that because I ran on my previous battery for at least 5 months non registered.. Ha. I don't really care for that.

iBoost · 01-28-2014, 10:48 PM

Is there any lights up on the dash? check engine/ red battery?

DahE90 · 01-28-2014, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBoost

Is there any lights up on the dash? check engine/ red battery?

Not that I am aware of, I haven't been messing with it much since it's been like 2 degrees here the past week.. But I'm pretty sure here isn't. What would that indicate if it was, bad battery or connection correct?

PichaDis11 · 01-29-2014, 10:53 AM

Trying to get a hold of the video that explains the procedure but they don't explain how to get it very well.

More and more it seems like the starter though. Same symptoms I had few months back as well. Drive normally and as soon as 5pm came around it was nothing from the engine.

Edit: Here's the video.

DahE90 · 01-29-2014, 01:38 PM

Update -

Okay, so my father woke up in the morning and jumped the car and it started perfectly fine, he even ran errands with it in the morning..turning it off and back on during that time, with no problems. I soon after wake up with him letting me know it's working, I go out to start the car and what do you know? It's working perfectly fine.. So I turn it off and take a look at the battery, then go to try again and IT DOESNT TURN ON.. I don't get it? Does this rule out the possibility of a faulty starter at least..

07lilredwagon · 01-29-2014, 09:35 PM

jump start the car and go get a multi meter at Autozone, or have them test the battery...multi meters are inexpensive and a great all around tool....

You need to test the battery for voltage, and then have it load tested to see if it is on its way out.

The starter may be working intermittently...and on its way out...or not...in which case its the battery. (or its wiring)

It could be the ignition switch or key fob...but if its not its probably the battery or its wiring

Is your car one of the E90s that had a recall on the positive battery cable? behind the glove box at the fuse panel where the cable hooks to it corrodes on certain cars...this causes all kinds of problems, but mostly completely dead cars...no lights, ect....

good luck with it!

JP

GoRomeo · 01-30-2014, 01:13 AM

I bet is your starter. With a long tool reach down the starter from the hood and tap it few times as someone else can push the start button. Cheers!

'02onthebrain · 01-30-2014, 10:28 AM

Two simple things to try, flip the key over and try again if all the lights are coming on. Also could be the brake pedal not triggering. Try hitting the brake pedal hard with your foot and then hit the start button.

JaysBlueE92 · 01-30-2014, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoRomeo

I bet is your starter. With a long tool reach down the starter from the hood and tap it few times as someone else can push the start button. Cheers!

^ +1. Most likely the starter going..the above could work but you might want to consider looking for starters. OEM is on national backorder so search for remanufactured bosch one. Be prepared to spend some coin since a lot of labor is involved getting to the starter..if doing yourself get some gloves to save your knuckles. Good luck

Augster · 01-30-2014, 11:22 AM

I'm curious why there are several posts suggesting it's the starter when the OP clearly stated that the first time, nothing powered up but simply replacing the battery and everything worked, then in his post #15, he jumped the car and it started fine, but later on doesn't after a couple successful starts in succession.

It sounds like a charging issue to me. I had similar symptoms, which ultimately ended up being a defective Battery Safety Terminal (BST) cable. Basically, there was intermittent contact with the primary cable to the battery itself within the BST assembly. This prevented the battery from being charged correctly by the alternator. And depending on how intermittent the connection would be, I would either be stranded with absolutely no power whatsoever (dead battery), to frustrating no-start situations even though everything else had power (I later found out that the ECU disables engine start when there is insufficient battery voltage; a non-SES error code 61 Driver Clamp 50L KS is also recorded in the Car Access System-CAS module, IIRC).

I replaced the battery (went from a year-old non-AGM O'Reilly brand to a BMW-branded AGM from a dealer; the car originally came with an AGM battery) and registered it, the power distribution module on top of the battery, the BMW battery cable recall, and even the alternator (because a test by O'Reilly indicated a fault with the voltage regulator which is embedded in the alternator, which in retrospect, a bad battery connection would also result in that same error), all to no avail. Replacing the alternator took me six hours and $600 for a remanufactured one through O'Reilly; a complete waste of time and money.

My advice is to first fully charge the battery either completely out of the car, or in the car by disconnecting the battery terminals and charging the battery directly (for safety reasons, it's always recommended to charge outside of the car in a well ventilated area in the unlikely event of a battery explosion), then with a voltage meter, measure the voltage being generated by the alternator with the engine running. You should be reading 12-14V; more so on the higher side. Anything below that would suggest a charging issue, whether it's with the battery cables, a circuit, or the alternator. Now, because mine was a little more intermittent, I ended up using a cigarette lighter adapter with bare ends attached to my voltmeter and would drive around monitoring the voltage, until eventually, the voltage would drop below expected levels consistently.

Anyways, I hope these troubleshooting tips help you get to the root of your problem.

PS: I didn't realize you don't have a voltage meter, so either rent one from O'Reilly/Autozone or buy a relatively inexpensive one. They should also be able to charge your battery for you free if you don't have a battery charger...

Alohaaaaa · 01-30-2014, 03:23 PM

Hmmm this happened on my old Audi... It was a broken grounding wire. Would have to wait 10-20 min after turning the car off to turn it back on.

Replaced the ground and it worked fine.

DahE90 · 01-30-2014, 05:19 PM

Update :

The car randomly worked again, while I was at school my father tried and it worked. I'm afraid to go into my car and try haha. So I'll just leave it at that since it's dark already and try in the morning..

I've ruled out the faulty brake sensor, the key fob, the dead battery..

The starter is still lingering but I doubt the starter is bad, I've had no previous issues with it.

The alternator, I have no idea.

It is most likely the IBS sensor, or the terminal (BST) as stated above. One or both need to be replaced....
Such an odd situation..

01-27-2014, 06:01 PM	#1
DahE90 Private 2 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Nashville iTrader: (0)	Car will not start - Help. Okay, so yesterday my cars battery had completely died to the point that I could not even unlock the doors, so I went ahead and returned it (it is an it autozone battery and not from BMW)..I returned it and got it exchanged for a brand new battery and installed it.. Turned on my car, and voila, it worked perfectly fine. I wake up this morning and turn it on, voila, perfectly fine. Get back from school and the car has been sitting from 11am until 5pm and I went out to head out and now my car will not start at all. I insert the FOB and all the lights, dash, etc then on, but when I push the brake and start.. It makes no sound, but the car has no signs or indications of starting.. I tried jumping it from under the hood, still nothing... I'm lost right now, I'm 20 and my car will not even turn on. I have to be at school all week.. Any idea guys?
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01-27-2014, 06:11 PM	#2
DahE90 Private 2 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Nashville iTrader: (0)	I'm 100% sure it's not registration, battery doesn't need to be registered... So that's out the window...
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01-27-2014, 10:45 PM	#3
PichaDis11 Colonel 295 Rep 2,202 Posts Drives: E90 N52 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: NY iTrader: (3)	Seems like the old dreaded starter issue man. I would say to unplug the IBS cable from the battery in the trunk but I think those came in 07 an on e90s. __________________ Retrofits: 322, 609, 6FL, 6NR, 6VC, 2TB.. Upgrades: Bilstein B8 Eibach Spring kit
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01-28-2014, 12:37 AM	#5
bmw325i Major General 223 Rep 5,120 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: United States iTrader: (8)	Check the voltage at the battery terminals.
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01-28-2014, 10:42 PM	#10
E90_boostjunky Lieutenant Colonel 93 Rep 1,644 Posts Drives: BMW 335I E90 SGM Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA, IL iTrader: (1)	i havent registered my battery in 4 weeks.
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01-28-2014, 10:48 PM	#12
iBoost Retired e90post Member 135 Rep 3,038 Posts Drives: real slow Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (13)	Is there any lights up on the dash? check engine/ red battery?
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01-29-2014, 10:53 AM	#14
PichaDis11 Colonel 295 Rep 2,202 Posts Drives: E90 N52 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: NY iTrader: (3)	Trying to get a hold of the video that explains the procedure but they don't explain how to get it very well. More and more it seems like the starter though. Same symptoms I had few months back as well. Drive normally and as soon as 5pm came around it was nothing from the engine. Edit: Here's the video.
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01-29-2014, 01:38 PM	#15
DahE90 Private 2 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Nashville iTrader: (0)	Update - Okay, so my father woke up in the morning and jumped the car and it started perfectly fine, he even ran errands with it in the morning..turning it off and back on during that time, with no problems. I soon after wake up with him letting me know it's working, I go out to start the car and what do you know? It's working perfectly fine.. So I turn it off and take a look at the battery, then go to try again and IT DOESNT TURN ON.. I don't get it? Does this rule out the possibility of a faulty starter at least..
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01-29-2014, 09:35 PM	#16
07lilredwagon Captain 40 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 07 328 wagon Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	jump start the car and go get a multi meter at Autozone, or have them test the battery...multi meters are inexpensive and a great all around tool.... You need to test the battery for voltage, and then have it load tested to see if it is on its way out. The starter may be working intermittently...and on its way out...or not...in which case its the battery. (or its wiring) It could be the ignition switch or key fob...but if its not its probably the battery or its wiring Is your car one of the E90s that had a recall on the positive battery cable? behind the glove box at the fuse panel where the cable hooks to it corrodes on certain cars...this causes all kinds of problems, but mostly completely dead cars...no lights, ect.... good luck with it! JP
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01-30-2014, 01:13 AM	#17
GoRomeo Brigadier General 973 Rep 3,866 Posts Drives: 330i, 135i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Diego CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [9.50] 2006 330i [6.75]	I bet is your starter. With a long tool reach down the starter from the hood and tap it few times as someone else can push the start button. Cheers!
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01-30-2014, 10:28 AM	#18
'02onthebrain Second Lieutenant 17 Rep 259 Posts Drives: '07 335xi; '00 911 C4 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wayne, PA iTrader: (1)	Two simple things to try, flip the key over and try again if all the lights are coming on. Also could be the brake pedal not triggering. Try hitting the brake pedal hard with your foot and then hit the start button.
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01-30-2014, 11:22 AM	#20
Augster Master Gunner 77 Rep 435 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Sport Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Sandy Eggo iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [10.00] 1994 General Dynami ... [6.00]	I'm curious why there are several posts suggesting it's the starter when the OP clearly stated that the first time, nothing powered up but simply replacing the battery and everything worked, then in his post #15, he jumped the car and it started fine, but later on doesn't after a couple successful starts in succession. It sounds like a charging issue to me. I had similar symptoms, which ultimately ended up being a defective Battery Safety Terminal (BST) cable. Basically, there was intermittent contact with the primary cable to the battery itself within the BST assembly. This prevented the battery from being charged correctly by the alternator. And depending on how intermittent the connection would be, I would either be stranded with absolutely no power whatsoever (dead battery), to frustrating no-start situations even though everything else had power (I later found out that the ECU disables engine start when there is insufficient battery voltage; a non-SES error code 61 Driver Clamp 50L KS is also recorded in the Car Access System-CAS module, IIRC). I replaced the battery (went from a year-old non-AGM O'Reilly brand to a BMW-branded AGM from a dealer; the car originally came with an AGM battery) and registered it, the power distribution module on top of the battery, the BMW battery cable recall, and even the alternator (because a test by O'Reilly indicated a fault with the voltage regulator which is embedded in the alternator, which in retrospect, a bad battery connection would also result in that same error), all to no avail. Replacing the alternator took me six hours and $600 for a remanufactured one through O'Reilly; a complete waste of time and money. My advice is to first fully charge the battery either completely out of the car, or in the car by disconnecting the battery terminals and charging the battery directly (for safety reasons, it's always recommended to charge outside of the car in a well ventilated area in the unlikely event of a battery explosion), then with a voltage meter, measure the voltage being generated by the alternator with the engine running. You should be reading 12-14V; more so on the higher side. Anything below that would suggest a charging issue, whether it's with the battery cables, a circuit, or the alternator. Now, because mine was a little more intermittent, I ended up using a cigarette lighter adapter with bare ends attached to my voltmeter and would drive around monitoring the voltage, until eventually, the voltage would drop below expected levels consistently. Anyways, I hope these troubleshooting tips help you get to the root of your problem. PS: I didn't realize you don't have a voltage meter, so either rent one from O'Reilly/Autozone or buy a relatively inexpensive one. They should also be able to charge your battery for you free if you don't have a battery charger... __________________ 2008 335i Alpine White Sport Sedan AT \| Avant Garde M364 Staggered 19" Last edited by Augster; 01-30-2014 at 12:23 PM..
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01-30-2014, 03:23 PM	#21
Alohaaaaa Captain 58 Rep 791 Posts Drives: 2011 550xi Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Calgary, AB iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [0.00] 2012 BMW E92 M3 ZCP [10.00]	Hmmm this happened on my old Audi... It was a broken grounding wire. Would have to wait 10-20 min after turning the car off to turn it back on. Replaced the ground and it worked fine. __________________ 2017 Nitro Blue Ford Focus RS 2008 Sparkling Grey Metallic 135i 6MT - JB4 G5 - MHD Race BEF - N54Tuning DP's - ER Chargepipe/w HKS SSQV - Coolingmist Progressive Meth - MMP Hot Side Inlets - AFE Exhaust - Seconday Cat Delete - AMS FMIC - BMS Catch Can - Rob Beck PCV - LUX 160 AE
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01-30-2014, 05:19 PM	#22
DahE90 Private 2 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Nashville iTrader: (0)	Update : The car randomly worked again, while I was at school my father tried and it worked. I'm afraid to go into my car and try haha. So I'll just leave it at that since it's dark already and try in the morning.. I've ruled out the faulty brake sensor, the key fob, the dead battery.. The starter is still lingering but I doubt the starter is bad, I've had no previous issues with it. The alternator, I have no idea. It is most likely the IBS sensor, or the terminal (BST) as stated above. One or both need to be replaced.... Such an odd situation..
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