Dead Battery

[BlackTape]

Ok well this morning my car wouldn't start.... It turns on and checks but it never STARTS.... is this a dead battery????

and how do you jump my car (e36) I know the actuall battery is in the back but their are terminals in the front.... which side do I use and aslo how long does it take cause ive never done this before...

And if I need a new battery can I just buy any old Interstate or do I have to get one from BMW?

[BlackTape]

The question I have is how do i jump the damn car

[triggrhaapi]

connect the two positive terminals, hook up one negative terminal to the battery on the car that works, hook up the other negative terminal to a section of body frame that has no paint on it.

[MrM3]

once u get the car started leave it running for while and drive at higher engine speeds then u normally would. your alternater should fully recharge the battery within 30-40min of driving. unless your battery is extremely old, u probably wont need to replace it

[Furious]

i replyed to your PM . also its a very simple procedure. find a donor car to jump from preferably a car with a bigger battery so that you dont blow something in his car etc etc etc.
now hook the postive then the negative to the donor cars battery. *caution- dont touch the leads after hooking battery.. also dont ground the postive side.

next expose your battery and hook the positive and then negative to your battery. make sure that on both cars the clamps are on tight and snug.
next jump in your car and have someone in the other car reving the engine a little. turn the key like you are gonna start the car and then take the jumper cables off from both cars.
run your car at idle for about 2 or 3 minutes then go for a drive , i say drive for about 15 minutes to half an hour to give the alternator time to recharge the battery somewhat. also its kinda common sense but turn the radio and all other excessive power sources off during this whole operation.

later that day go and try to start the car again. if it fails to then i think you have to replace your batter or refill it with water. check FAQ on that procedure.
if at any time the car dies while driving it. i think you could have an alternator problem.

uhh bateries these days are closed/contained aren't they?

[e36_m3_Turbo]

Originally posted by SpeedsterBMW@May 19 2003, 08:44 AM
uhh bateries these days are closed/contained aren't they?

no you can put water in them..just had to put water in my mom's car battery

[AZ325Ci]

well, my question would be, do we use the battery in the trunk or use their terminals in the engine bay? i don't have a problem with my battery, but i thought this could be useful in the future as well as help RedTape

[triggrhaapi]

Originally posted by Furious@May 19 2003, 08:23 AM
i replyed to your PM . also its a very simple procedure. find a donor car to jump from preferably a car with a bigger battery so that you dont blow something in his car etc etc etc.
now hook the postive then the negative to the donor cars battery. *caution- dont touch the leads after hooking battery.. also dont ground the postive side.

next expose your battery and hook the positive and then negative to your battery. make sure that on both cars the clamps are on tight and snug.
next jump in your car and have someone in the other car reving the engine a little. turn the key like you are gonna start the car and then take the jumper cables off from both cars.
run your car at idle for about 2 or 3 minutes then go for a drive , i say drive for about 15 minutes to half an hour to give the alternator time to recharge the battery somewhat. also its kinda common sense but turn the radio and all other excessive power sources off during this whole operation.

later that day go and try to start the car again. if it fails to then i think you have to replace your batter or refill it with water. check FAQ on that procedure.
if at any time the car dies while driving it. i think you could have an alternator problem.

don't hook up both the negative and positive at the same time, do positive first, then negative. That way you can't short them together. and the negative on the car with the dead battery goes to the frame to ground it.

always use the terminals under the hood, in e46s the connecter is on the left, and you ground it to the strut screws

[AZ325Ci]

Originally posted by SpeedsterBMW@May 19 2003, 08:50 AM
always use the terminals under the hood, in e46s the connecter is on the left, and you ground it to the strut screws

thanks, speed

[BlackTape]

yeh I tried to jump it and it didn't work.....


Its wierd all the lights go on and the radio plays but the car doesn't Start... what else could it be??? My dad is going to come down tommorow and see what he can do I was rushing and don't have time right now also the car is in the garage and its hard to get to...

[triggrhaapi]

your starter could be dead. Get a volt meter and tell me how much the voltage drops when you try to start the car.

[Furious]

Originally posted by triggrhaapi+May 19 2003, 08:49 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (triggrhaapi @ May 19 2003, 08:49 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--Furious@May 19 2003, 08:23 AM
i replyed to your PM . also its a very simple procedure. find a donor car to jump from preferably a car with a bigger battery so that you dont blow something in his car etc etc etc.
now hook the postive then the negative to the donor cars battery. *caution- dont touch the leads after hooking battery.. also dont ground the postive side.

next expose your battery and hook the positive and then negative to your battery. make sure that on both cars the clamps are on tight and snug.
next jump in your car and have someone in the other car reving the engine a little. turn the key like you are gonna start the car and then take the jumper cables off from both cars.
run your car at idle for about 2 or 3 minutes then go for a drive , i say drive for about 15 minutes to half an hour to give the alternator time to recharge the battery somewhat. also its kinda common sense but turn the radio and all other excessive power sources off during this whole operation.

later that day go and try to start the car again. if it fails to then i think you have to replace your batter or refill it with water. check FAQ on that procedure.
if at any time the car dies while driving it. i think you could have an alternator problem.

don't hook up both the negative and positive at the same time, do positive first, then negative. That way you can't short them together. and the negative on the car with the dead battery goes to the frame to ground it. [/b][/quote]
sorry thats what i ment. i ran out of time when posting this. i dint get a chance to re-read it. (on the way to the bar when i was doing this post)

[BlackTape]

i don't think its the battery anymore......

I jumped it and it didn't start and when I turn the key it seems like its getting enough power but the engine doesn't vrooom.... ???

Is it the starter or altenator???? Are these hard to fix???? Are their any other things that it could be?