Help Help Please

[Rich328]

I put a new battery on the car this weekend and its flat again - i mean the lights come on on the dash board, but it doesn't start - just clicks.

any ideas to what could be causing this

i've been told that it could be the belt for the alternator or possibly - but extremly rare - the bearings in the alternator.

how easy is it to change the belt on this car - bmw e36 328i

please help me

thanks

[kestrel325is]

Originally posted by Rich328@Nov 4 2004, 08:44 AM
I put a new battery on the car this weekend and its flat again - i mean the lights come on on the dash board, but it doesn't start - just clicks.

any ideas to what could be causing this

i've been told that it could be the belt for the alternator or possibly - but extremly rare - the bearings in the alternator.

how easy is it to change the belt on this car - bmw e36 328i

please help me

thanks

[snapback]224292[/snapback]

There's a DIY on belts here.
Not hard at all. Takes about 30 minutes.
Have you tested the starter solenoid? That will make a click, too.
Also, if you have a multimeter, you can hook it up to the battery and have a friend try to start the car and see what kind of load you're putting on the battery.

[Brian325i]

I had that same problem with my Tacoma and it turned out to be the starter.

[Cruzin 323is]

starter!!!

[Rich328]

Originally posted by Cruzin 323is@Nov 4 2004, 03:58 PM
starter!!!

[snapback]224569[/snapback]

hi mate, how can it be the starter if the battery is completly dead? plus i had the starter motor changed not too long ago.

[docrobot]

The starter is the "Usual Suspect" when it comes to clicking and it won't start.

If your lights come on, your battery isn't completely dead...

[Rookie]

Not necessarily true. My car was doing the same thing when I first bought it. I had lights and everything else just not enough juice for a start. Get yourself a battery charger, one that will do a 50amp engine start, and you should be able to eliminate the battery. Or if you don't have a charger steal a friends battery, and see if your will start his car and if his will start your car. This is easy and only takes a few minutes to do. Then if the battery isn't it, go from there.

[97alpineM3]

Well.. tell you the truth.. a few months ago I had the same problem... starter was NOT the problem.. battery went dead.. now if your battery is dying on you.. obvious problem would be that your alternator wasnt working properly... besides that... its the belt not being able to power the alternator.. which I dought is the problem. but worth a look.. change your belt.. if that doesnt fix it... change your alternator... if that doesnt work.. then your looking at a starter...

Good Luck..

Les