gerrymoore
CNC expert (well, getting there!)
- Messages
- 1,165
- Location
- Wirral UK
I've owned this car for 2 years had 22K on it now got 36K so 'low' in BMW terms. Since getting it, every now and then it 'struggled' to turn over as though the battery was flat but it always started. This went on until last year when I felt is was happening too often so I took the car to a 'so called' specialist who charged me £40 and said the starter motor was 'lazy' and needed replacing. I fitted a brand new starter motor but I still had the same intermittent problem. So, I put on a new battery (big expensive thing it is too) and guess what still did it..but it always started..... until two weeks ago.
On our way to the Isle of Skye for 5 days ...stopped after about 100 miles for her loo break. Come to start up and, although it started, it sounded for all the world like my battery was flat. We got to Glasgow and stopped to check the map (after 235 miles)...car would not start at all. Breakdown guy came along and started it up with his power pack and we drove back home without stopping the engine.
Now...since then I've had the original starter put back on ( the new one smelled of burning) and a new alternator to starter cable (£70) fitted, two new earth straps....and it still doesn't sound right.
The last few days I have been checking the battery voltage but not using the car. Started off on Tuesday at 12.44 volts (too low??) and has been losing a bit every day since. Today is was 12.22 so I decided to check the alternator output...started the car and voltage went to 15.17 and stayed at that with everything electrical switched on....heated seats, AC high beams etc....and when I turned everything off still 15.17
So does this point to a faulty alternator that might be overcharging the battery and causing my intermittent problem ...new ones are not cheap so I don't want to waste more money.
I welcome any advice to cure this........
On our way to the Isle of Skye for 5 days ...stopped after about 100 miles for her loo break. Come to start up and, although it started, it sounded for all the world like my battery was flat. We got to Glasgow and stopped to check the map (after 235 miles)...car would not start at all. Breakdown guy came along and started it up with his power pack and we drove back home without stopping the engine.
Now...since then I've had the original starter put back on ( the new one smelled of burning) and a new alternator to starter cable (£70) fitted, two new earth straps....and it still doesn't sound right.
The last few days I have been checking the battery voltage but not using the car. Started off on Tuesday at 12.44 volts (too low??) and has been losing a bit every day since. Today is was 12.22 so I decided to check the alternator output...started the car and voltage went to 15.17 and stayed at that with everything electrical switched on....heated seats, AC high beams etc....and when I turned everything off still 15.17
So does this point to a faulty alternator that might be overcharging the battery and causing my intermittent problem ...new ones are not cheap so I don't want to waste more money.
I welcome any advice to cure this........