Help!!!! E39 Wont Start! - United Bimmer Community

**brian97e39** · 10-21-2005, 10:06 AM

I just got the thing a few weeks ago, and it has been running fine, my wife took it this morning and now it wont start, she is saying that all the lights come on but when she turns the key it does nothing...could it be solinoid?

**brian97e39** · 10-21-2005, 10:15 AM

ok AAA came out to help her and they said the batt is fine but I did not have enough of a charge to turn the starter over. Alternator?

**brian97e39** · 10-21-2005, 10:20 AM

Damn, charing it did not work, I guess they are going to tow it here and I'll take a look at it.

**komodo** · 10-21-2005, 10:23 AM

Does it make a clicking sound?

It's either your starter or alternator.

I JUST had to replace my alternator for a very similar situation. This thread is kind of long, but goes through everything: http://www.unitedbimmer.com/forums/thread4459.html

**brian97e39** · 10-21-2005, 10:36 AM

Thanks, Ive got to look at it when it gets here, my wife is an idot and I cant get any useful info out of her except, "It wont start."

**komodo** · 10-21-2005, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian97e39

Thanks, Ive got to look at it when it gets here, my wife is an idot and I cant get any useful info out of her except, "It wont start."

Haha!

**brian97e39** · 10-21-2005, 02:15 PM

Ok, I took a look at it and its not clicking or anything, but all the electronics are working, also, AAA got it started by "jumping the starter". Now I dont know what that ment but while driving it, it was acting wierd. When you accelerate from a stop it had NO power, but once you got going about 25-35mph, it would accelerate fine. Another thing was that the key my wife was using to start it was dead, the battery in the remote key. I dont know if that had anything to do with it but I wanted to mention it.

**jybute** · 10-21-2005, 02:36 PM

Huh, funny thing, the alternator or possibly the battery went on my car this morning. And I have only had my 535 for a few weeks as well.
TRIPPY MAN!!!!!!!!!!!

**Rooz** · 10-21-2005, 06:03 PM

get your alternator tested, if it's good then it's probably your starter...

**komodo** · 10-21-2005, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooz

get your alternator tested, if it's good then it's probably your starter...

And also drop your battery off at AutoZone. Takes about 45 minutes, but they'll test all the cells in it for free.

**Dudesky** · 10-22-2005, 05:38 AM

It could also be just a loose cable connection, maybe at the battery, starter, or the alternator.

**brian97e39** · 10-30-2005, 06:29 PM

Ok, just got back from my honeymoon cruise and now ive got to deal with this issue. I took a look at it today and when you turn the key its does not make any click at all. The only way that car has been able to be started is by "jumping the starter", thats what the AAA guy called it per my wife, she said he did it by putting a long metal rod down on the starter while she turned the key. But even when it was running, it would idle fine, but when you tried to accelerate from a stop it has NO power at all, once you get up to about 25-35mph, the acceleration is fine. So it does not sound like a starter or alt. problem, i think is a relay or someting electrical, But im not sure where to start looking. I guess just to rule out any possibility of it being the battery im going to have it checked out, but it does not look like it to me considering that when you turn the key the car does nothing except turn all the lights and stuff. Please let me know if you have any clue what this could be cause im driving this POS ford again.

DEATH2000 · 10-30-2005, 06:42 PM

^^ Ahhh.... i know all about the ford POS. I think its a tradition now, wether ur car's in the shop, busted or not not drivable for w/e reason, the driver ends up usingf a ford POS. In my case the POS was a 95 windstar which i promtly totaled.

Also wlecome to UB!!!! Gotta love the Canyonrot Mettalic huh? (correct me if im wrong)

**c1apton** · 10-30-2005, 06:52 PM

If AAA started it by using the old screw-driver across the solenoid (on top of starter) Solenoid is bad - internally. By jumping across the outside posts, he engaged the solenoid externally. Solenoid is TOAST

**devinwwu** · 10-30-2005, 08:14 PM

reason why you have no power is most likely cause the engine may be running in limp mode which would cause you to lose acceleration. its happened with mine. but starting it that way may cause a code to throw and the computer may be putting it into limp to try to minimize damage.