X5 3.0d won't start

[andrewwynn]

Originally Posted by wpoll

I have the same (well, very similar) meter, Andrew - I'll do the test on my 3.0d and post up the numbers here.

Great work!

Thanks and that would be awesome to have a diesel example. I've been wanting to get this concept of there ever since I read about the exponential growth of current draw as a starter wears out. Since many of not most DIY car fixers have a DMM and with the X5 having two separate paths for electric flow from the battery it makes this trick possible.

The cig socket gets its power from the feed that comes up the right side of the car, the starter gets the power from the big cable that goes up the left side past the B+ jumper and the alternator.

I'm not sure what power is cut off during the start but it's possible the value can be thrown off if something like the fan or wipers was drawing power up the right side. That said this technique should work very well to get a read on the starter current. I don't think the diesel or V8 has a thicker starter cable (which would change the 285 factor)