Battery losing charge...Please Help!!

[tremorstick]

Yesterday my 2002 X5 would not turn over. When turning the key, it would only make a clicking sound and flash some of the warning lights on the dash. I had a friend jump the vehicle last night using the connections under the hood. After about 20 minutes of charge time, the car started. I noticed that the ABS and Brake indicator lights were on when I backed out of the driveway but quickly went off when I started down the road. I figured I would drive it around the block a few times to charge up the battery. After driving about two miles my Battery light, my ABS light and brake light came on and when I went to give the car gas it had little increase in power. As I started making my way home, the radio stopped working, the airbag light and several other lights came on as my car seemed to steadily lose power and forward momentum. I barely made it into the driveway, when it died again. I tried jumping it again this morning. I can get it to turn over, but as soon as you disconnect the jumper cables the car steadily loses power until it dies again. It will make it about one block before dying now. I'm at a loss. Any ideas or information anybody can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Wagner]

Hmm. Seems like there is an issue with the ground to me. A bad battery (to my knowledge) would not kill your car in mid drive, that would be more of a alternator or grounding problem. A bad battery would simply not allow the car to start. The intial problem you had may be caused by a bad alternator sucking power off the battery while driving which caused the battery to click in the beginning of your issue.

Take a look at the grouding wire coming from the negative battery terminal. Check for any 'acid' or corrosion on the terminals or wires.

Work the issue like this IMO:

- check wiring for obvious issues
- replace battery
- take it to dealer for diagnosis
- replace alternator

That's where I would start at least.

[motordavid]

I agree w/Wagner...
Could be any glitch, but Batt is where I'd start: if terminal connections are good, then I suspect the Batt is gonzo and not "recoverable".

I've had batts go bad, at speed, on my scoots; never in a car, but
hey, who knows with these quirkly Teuton electronics.

A new batt. will probably cure your ills and it's the easiest, cheapest
remedy I know of.
GL,md

[tijanaw]

I agree with all the above, same thing happened to me last week in my 2002 330i. I went to fill up, turn the car back on, no juice. Got jump went to battery + to buy a new battery. The day after same thing happened again with the brand new battery inside, I though I was in a disco b/c all the dash lights were flickering. Anyway it ended it up being the alternator which BTW killed the new battery installed, but thank God they replaced it without question asked.

[kirkX5m]

u just need a new battery. got mine replaced under warranty at 49k miles
good luck.

[ESS4.6is]

Likely trouble with your alternator from the sounds of your problem. I had to have the alternator changed on my w140 as it was overcharging the battery and caused ABS and several other lights to turn on. Also the transmission stayed in 1st gear and the battery began to leak.

[Tomaz]

Couldn't help but notice that you are from Alaska. The cold has to be even worse on the battery (and probably everything else) than the warmer states. I'm agreeing with every one else that recommends a new battery. I don't know if there are battery technologies better suited to cold climates.