My 02 X5 4.6 does not start this morning...

[papymouzot]

Hello everybody and happy new year...

I have been the happy owner of a 02 X5 for a bit more than 3 years now...

Not many problems with it, once the final stage resistor, once the drivers door handle which broke, a battery leak and also the tyres presure check system, most as the car was nearly new...

Since I had the car, it would not always start the first time, it would do a click, then nothing.. I would turn the key once again and the car usually started without a problem

This morning it did click, as it sometimes does... then nothing, tried again, nothing, tried again nothing... click, click, click. I checked the battery, and it is not too bad, just under 12V..

I have not checked something else, would have liked to have your views or ideas first...

Thanks

Charles

[papymouzot]

Nobody has an idea of what it could be ?

[Griza]

Even though the battery has some juice, I would bet money that is the problem. I have already changed the battery on my '03 4.6. Two days ago my Porsche wouldn't start, battery had some juice but it would not turn over. Changed the battery and started right up. I see a trip to Sears in your near future!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Griza]

Just noticed you are in France, probably no Sears over there.........go get a new battery........

[papymouzot]

OK,

Could be it, I will give it a go now, and charge it in full overnight. Check that it is ok and try again tomorrow morning.

I'll put a reply on this post as how it goes.

My worry was more linked to the fact that it did this many times, but just one click... and the car would start on the next attempt. it behaves like if there was a special relay to start the motor starter and this relay would have died...

I was wondering if anyone has had the same problem in the past.

I had a battery problem on a 996, and the behavior was different, it tried to start, and it was sort of obvious that the battery was the cause. here, it sounded like a relay... but of course i could be wrong.

Well I am going to try to recharge it... and if it happens again, I'll change the battery.

whatever the results, I'll live some info here...

THANKS for the reply.

Charles

Originally Posted by Griza

Even though the battery has some juice, I would bet money that is the problem. I have already changed the battery on my '03 4.6. Two days ago my Porsche wouldn't start, battery had some juice but it would not turn over. Changed the battery and started right up. I see a trip to Sears in your near future!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thunder22]

i wonder if it's the starter motor

[JCL]

Apart from charging it, it would be a good idea to put a load test on the battery to see what kind of a load it holds. A voltage test with no load won't tell much.

If you don't have access to a load tester, you can do a simple test by turning on lights/etc, and trying to start it. You are watching to see if everything dims right away, if so then the battery or the terminal connections are the first things to look at.

[papymouzot]

Here we are...

Looked at the charger and the battery has accepted again quite a few amps... stopped it, unplugged it and went to the driver seat...

Turned the key....

and ...

no click....

just the fabulous noise of the V8 starting....

I really like this noise....


Well, it was the battery being discharged ... again...

I will monitor it regularly from now on...

Charles

[gwc]

Hi, pleased your back on the road.

I spent months at the dealers,they swapped three batteries over!!They ran all sorts of diagnostic checks and came up with nothing wrong.

It did sort it, albeit briefly, I've got to say the X5 electrical side leaves a lot to be desired.

[papymouzot]

it does indeed, My battery has been changed at the last service, and replaced under warranty by my bmw dealer, this was not so long ago, it is a BMW battery, so maybe I have a battery leakage again...

I'll keep an eye on it.

charles