Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Arnott
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-31-2009, 01:50 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: nj
Posts: 15
lotusing is on a distinguished road
Alternator?????

Hello all,
Well I fixed the O.S. valve and all looked well. I took it out for a run and looked for oil leaks,dry. Then I took it for a blast in the snow and then the batt light came on. I had a BMW tech check all the connections and all looked good. The thing that is odd is that I charged the batt over night because I wanted to drive it to BMW to check the alt.I made it 8 miles away.He said that the alt is no good.However it started up again and made it home no problem. I turned off the engine and tried starting it again and fired up no problem. My question is how can it drive 16 miles then shut off then restart no problem with the batt light on?
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 01-31-2009, 02:31 PM
blktoptrvl's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Various
Posts: 1,232
blktoptrvl is on a distinguished road
You could have been running on the battery alone, and now the batt is exhausted.
__________________
2006 X5 Sport 4.4i
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-31-2009, 02:48 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: nj
Posts: 15
lotusing is on a distinguished road
Thanks for the response. Well it's about 25 deg outside and without charging the batt overnight its started again and runs fine.I am clueless.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-31-2009, 05:12 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: nj
Posts: 15
lotusing is on a distinguished road
Anybody have this happen to them?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-31-2009, 05:25 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 852
NOVAX5 is on a distinguished road
check battery
check alternator
the sequence is alternator goes, battery goes.
replace one or both of them if need be.
dont go through the experience we did. everything shut off on freeway I-95 when my wife was driving it. scary stuff. i replaced the alternator, it works fine since then.
__________________
2002 X5 3.0 Siena Red
Premium, Cold Weather, Rear Climate Packages, 19" Wheels
Aluminum Running Boards, Clear Tail Lights, Clear Side Markers
Titanium Kidney Grills, Titanium Trunk Lid, Xenon Headlights
4.6is X5 exhausts, 35% Tint, Aluminum Pedals
2005 530I Mystic Blue
Premium Package, Sport Package, Xenon Headlights
18" Sport Wheels, 35% Tint all around
Mods to come: M-Tech Front Bumper, M5 Side Skirts, M5 Rear Bumper
Quad Exhausts, Style 172 19" Wheels
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-31-2009, 06:13 PM
Weasel's Avatar
Almost never on here anymore :(
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Orleans, La
Posts: 6,892
Weasel will become famous soon enough
The battery light coming on is indicative of the alternator, but doesn't necessarily mean it isn't charging. It could also be the diode trio going out (putting ac voltage into the system) or over charging or not charging enough, as the output is supposed to be controlled by the DME and it might not be doing what it is supposed to.
__________________
"When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all" (Bender, futurama)

You make something idiotproof, they'll make a better idiot


You think professional is expensive, just wait until you pay for amateur.

Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right.

Examine what is said, not who speaks.

X5 pics

RIP 4.6is.....

2003 4.6is
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-01-2009, 03:05 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: nj
Posts: 15
lotusing is on a distinguished road
So what you are saying is that it may not be the alternator?
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-01-2009, 05:31 PM
MATTYP's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: CLACTON-ON-SEA,ESSEX
Posts: 48
MATTYP is on a distinguished road
I have this problem, changed the battery and replaced the voltage reg, and the light is still on. Ran out of idears now.
__________________

2002 3.0I PETROL SPORT
HIDS,
S/STEEL EXHAUST
22" KAHNS
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-01-2009, 05:51 PM
Weasel's Avatar
Almost never on here anymore :(
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Orleans, La
Posts: 6,892
Weasel will become famous soon enough
It may take getting load tested by someone who knows their way around the ol carbon pile load tester, and checking the diode ripple in the output as well. But at least 9 times out of 10 the battery light is indicative of alternator problems. And remember that there are more ways for an alternator to go out than just to stop charging.
__________________
"When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all" (Bender, futurama)

You make something idiotproof, they'll make a better idiot


You think professional is expensive, just wait until you pay for amateur.

Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right.

Examine what is said, not who speaks.

X5 pics

RIP 4.6is.....

2003 4.6is
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-26-2009, 07:47 PM
Ldiggs910's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 723
Ldiggs910 is on a distinguished road
On my way home from work last night, my low fuel indicator came on, with the miles to empty indicator reading 25 miles remaining. With maybe about 18 miles to empty the entire dashboard lit up (1st time this ever happened to me). I said to myself, "man maybe the miles to empty indicator is wrong and this thing's really getting ready to shut off.

I was on the highway when the dash lit up but when I made it to the streets, at a stoplight, the X just shut off. Once the light turned green (Im thinking I have to save fuel and the lights are on b/c I have no gas) I restarted the X and drove on. But once I'd restarted it, all lights were normal. I made it to the gas station without incident and the lights never reappeared for the rest of my trip.

This morning I was running an errand and the car was idling funny. The SES light had come on a few times in the past two weeks, my clutch has been slipping and I was in need of an oil change so I decided to sacrifice my Amex and visit my indie.

This fool clears the codes in the computer, tells me he doesnt have a tool to change the clutch and changes the oil. So a 2hr round trip from and back to the indie on NYC transit for an oil change. Great.

Im headed to work on the FDR Drive and my radio shut off and back on again. When I look down to see what has happened, I see the battery light is illuminated. When I get off the highway, I restart the X so it can magically clear the battery light but guess what?

The light didnt go out. So I call my indie to tell him what happened and he says bring it back. Only now I have to drive with what is probably a broken voltage regulator or a dead alternator and the shop's at least 20 miles away.

I'll keep you guys posted but from my research here, it looks like it's either the voltage regulator or the alternator.
__________________
In living life, the balance of responsible effort and dependence upon divine enablement must be maintained vigilantly.

2001 X5 3.0 manual with factory widebody kit
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:06 AM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.