Newby has a starter issue, needs help!

[skrach77]

Hello to all!

I have been watching this forum for almost a year now, ever since I bought my wife her '01 X5 3.0. She absolutely loves this car and would kill for a newer one- maybe someday...

I need help! Her starter has been acting up randomly lately, and today it stranded us for almost an hour. Here's the symptoms:

When you turn the key to start the car, from inside it sounds like it starts to turn over, and then just stops. I opened the door to listen a little closer and realized that the engine starts to turn over (like maybe 2 or 3 rotations) and then lets go and the starter sounds like it is just spinning and not catching anything. Turning the key off, and waiting a moment, then turing it back on and trying again sometimes yeilds better results (like the engine starting!) but today it just kept doing the same thing over and over.

Do these have a throwout bearing on the starter shaft that could have gone bad? Or am I looking at replacing the entire starter all together? I am farely mechanically handy and can do most things when I comes to my cars and trucks so I am not affraid of tearing into her, but would like to know what I am looking for before begining open heart surgery.

Also, does anything exist like a pdf manual or assembly diagram that would let me see where everything is? I crawled underneath earlier and noticed that it is almost 100% skidplate under there...

Please help, I'm panicing here.

Thanks,
skrach77

[01 BMW_X5]

Lets see if we can get somewhere.
Some have reported that a bad connection at the ignition switch may also cause some of the symptoms.
When the engine turns over is it a fast turn or like the starter is straining to turn the engine?
It could be the starter solenoid.
Once I have ruled out the battery, the next thing I would go for is the starter. But that's just me. The key crank will let me determine this if you follow my drift.
Pull the starter and bench test.

[skrach77]

It never fails to do something, thus I don't think it has anything to do with the ignition switch or the less than yr old battery (but could be wrong of course)

When it "grabs", then it starts like normal and you would never know anything was wrong.

When it doesn't "grab", it makes a much higher sound like the starter is spinning, but not making contact with anything, thus my question about a throwout bearing or something similar.

I've been researching this all day and have found that there are a few different types of starters that are used on the X5's depending on model and yr. Mine's an '01 basic 3.0, blood type-p.u. (for premium unleaded) with only the parking sensors for upgrades (that I know of, my wife drives this 24/7 so I rarely get to play in it). It has 104005 miles and has had every recommended service that its needed (previous owner was a stealership owner's wife that refused to get rid of it). I got it with about 78k on the odometer and have absolutely loved every second of owning it! (Until today when we got stranded!)

Anyone else have any ideas? I will be tearing into it later this week on my day off to see what I can find. Anyone have any insight on the ammount of time it will take me to pull the starter out and put it back in???

thanks,

skrach77

[ekvals]

Hi.

I dont think i can help you much with solving the problwm, but i think i recognize the symptoms you are describing.

I had a similar problem on a different type of car that i had.

When the key is turned, it sends a signal to the starter. The little wheel in the front of the starter then jumps forward and starts to spin. When you release the key, it retracts and gets out of the way for the now spinning engine.

From what you describe, it seems like the rele telling the starter to jump forward is'nt working all of the time. It then just stays in place and the wheel is spinning without being engaged in anything.

I do not know what this rele look like on this car, or if there is a different system, but i believe it could be something as i described here.

Sorry about the technical english.. Dont know the name of all the parts.

[skrach77]

I just ordered a starter and will be changing it on wens. I will do a full writeup with photos since there is not one on the board for anyone in the furture that needs it.

Does anyone know if there is a relay or anything that would engage the "throwout" feature or anything else simple like that I should check before I tear into my truck and drop the cash for the new starter??? I would kill myself if I go throught the hassel and then find out its a $5 relay in the fusebox...

thanks,
skrach77

[ekvals]

If you look up the starter on www.realoem.com you can see there is something called the solenoid sitting on top of it.

Without being certain, i believe this one is engaging the througout.. The prize of this is about 90us..

[youry]

I had once the same problem with a car in Europe. I ended up replacing the bendix (called solenoid switch in US)