big winter trouble

jburgos3 · #1 01-07-2011, 12:57 PM

my x5's first winter over 100k miles has not been a good one. starting the truck has become a test of my nerves with the shaking and engine clicking. thought i was sitting in a hot rod by the way it felt and sounded. recently got the service engine soon and check coolant warnings. scheduled an appointment with my indy and of course it would snow in jersey on the day i need to be there most.

worst case scenario seems to have happened, could not get the X to start this morning. thank you murphy's law...dash, radio, lights etc seem to be working but no start.

trying to assess my level of screwedness. any input is appreciated pleaaasseee!

JCL · #2 01-07-2011, 02:50 PM

Hard to diagnose without more information, but it does seem that you continued to drive it when it had problems. It is worth fixing problems when they happen on these vehicles, as you avoid consequential damage.

Shaking on startup can be fuel related, control system/sensor related, or ignition related. Low coolant generally means, well, low coolant. That can be anything from a leaking expansion tank (reservoir) to something internal to the engine. SES light is generally emissions control related, but it can be a consequence of another problem.

Let us know what the shop says.

jburgos3 · #3 01-07-2011, 03:07 PM

thanks for the response. given the mileage, i expected to see more issues start coming up this year. i would say that these have been developing over the last month or so, initially seeming intermittent. unfortunately i was driving knowing there were some issues but with the idea that i could make it to this appointment before anything catastrophic could happen. hoping for the best.

i've been looking through other posts to find out more about this clicking or ticking from the engine and i've come accross "hva ticking". very distinct sound. would you happen to know anything about it?

weather is bad here today but if i can get to my guy tomorrow AM it'll be there, wondering if i should even try jumping it or if i should just have it towed.

dragoncoach · #4 01-07-2011, 05:10 PM

What's the condition of the battery? Is it the OEM battery? If so, and it's cold, it may be done for. If you have access to power and are in a garage, slow charge overnight and try it again. Low voltage does funny things to cars.....