Car starts sometimes, wtf gives

[Dee2]

Ok so my car my joy a 2003 x5 4.4 beautiful girl but right now she is bugging and being temperamental. I have a lot going on in my life and cant afford any financial drama. My 37 yr old hubby had 3 strokes and it nearly ruined us financially.

So the car, my key fob has long since died and I do everything manually. Key fob died a few months after I got the car in 2008. As of the early part of this year Id go out to car and occasionally it wouldn't start so Id have it jumped and go on my way. It was a rough winter in NYC for ole girl. Months go by and now I get in the car everything comes on except it wont flip over. I take the key out, get out the car, lock it get back in and then it would start just fine. Thought it was a fluke. Then it happened again some days later I kept trying and then it started. Now its intermittent, sometimes it wont start today but then it will start tomorrow. There was a time when I drove to point a got out came right back it didn't start, I left the key in ignition 2 listened to the radio tried after about 20 mins and it started. Now car wont start for a whole week, had the car jumped several times and nothing. Keep in mind everything else comes on. So at the end of the week the started again just fine for like a week. Then this past Sunday, I got drove about six miles, helped a friend upstairs came back in about 5minutes and the car wont start. I had to leave the car in the Bronx.....

I thought maybe it was the key cause occasionally I would create friction by scrapping it on a zipper and the car would start but now that doesn't even work.

Please help me, I just need for something to go my way. I really dont know what is happening to this car. I have an after market battery Duralast from AutoZone. Could it be the battery or is it the key. $tealer wants 200 for one and this is the only key I have. Its not the kind where I can unscrew and change the battery. I have looked at vids and tried to pry it open to no avail. I dont know what to do and this shit is making me cry daily. I just dont know I really dont know what to do.

[o. l. t.]

It's time to replace that key. It's the cheapest of all the fixes, and the transponder is probably dying to boot since it has been on the decline. The key charges itself as you drive and if the battery went bad a long time ago it has been holding enough of a charge to tolerate handshaking with the ignition until now. As long as you've scraped by you've gotten lucky. It's time to fork over a few hundred bucks for a key and a dealer programming.

This is JMO, so hear others responses and throw this one in the suggestion bin.

[Dee2]

Thank you so much OLT and to be clear in your opinion its nothing else like a starter or alternator or worse right....?

[Dee2]

I changed the battery still doesn't start I just wanted to try that before I spent 200 on a key as the battery was free on warranty. So I have to bite the bullet and buy the key I just hope that that's all it is... Cause if turns out to be something else wow wow wow. Will keep you all posted

[Naz24]

I had a similar problem. ended up being ignition switch.. have the dealer or QUALIFIED indy do a diagnostic on it

[jst2878]

Could be dirty connectors on ignition switch. Take off steering column cover and there will be a big white plug with red wires coming out. Seperate the plug and spray with a maf cleaner or electrical connector cleaner. This can help, did for me

[faranks]

Our X experienced this problem for a while, then just magically went away. Since the car had power and everything lights up, just won't crank, I saw it as being 5 possible things.

1) Like the previous post, it could be poor contacts in the wire harness molex connector in the column.

2)It could be a starter motor that is stuck.

3) A faulty starter solenoid or relay

4) The key itself is not emitting a signal to the anti-theft immobilizer

5) Or the more likely gremlin; the anti-theft immobilizer system. This is comprised of a computer module that needs to see a specific learned code via an antenna wrapped around the key cylinder, and a transmitter inside the key. It would be nice to rule out the key if you had two to try.

[Dee2]

Thank you guys for all you help. Im going to look at an indy tomorrow. I have to get it towed in. Been at work and couldnt really deal with it my hrs are retarded. Im the only driver in my home and well that means that Im basically solo in this.....Sunday will make two damn weeks without the car. Argh....

@Jst how do I take the steering column off?

@faranks how long did it take the problem to just magically disappear?

[faranks]

Originally Posted by Dee2

@faranks how long did it take the problem to just magically disappear?

I guess it happened intermittently for about a month, then has never resurfaced. Weird, but I have seen many other posts about the same problem, which is typical for this car. This forum is almost like a road map for everything that is about to go wrong with your X. Sorry, good luck.

[thedweeb]

Dee2,
As said, go for the conections first as this costs nothing,looking at the attached diagram numbers 18 and 19 hold it together, havent done one on a BMW but have on other cars and its usually three or four screws. This will allow you to see the ingnition switch wiring that has been stated. Make sure you disconnect the earth strap on the battery before touching anything. Once you have done this unplug the conector and check for any build up of sulpher on the conection pins ( its like a white bluey colour)If you do find any you will need to try and clean it off using something like a very small screwdriver until clean metal is seen , also check the pins in which the conector plugs into. If thats all good spray some electrical cleaner into the plug. Refit plug ,connect battery and give it a go.
If this fails a new key may be the next option.Hope this helps.
Dweeb