2009 X5 30i No crank, no start, new battery

[Jarhed1964]

Hey folks,

This problem is very spotty in its representation on this forum.

The car has had trouble keeping the correct date on the display for about a month. It has had sluggish cranking for about a month also. Battery was bought and coded in December 2016.

Yesterday, while trying to start it to get it out of the way of my Uhaul truck to move to my new house, it cranked sluggishly but did not turn over at all. Then, it refused to crank ever again. I tried jumping and got nothing.

Today, I took the Bosch battery back to Pep Boys where I got it and they tested it and said it was bad. Replaced under warranty for free, although it was a slightly different battery (no vent).

I put it in and got no crank again. Charged it up on my old Craftsman charger to 14.6, still no cranking.

What were some of the remedies you have found to solve this? Starter? Relay (starter not enabled because of a bad relay)?

[ard]

Recently there have been a spate of ground strap issues. Run a jumper from the engine to a body ground point (NOT the ground term on the batter, as that bypasses the IBS). See if it lets the car crank.

[Orthotist]

Does it crank at all?

[Orthotist]

If it cranks but, no start, it could be starter relay switch in back by battery (behind sidebl panel).

[ard]

Originally Posted by Jarhed1964

it cranked sluggishly but did not turn over at all. Then, it refused to crank ever again. I tried jumping and got nothing.

No crank, no nothing.


Ive seen similar symptom patterns...as the current in the failing ground strap burns through the last few strand, this is what you see.....


or not....

[Jarhed1964]

At the indie now, I'll mention that to him. I have read about the starter relay.

[ard]

To clarify...your comment that you lose battery power and stuff gets reset is a symptom that doesn’t align with the relay.

When the ground strap starts degrading, it gets corroded- this corrosion can be an insulator. When the wires in the weave begin to fail, they will create a mesh that may- or may not- conduct welll. Especially when just sitting. When you hit out with current, you can get arcing and a good flow... when running the vibrations keep things connected. But when it sits it can open, or ‘get insolated’. Eventually it will open.

Just my thinking....

[Jarhed1964]

Originally Posted by ard

To clarify...your comment that you lose battery power and stuff gets reset is a symptom that doesn’t align with the relay.

When the ground strap starts degrading, it gets corroded- this corrosion can be an insulator. When the wires in the weave begin to fail, they will create a mesh that may- or may not- conduct welll. Especially when just sitting. When you hit out with current, you can get arcing and a good flow... when running the vibrations keep things connected. But when it sits it can open, or ‘get insolated’. Eventually it will open.

Just my thinking....

Makes sense.

Well, Indy called and said my starter was dead. He's going to toss another in there. Said it was weird since he has never seen an E70 kill off a starter.

Also, he said that the tow guy pulled the car in with the rear wheels up but the front rolling. Said it could likely destroy the front diff. I will find and disembowel the tow truck driver if it is destroyed.

I'll start a GoFundMe for bail.

[ard]

We’ve seen a bunch of starter issues, not that uncommon.

So tow guy drug the car like that for more than 100 feet? Were you not there when he hooked it up?!?! I cannot tell you how often I have to tell drivers how to tow a car. And how often I see cars hooked up or lashed down improperly....arrrrgggghh.

GL

[Jarhed1964]

Originally Posted by ard

We’ve seen a bunch of starter issues, not that uncommon.

So tow guy drug the car like that for more than 100 feet? Were you not there when he hooked it up?!?! I cannot tell you how often I have to tell drivers how to tow a car. And how often I see cars hooked up or lashed down improperly....arrrrgggghh.

GL

More like 11 miles. Nope, I wasn't there, unfortunately, but did mention that when they went to pick it up, it needed a flatbed or a wheel dolly. Front wheels were rolling backward all the way.