Help Starting Dead X5
 

Hello,

i purchased a dead x5 4.4i thats rained in from the sunroof been left open. I tried to jump it from the front, and the interior lights won't even come on. When i tried to jump it from the trunk, the interior lights will come on, seats, radio, everything work, but it won't start. everytime i turn the key, i hear a click in the trunk area and nothing.

Any ideas to help me start this car?

thank you,
DoN

The battery connector on the positive post is bad. Either from a wreck or just going bad. They explode on impact in wrecks :)

Check voltage on the cable side of the positive battery cable to be sure but zero volts at the jump post up front is a dead give away that's the problem.

Crowz, you're on to something. yes it was in a small wreck. it go hit in the rear and the car hit the car in front. the accident didn't damage the frame, just the bumper support. anyway, can i replace/fix the positive post? is it possible to start the car?

thank you

You can get it started by putting a traditional battery cable end on the cable and bypassing the factory explosive end. That's not the correct or proper fix but to just see if it runs and such it would work.

Some replace it (its expensive) but others just bypass it.

i was planning on replacing the battery cable from an x5 at the junkyard. do i replace the cable in the trunk or the one under the hood. i just wanna mention, that if i connect a jump starter to the terminals under the hood, i get no power to the car, but if i connect the jump starter to the terminals in the trunk, i do get power.

again, thanks for the info.

You replace the cable starting at the trunk and working forward to where it connects.


The reason your getting power at the back and not the front when connecting jumper cables has to do with how the connector works.

In the event of a wreck the explosive charge in the battery terminal explodes forcing the main battery cable out of the housing. The smaller wires provide power to the blinkers, windows and such. The large cable that is disconnected in the wreck powers the starter, fuel pump and connects to jumper post under the hood.

Thus with the explosive connector exploded the main large cable is disconnected from the battery. So when you connect under the hood with jumper cables that cable has been disconnected from the battery in the back. The smaller wires power the lights and such so you can get out of the car and have warning lights and such in the event of a wreck. So with the connector exploded those small wires are still connected and that's why the interior lights up with jumper cables connected to the battery in the back.

Let me create a webpage to explain this better. Give me a few minutes.

Easier to describe it as two circuits from the battery terminal and one has been disconnected... :-)

What fun is that though :)

Ok see if this helps. I will fill it in more tonight but this should give you and idea of what your dealing with.

BST Battery Safety Terminal | Crowz Nest