[BrennanF30]

Guys could some BMW mechanic/technician please help.

My F30 will not start sometimes when I push the button.

When I push the button sometimes I hear a click and ‘ignition fault, vehicle cannot be started’ comes up on the dash screen. If I push the button again the car will start.

I got the car read by BMW diagnostic software and it is showing these fault codes

2A8800 - Engine speed picks up too slowly in an automatic start, or no driver detected during starting operation.

2A8900 - MSA: Starting system not activated or automatic engine starting time unacceptably.

I am very concerned about this so if someone could help me understand what the fault is, that would be great thanks.

[BrennanF30]

Surely there are some guys on here who know what these codes are?

[Eddamoo]

I've never seen codes like them before, but it looks like a starter issue to me. If you hear a click, that is usually the starter solenoid engaging the main power line to the motor. If the starter doesn't spin, its either seized or the voltage is too low or the wires cannot pass sufficient current (bad connection).

I would start off by checking battery voltage during a start - an old dying battery can cause many gremlins - especially startup related.

Im not sure if its possible to lubricate the solenoid but thats where i'd next be looking.

[BrennanF30]

Originally Posted by Eddamoo

I've never seen codes like them before, but it looks like a starter issue to me. If you hear a click, that is usually the starter solenoid engaging the main power line to the motor. If the starter doesn't spin, its either seized or the voltage is too low or the wires cannot pass sufficient current (bad connection).

I would start off by checking battery voltage during a start - an old dying battery can cause many gremlins - especially startup related.

Im not sure if its possible to lubricate the solenoid but thats where i'd next be looking.

It’s just had a brand new AGM start/stop battery 3 weeks ago so I don’t think it would be the battery

[thescouselander]

Are the battery terminals done up properly?

[dholdi2]

no driver detected during starting operation - seat switch ?

[hilift]

Also may be worth checking the actual cranking amps of the battery ,you will need a battery load tester . it may be a poor battery new don't mean it's 100% .

[Eddamoo]

Dare I ask, this this problem start after the battery change??

[dizzy619]

Was the battery coded after fitting?

[BrennanF30]

Guys the problem started before the battery was changed, the original battery was dying and was giving lots of ‘under voltage’ fault codes, so I bought a new battery and got it fitted and coded to the car and also cleared the fault codes.

The ignition problem disappeared for a few weeks so I thought the new battery had cured it, now the ignition problem has come back and there are only a couple of codes on the diagnostics but they are new ones, the ones I have listed above.

Im thinking it could be the starter motor needing replaced?

[JohnCena123]

Dear guys,

I too am getting "Starter/ignition fault. Engine cannot be started" message in my 320d F30 (2012) model. The car isn't starting with jump start also. It just gives a single click sound and nothing except for the above message. Is it the ignition fuse problem? Plz help....

Thanks

[KM79]

Sounds highly
Like a starter motor fault pal.When you say you here a click can you identify it as coming from the engine Bay Area or from inside the car?

[JohnCena123]

Click sound comes from the engine bay. Which one is the starter motor fuse and where is it located? I wish to eliminate all possibilities before getting down to the starter motor replacement! Thanks for your help pal.

[JohnCena123]

Originally Posted by KM79

Sounds highly
Like a starter motor fault pal.When you say you here a click can you identify it as coming from the engine Bay Area or from inside the car?

The click sound comes from the engine bay. Is there any possibility that the starter fuse is bad? Which one is the starter fuse in the fuse box on the engine bay?
Shall be glad for your help.

[KM79]

Unlikely has blown as I don’t ever recall seeing one do that.However if you want to check the ‘fuse’ is inside the battery positive distribution block which is bolted on top of the battery.The links inside ,if blown,are not replaceable if I recall and requires a new distribution unit.If you have a multimeter you can check the outputs on each branch of the unit for 12v

[JohnCena123]

Thank you for your suggestion.
Eventually I got a local workshop guy bring in his Launch x431 Pro scanner and the moment he cleared all the fault codes the engine jumped to life and purred as a docile cat
So it came as an enlightenment that the fault codes may even cause serious starting problems. The error codes crept in when I got a new battery installed a few months back.

[3-GT]

I had a starting issue on my old E87. Turned out to be a corroded earthing strap.

It's just a game of process of elimination.

Do you have a multimeter to check the battery's state of charge?

[JohnCena123]

I have a simple multimeter that showed that the voltage was alright (12.45 V). To eliminate earthing problem I grounded the engine to the negative terminal through a wire in the engine bay itself but it didn't help.
I was eventually planning to call the flat bed truck to carry my beauty to the dealer 150 Kms away, but opted to try scanning also before seeing it off.
The bet paid off

[drewkelly]

I, too, am experiencing the exact same symptoms. 2013 F30 and when I hit the start button, Starter/Ignition fault comes up on the screen. Single 'click' comes from engine bay. I saw on some other forums that the positive battery post (under the hood, not back at the battery) was loose but I made sure that it was tight and making good connection.

Any updates from others that have experienced?

[BrennanF30]

Originally Posted by drewkelly

I, too, am experiencing the exact same symptoms. 2013 F30 and when I hit the start button, Starter/Ignition fault comes up on the screen. Single 'click' comes from engine bay. I saw on some other forums that the positive battery post (under the hood, not back at the battery) was loose but I made sure that it was tight and making good connection.

Any updates from others that have experienced?

Change your starter motor

[JohnCena123]

Originally Posted by drewkelly

I, too, am experiencing the exact same symptoms. 2013 F30 and when I hit the start button, Starter/Ignition fault comes up on the screen. Single 'click' comes from engine bay. I saw on some other forums that the positive battery post (under the hood, not back at the battery) was loose but I made sure that it was tight and making good connection.

Any updates from others that have experienced?

How frequently do you drive your car? By experience I found that it is the slightly discharged battery which is the culprit and the car gives Ignition fault error which gets removed only through a scanner. The solution is to keep the battery charged all the time. Get a trickle charger and the let the battery charge whenever the car is parked. This will ensure that the car doesn't start gathering random errors due to slowly discharging battery. Perhaps your starter motor and other components are all fine, it is just the battery which is not getting replenished with energy!

[Jay1985]

Originally Posted by drewkelly

I, too, am experiencing the exact same symptoms. 2013 F30 and when I hit the start button, Starter/Ignition fault comes up on the screen. Single 'click' comes from engine bay. I saw on some other forums that the positive battery post (under the hood, not back at the battery) was loose but I made sure that it was tight and making good connection.

Any updates from others that have experienced?

Hi mate have you been sold out this issue on your car? I have a scene card and exact same problem keep taking them to the garage they can’t find anything if you can remessage me i’ll appreciate that