[Lex G]

Car was completely dead, after getting the battery up to 13v i tried starting the car and it makes a weird noise and the battery voltage goes back down to 3v! Any ideas/help? Thank you!

https://youtube.com/shorts/YZmBasGYifY

[Billfitz]

I can't hear any noise, but the symptom is possibly a bad starter or starter solenoid.

[328iX]

13v doesn't mean enough amps, try a new battery first if not further diagnose, any codes?

[Lex G]

Originally Posted by 328iX

13v doesn't mean enough amps, try a new battery first if not further diagnose, any codes?

Brand new battery from bmw and registered like a month ago, no codes present, car simply dies once i lock it.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by 328iX

try a new battery first

If I had a dollar for every time someone said 'you need a new battery' without any confirming data to suggest that it might be the problem I'd be driving an M5.

[BimR]

Originally Posted by Lex G

Brand new battery from bmw and registered like a month ago, no codes present, car simply dies once i lock it.

I'm no expert but it doesn't sound like the engine is turning over. Not a battery issue. Has the car been in rain or did you have the engine compartment hosed? Obviously I'm guessing here ... :

[Lex G]

Originally Posted by BimR

I'm no expert but it doesn't sound like the engine is turning over. Not a battery issue. Has the car been in rain or did you have the engine compartment hosed? Obviously I'm guessing here ... :

Took the the car to Vegas, some rain on the way there. Possibly it got somewhere underneath the car?

[328iX]

Originally Posted by BimR

I'm no expert but it doesn't sound like the engine is turning over. Not a battery issue. Has the car been in rain or did you have the engine compartment hosed? Obviously I'm guessing here ... :

I believe a battery is required to engage the starter to turn the engine.

LOL


Try whacking the starter and try over. Possible stuck solenoid.

[328iX]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

If I had a dollar for every time someone said 'you need a new battery' without any confirming data to suggest that it might be the problem I'd be driving an M5.

Says the guy telling him to get a starter.


Which according to my research (common sense)

Is way more than a battery.

You can diagnose and troubleshoot starters as well.

[Lex G]

Gonna get a trickle charger to get voltage back up on battery then do some diagnosing!!!

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by 328iX

Says the guy telling him to get a starter.

I didn't tell him to get a starter, I told him it might be the starter, or the starter solenoid. It appears that as soon as he pushed the starter button that something caused a very high power drain. The two components in the car most likely to do that, being connected directly to the battery and enabled with the starter switch, are the starter and the started solenoid. That's where I'd look first in the process of elimination to find the problem. To say that since the starter doesn't turn over he needs a new battery isn't the least bit sensible.

[328iX]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I didn't tell him to get a starter, I told him it might be the starter, or the starter solenoid. It appears that as soon as he pushed the starter button that something caused a very high power drain. The two components in the car most likely to do that, being connected directly to the battery and enabled with the starter switch, are the starter and the started solenoid. That's where I'd look first in the process of elimination to find the problem. To say that since the starter doesn't turn over he needs a new battery isn't the least bit sensible.

This is the problem with e-diagnosis

Generally speaking 9/10 a car that won't crank is the battery, which I see he's addressed..

At a certain voltage threshold these vehicle's won't even attempt to crank unlike other cars with a physical twist key

[BimR]

Hope you figure this out OP. Maybe whack the solenoid or kick the tires. The latter doesn't do much but I have seen that in the movies.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Get yourself a Tonya Harding and tap gently.

[Lex G]

If i were to replace the starter what brand would yall recommend the OEM for N55 is around $500 including core charge and shipping. Obviously still have to remove the intake manifold and see if its the starter. Also, does anyone know the location of the ground strap for the F30? Did some researching and that might be a problem as well. Thanks!

[dmaxdmax]

A ground is a decent guess, OP, as could something stupid, as simple as a loose clamp on the battery...and since yours was replaced recently, that 'is' possible...though admittedly not too likely.

I don't know where the ground is exactly, but you're probably looking for a 1/2" wide braided cable somewhere from the bottom of the engine to the chassis...so probably would need to remove the underskirt.

Check also the +terminal under the hood (where you connect a jumper cable or charger)...they can get loose...and I believe they link directly to the starter.

Start with easy and cheap solutions first before you start thinking/worrying about replacing a starter.

[culpability]

FWIW, my battery recently died, and I tried to start it before getting the battery fully charged again and the car went absolutely bezerk. Threw tons of codes, lights were flashing, was making all kinds of hellacious noises all over the car. Was super worried I'd shorted out every computer on the vehicle.

So... maybe just try leaving it on the trickle charger for 48 hours or something before panicking and assuming the worst. Entirely possible you just didn't get it charged enough. I also once had a AAA guy tell me that despite BMW's recommendation to use the connection ports in the engine bay, you should always hook up any jumper cables or battery chargers up directly to the battery. But I won't vouch for that recommendation myself.

[Lex G]

Originally Posted by culpability

FWIW, my battery recently died, and I tried to start it before getting the battery fully charged again and the car went absolutely bezerk. Threw tons of codes, lights were flashing, was making all kinds of hellacious noises all over the car. Was super worried I'd shorted out every computer on the vehicle.

So... maybe just try leaving it on the trickle charger for 48 hours or something before panicking and assuming the worst. Entirely possible you just didn't get it charged enough. I also once had a AAA guy tell me that despite BMW's recommendation to use the connection ports in the engine bay, you should always hook up any jumper cables or battery chargers up directly to the battery. But I won't vouch for that recommendation myself.

Tried attaching trickle charger to jump ports under the hood and wasnt getting anything. Used the force mode on the NOCO GENIUS 5 to raise volts on battery and still didnt work.

[BWbimmer]

Originally Posted by Lex G

Took the the car to Vegas, some rain on the way there. Possibly it got somewhere underneath the car?

Since you had the battery replaced, did you check if the terminals are screwed on propperly? Maybe the guys form the dealer made a mistake.

[Billfitz]

Check the wiring between the posts and the battery. You'll have to disconnect the positive lug at the battery, run the charger, see if there's voltage at the battery lug. Once you've got the battery exposed you can charge it direct as well, to be sure it's not defective. That's rare, but it can happen.

[culpability]

Originally Posted by Lex G

Tried attaching trickle charger to jump ports under the hood and wasnt getting anything. Used the force mode on the NOCO GENIUS 5 to raise volts on battery and still didnt work.

If you haven't tried hooking up directly to the battery yet, I would do that. It is located in the trunk on the passenger side behind an easily removed piece of trim. as suggested by others, could very easily be something loose or wrong between the battery and the engine bay jump ports.

[Lex G]

The previous battery completely died after coming back from a trip to Vegas. Not sure if the colder weather had something to do with it doubt it. Bought a brand new battery from BMW then a couple weeks after it died again.