Car shuts down : engine + electronics (new battery and new alternator)

[Dan Alex]

Are there any E53s left, besides mine? Or is it that everyone just scrapped them for metal ?

If there are, here it goes : A few weeks ago, after an alternator change and battery, but ONLY WHEN IDLING after coming to a stop (and only in these conditions) the car just dies (motor, AC, navi, telephone) but not LIGHTS. The sequence is : driving/red light/brake brake/stop/ dies immediately.

+++ I KNOW , I SHOULD NOT BRAKE FOR RED LIGHTS+++ )
But let's assume i do,

Happened 3 times today, and during the last few weeks, only 2 times. So, it is getting worse.
No errors, no nothing.

Stealership said they would have to take the whole car apart and check every bit of wiring. (am waiting for a proforma but it's probably somewhere around 1,200 Eur/GBP from their estimates)

Now, i'm thinking this is a good time to take suggestions !  :wall: :wall: :wall:

[graemeX5]

Hi

You say you have checked the and have no errors so I assume from that you have a code reader of some sorts of check the cars obd port.

I am no expert, and years ago with carburettors I would have said the idle was wrong but with fuel injection that rarely goes wrong.

Does it do it every time you come to a rest? Or just when you do sharp stops? Poss worth checking if fuel is getting through OK as it could be the fuel pump.  Checking the connections as cars have an emergency cut of in the event of an accident and it could have been a sharp stop or even bumping up a kerb can do it and it has triggered that, or more likely a loose connection or corrosion on the cables to the pump.

If not that the only other thing that comes to mind if the fuel supply from the pump is cutting out and is poss fuel filter is clogged is where I would have a check.

Hope that helps a bit and yes you are the only forum member left with an E53 )
Graeme

[henrym3]

I assume the car starts up straight away and then drives ok until next time. check all your earth leads ie those between the chassis and the engine block. Even if they look ok disconnect them clean the area and reconnect. Same with battery leads, even though it's new. Don't forget the DME earth. Take the plug out of the DME and check it isn't corroded. Good Luck.

[Dan Alex]

[quote="graemeX5"]
Hi

You say you have checked the and have no errors so I assume from that you have a code reader of some sorts of check the cars obd port. - the stealership has done several checks, both times (back a few weeks ago, now also...also checked and cleaned idle regulator valve or some sort

I am no expert, and years ago with carburettors I would have said the idle was wrong but with fuel injection that rarely goes wrong.

Does it do it every time you come to a rest? No, only some times..... Or just when you do sharp stops? it doesn't matter, it's randomPoss worth checking if fuel is getting through OK as it could be the fuel pump.  Checking the connections as cars have an emergency cut of in the event of an accident and it could have been a sharp stop or even bumping up a kerb can do it and it has triggered that, or more likely a loose connection or corrosion on the cables to the pump. - ok, some interventions were made on the fuel pump... i fitted a gps on the car in the event that i got stolen, could be a loose connection indeed to the fuel pump, but that doesn't explain why the AC/teleph/navi go out

If not that the only other thing that comes to mind if the fuel supply from the pump is cutting out and is poss fuel filter is clogged is where I would have a check.

Hope that helps a bit and yes you are the only forum member left with an E53 ) now i can rest assured, i'm all too special ))) THE SPECIAL ONE, mourihno or what was his name ))
Graeme
[/quote]

[Smeeagain]

[quote="Dan Alex"]
Are there any E53s left, besides mine? Or is it that everyone just scrapped them for metal ?

If there are, here it goes : A few weeks ago, after an alternator change and battery, but ONLY WHEN IDLING after coming to a stop (and only in these conditions) the car just dies (motor, AC, navi, telephone) but not LIGHTS. The sequence is : driving/red light/brake brake/stop/ dies immediately.

+++ I KNOW , I SHOULD NOT BRAKE FOR RED LIGHTS+++ )
But let's assume i do,

Happened 3 times today, and during the last few weeks, only 2 times. So, it is getting worse.
No errors, no nothing.

Stealership said they would have to take the whole car apart and check every bit of wiring. (am waiting for a proforma but it's probably somewhere around 1,200 Eur/GBP from their estimates)

Now, i'm thinking this is a good time to take suggestions !  :wall: :wall: :wall:
[/quote]

I had a very similar problem many years ago with another car. The car dies when I turned a left corner (seriously). For a while I went a very long way to work making right hand turns only. Turned out the battery lead was loose. When i turned left the car leaned on the suspension and the connection was lost at the battery. Sounds like you have a similar fault .....

[Dan Alex]

It would be fantastic to be that simple.....and is one of the items on the checklist....however, the lights stay on.

I'm thinking there must be a link between the engine module, navi module, telephone module, AC. It's funny that they're on the same axis.

Thought about the fuel pump, ok, could be, but that doesn't explain why the power goes out.

It basically narrows down to this : the link between these modules. It's not the main power supply, otherwise the lights would also go out.

What is the link between engine, AC, NAVI, telephone ? There must be a harness/or  some wires that connects all these .

It started after replacing the alternator ! A few days afterwards.

[henrym3]

Perhaps all of those modules need the same as everything else. A good earth?

[Horizon]

[quote="Dan Alex"]
It would be fantastic to be that simple.....and is one of the items on the checklist....however, the lights stay on.

I'm thinking there must be a link between the engine module, navi module, telephone module, AC. It's funny that they're on the same axis.

Thought about the fuel pump, ok, could be, but that doesn't explain why the power goes out.

It basically narrows down to this : the link between these modules. It's not the main power supply, otherwise the lights would also go out.


There have been reports previously of faulty ignition switches causing power problems to lights / engine electrics etc


What is the link between engine, AC, NAVI, telephone ? There must be a harness/or  some wires hat connects all these .

It started after replacing the alternator ! A few days afterwards.
[/quote]
Please see text box above, didn't scroll to bottom of msg before replying

[graemeX5]

[quote="Dan Alex"]
It would be fantastic to be that simple.....and is one of the items on the checklist....however, the lights stay on.

I'm thinking there must be a link between the engine module, navi module, telephone module, AC. It's funny that they're on the same axis.

Thought about the fuel pump, ok, could be, but that doesn't explain why the power goes out.

It basically narrows down to this : the link between these modules. It's not the main power supply, otherwise the lights would also go out.

What is the link between engine, AC, NAVI, telephone ? There must be a harness/or  some wires that connects all these .

It started after replacing the alternator ! A few days afterwards.
[/quote]

Hi Dan

I have had a think and the AC nav and telephone work on the switched live side of the ignition I.e. Position two, where as I think the lights work whether the key is in the ignition and on or not, so in effect the auxiliary position of the ignition switch I.e when you first put the key in the ignition or position one, before the dash lights come on and the AC or stereo nav or phone would normally come on.

It may be worth a search on that subject as I'm sure I read about a fault ignition switch on here a while back, but that is a guess.

There is a link below but these are complicated and expensive cars and just replacing bits is hit and miss, I would pay out and get it diagnosed by BMW or an Indy that way you can get it fixed quickly and drive safely again.

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... l#msg83726

Graeme

[Dan Alex]

[quote="graemeX5"]
[quote="Dan Alex"]
It would be fantastic to be that simple.....and is one of the items on the checklist....however, the lights stay on.

I'm thinking there must be a link between the engine module, navi module, telephone module, AC. It's funny that they're on the same axis.

Thought about the fuel pump, ok, could be, but that doesn't explain why the power goes out.

It basically narrows down to this : the link between these modules. It's not the main power supply, otherwise the lights would also go out.

What is the link between engine, AC, NAVI, telephone ? There must be a harness/or  some wires that connects all these .

It started after replacing the alternator ! A few days afterwards.
[/quote]

Hi Dan

I have had a think and the AC nav and telephone work on the switched live side of the ignition I.e. Position two, where as I think the lights work whether the key is in the ignition and on or not, so in effect the auxiliary position of the ignition switch I.e when you first put the key in the ignition or position one, before the dash lights come on and the AC or stereo nav or phone would normally come on.

It may be worth a search on that subject as I'm sure I read about a fault ignition switch on here a while back, but that is a guess.

There is a link below but these are complicated and expensive cars and just replacing bits is hit and miss, I would pay out and get it diagnosed by BMW or an Indy that way you can get it fixed quickly and drive safely again.

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... l#msg83726

Graeme
[/quote]

Hi Graeme,

That indeed could be a stroke of genius !!! The position has been getting ever so sensitive, to the extent where  i don't feel the stops anymore in the course of turning the engine on !

But there are no faults that could be identified electrically/electronically, except the one which is mechanical, precisely the one indicated by you. The stealership and indy both said could be something electrical, which does not yield any faults, but nobody thought about the key ignition.

Definitely will check it out !!!