E53 3.0d wont crank.

[Bennn]

Long story short. E53 3.0 wouldn't start Thursday night. Started with a jump and drove fine for an hour.

Checked battery voltage sat morning (car hadn't been driven since) battery was low. Started fine 3 times.

Charged the battery with a trickle charge and wouldn't start.

Replaced the battery with a new one still wont start.

Lights ignition and everything else working fine but car wont even turn over.

Any ideas where to start?!

[Alan Gunn]

Check the cable at the jump point for a bad contact.
Also if auto try it in N.

[Bennn]

Cheers. Started fine this morning I put it down to a blip. We've gone out in it to a wedding fayre and now it wont start to let us leave so I'm currently waiting to be recovered.

It's not cranking, doesn't matter which key I use or if its in neutral or park.

To top it off the boot switch has stopped working now too so I have to open it from the inside. Lower release is still working fine.

[Turks]

When running, did you check the charge voltage? It could be alternator on its way out. Otherwise my suggestion would be that the battery is needing replacement as it isn't holding charge...


Turks.

[Bennn]

When running, did you check the charge voltage? It could be alternator on its way out. Otherwise my suggestion would be that the battery is needing replacement as it isn't holding charge...


Turks.

Yes I did mate. Just over 14v when running.

Also checked the voltage drop and it was over 10v when cranking.

I'm pretty sure at this point it isn't battery related as it's too intermittent (I.e. why didn't it start last night but did this morning) and the voltage after12 hours was still over 12.6.

I'm going to get it into my local specialist diagnose it.

I'll update once if/when its sorted.

[X5Sport]

Whilst your specialist is having a look, get them just to check the starter current. If it’s over 180A it might be a sign of starter failure. It’s a known issue (some can try to draw more than 900A!), but won’t stop it cranking unless it drew more than the battery can supply, I could get two starts and then nothing from a fully charged battery. It might not be the issue but if being looked at anyway, worth a check.

[Bennn]

Whilst your specialist is having a look, get them just to check the starter current. If it’s over 180A it might be a sign of starter failure. It’s a known issue (some can try to draw more than 900A!), but won’t stop it cranking unless it drew more than the battery can supply, I could get two starts and then nothing from a fully charged battery. It might not be the issue but if being looked at anyway, worth a check.

Not a bad idea mate. I thought possibly starter motor or maybe ignition switch.

[Bennn]

Well as luck would have it it was dead again this morning.

Other half went out and waited with it to get recovered and it started.

It's now at the specialist who cant find whats wrong.

Doesn't think it's the starter or battery related so he said hell keep trying until it doesn't start this week and hopefully get to the bottom of it.

Apparently there are no error codes stored which could cause the fault, no EWS ones nor any low voltage flags either.

Will update if we ever get to the bottom of it!!

Cheers Ben

[Leslie]

All I can think of is the starter solenoid is on the way out and not pulling in the starter every time ,most other things would show a code.

[Bennn]

All I can think of is the starter solenoid is on the way out and not pulling in the starter every time ,most other things would show a code.

Luckily it wouldn't start this morning while it was there and they've diagnosed it as the starter so it sounds like you are correct.

Should hopefully have it back tomorrow.

Cheers

Ben

[Leslie]

Be good to get it fixed and reliable again or you are always worrying its going to break when you need it on some wet night in a howling gail

[henrym3]

Now come on, is anyone really surprised that X5Sport hit the nail on the head

[Bennn]

Be good to get it fixed and reliable again or you are always worrying its going to break when you need it on some wet night in a howling gail

Exactly mate! I'm just glad the garage persisted with it a bit longer rather than handing it me back and telling me there is nothing wrong with it!

[X5Sport]

Now come on, is anyone really surprised that X5Sport hit the nail on the head

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I’m not that good. Too much time on here reading about other people’s issues. I can’t even get the lottery right.