help please

[X5 4.6IS 2003]

Hi all
ok i drove the car last night for the 1st time in about a week on a short trip of about 15 minutes and on the way home i put the heating on for the 1st time since i bought the car.
I could not get any hot air out of it at all so that is problem no1, whilst i was playing with it after i pulled up just round the corner from my house the sat nav screen went blank, the red battery warning light, abs warnibg light and mabe a few others came so i thought sugar best get it home, when i started of i heard a bang like itn jumped out of gear and i got a message saying trans failsafe or something like that, it was down hilll on the way home but whenn i tried to drive up my drive it seemed to be in the wrong gear,
I then whent it the house got my manual then tried to start it but just a clicking noise and would not start, now i fitted a new Bosch S5 battery a week or so ago and the last owner fitted a new battery in august, i then went inside to bang my head against a wall, when the sicknes feeling died down i came back out (2 hours later) and it started 1st time with no message showing

I have been reading the other threads on this and gather that it is most probably going to be an alternator problem is this right? if so how is best to test it? and if knackered can anyone help with advice where is best to get a replacement from please?
I have also had the boot light staying so i don't know if this is linked

oh the joys right on the back of buying four new tyres :sad1:

[Raj]

Hmm. Could be alternator, starter motor, FSR. All basically cause the same sort of issues. I'd be inclined towards the FSR and alternator. My very similar and Condors issues were down to the alternator playing up. We were both lucky though as we both had AUC warranty so Sytner Sutton Coldfield happily investigated and then replaced the alternator.

[X5 4.6IS 2003]

Thanks Raj, that's what i was thinking i will have a play at the weekend.

Do you test it using the terminals in the engine bay or direct onto the battery?

[CondorX5]

Mine was initially really unnerving -I changed the battery as its not unheard of to get all those faults from a dying battery and mine was the original BMW battery in an 05 plate 4.8is.  The fault remained and became a daily feature, quite unnerving.  Luckily, Raj had had a very similar issue with his 4.8 and Sytner Sutton had done a load of fault finding under the AUC warranty and finally installed a new alternator which cured everything. This made the process a LOT shorter for me -they were really helpful, gave me a loaner and kept the X for most of the week during which they installed a brand new alternator and hey presto great relief back to normal.

If you do not have an AUC warranty it can be a pricey troubleshooting exercise, though, be warned, the alternator is a ridiculous price and you need diagnostics to exclude other faults as well. Basically its an exclusion process, as the alternator is pricey you would want to exclude battery faults etc first.

Thank heavens for Raj's advice and support and Sytner Sutton in my case !

[dark_stranger]

A while back, my car would fail to start after a week of sitting around. Thought it was because the battery was undersized and planned to renew it. Anyway, driving the car one day and all of a sudden, dash board light after dash board light came on and eventually the car lost power and died. The AA man confirmed it was the alternator, so replaced alternator. The alternator cost about £350 DIY fitted, BMW wanted £700 to install/fit. This partially fixed the issue, but I think where the battery was undersized it overworked the alternator, plus the battery didn't hold enough charge for the car, so also replace the battery to a large Bosch battery for about £90. Touch wood every thing seems fine now, but the car was off the road for about a month trying to get an alternator with the correct voltage/ampage to match the original one.

[Raj]

[quote="X5 4.6IS 2003"]
Thanks Raj, that's what i was thinking i will have a play at the weekend.

Do you test it using the terminals in the engine bay or direct onto the battery?
[/quote]

You can test from either tbh. Unless it is doing it all the time I think you may find that when you test all seems fine. Have to admit I never had an issue with no heating though so may be worth changing the FSR to start.

[X5 4.6IS 2003]

Thanks guys

Raj, would the FSR stop the hot air only as the fan seems to blow ok but only cool air

I will be having a look at it in the morning

Cheers

Terry

[X5 4.6IS 2003]

Hi
i have tested the car by reving to 2000rpm and pit a meter accros the terminals, i got between 13v - 13.3v with no electric working.

I then did the same but with all the electrics on and only got about 9.8v - 11v does this mean the alternator is definatly  knackered?

Has anyone tried to repair an alternator before as i'm thinking it should be repairable unless the windings have gone.

[Horizon]

If the alternator isnt noisy, IE the bearings are OK. It maybe the onboard voltage regulator.
Many auto electrical shops will be able to overhaul your original unit. There are some listed on ebay, I think you need a 140Amp one for the X5
If you take it off, or taske the car to them,r get a mobile Auto Elec they will test it for you.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-BMW ... 231cc6bf48

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-320-E46-2 ... 1c2f12ee07

[X5 4.6IS 2003]

Thanks horizon, i have also ordered a new FSR as i can hear a very faint buzzing from behind the heating controls when the car is switched off, coupled with no hot air blowing and a rather week air flow so i though best change it,
I will fit that then re-test the alternator just in case is is causing the problems and if still the same i will remove the alternator and test it through a panel

[Raj]

Apologies for the delay. Hmmm from the readings it may well be alternator. But as highlighted above the regulator could also be an issue but from experience I'd certainly change the FSR due to the fan issue because if this is the issue then the alternator is being diverted to this for example as opposed to the rest of the car.

Change the FSR and test again.

[X5 4.6IS 2003]

Cheers Raj, New FSR should be with me by Friday so will get it fitted and test again, if still the same i will attempt to repair alternator as i can test these in work, i imagine as long as the windings are ok it will be an easy fix i.e bearings, regulator, brushes & a comutator skim.
The price of a recon alternator i may just start repairing these for a living )

Cheers
Terry

[jaynana]

does the FSR drain power even when teh car is switched off?

[Sanj]

[quote="jaynana"]
does the FSR drain power even when teh car is switched off?
[/quote]

Yes

[Ubatoid]

[quote="X5 4.6IS 2003"]
Hi
i have tested the car by reving to 2000rpm and pit a meter accros the terminals, i got between 13v - 13.3v with no electric working.

I then did the same but with all the electrics on and only got about 9.8v - 11v does this mean the alternator is definatly  knackered?

Has anyone tried to repair an alternator before as i'm thinking it should be repairable unless the windings have gone.
[/quote]

Those readings are well down. I would expect to see  14 v running.