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COLD STARTING ISSUE

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 12:17 pm
by X5Andym
Advice, help please, I have a very nice E53 4.4 (Year 2005, low mileage 37.000 ) of late I have had starting issues during cold weather,  :(when I try and start the car all the dash light lights up as nom.. OK, turn the key to start the car all light go out and nothing, also no Nav computer screen, switch off and try again same thing, then on the forth fifth time car starts, but still issues with the Nav computer not working as it should, it has been very cold of late, I have not used the car much so not many miles on the clock.

New battery fitted this time last year.

Thank you for any help

Cheers

Andy

Re: COLD STARTING ISSUE

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 3:44 pm
by themoog
I would say another battery. Possibly the ignition switch is playing up. Take it out and dismantle it to clean the contacts.

Re: COLD STARTING ISSUE

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 8:00 pm
by henrym3
my money is on a bad connection at battery or earth lead. If battery is low usually lights will dim, if they go out and come back bright when you remove the load, usually indicates bad connection, normally earth

Re: COLD STARTING ISSUE

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 9:17 pm
by Horizon
[quote="X5Andym"]
Advice, help please, I have a very nice E53 4.4 (Year 2005, low mileage 37.000 ) of late I have had starting issues during cold weather,  :(when I try and start the car all the dash light lights up as nom.. OK, turn the key to start the car all light go out and nothing, also no Nav computer screen, switch off and try again same thing, then on the forth fifth time car starts, but still issues with the Nav computer not working as it should, it has been very cold of late, I have not used the car much so not many miles on the clock.

New battery fitted this time last year.

Thank you for any help

Cheers

Andy
[/quote]

As advised check all earth  and positive high load connections, i.e. Positive large diameter cable from battery to the starter, also earth strap to body and earth strap to engine.
There have been several reports of Magnetti Maranello starters that were fitted to certain X5's giving similar problems. They start to pull massive loads ( amps. ) which the battery cannot take.
Make sure your battery is topped up to the. Ax by leaving it on trickle charge over night.
If you can get hold of a clamp meter that will measure the Max current Amps draw during start up.
Or as also mentioned reports of a couple of dodgy ignition switches throwing random faults, seeing as your satnav sometimes re aims unpowered.
Good luck, maybe an Auto electrician is your best call.

Re: COLD STARTING ISSUE

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2017 11:41 pm
by X5-D-Sport
bad battery connection.

Re: COLD STARTING ISSUE

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 1:43 pm
by pvr
When you say - not used much, could the battery just be drained from non use?

I have mine on a tender for that exact reason.

Re: COLD STARTING ISSUE

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 3:20 pm
by ianst0028
[quote="pvr"]
I have mine on a tender for that exact reason.
[/quote]

I've just misread that completely and wondered why you had yours on Tinder