Just a click? And chargers?

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   Why does the e23 (or other M30 engine's) suffer from this.

When you turn the key, all you get is the click from the autobox, & no starting?

I've heard it can be a common problem. If I connecvt the battery up to a booster, it engages fine, and starts on the button. Is this a simple case of a battery drain, or is it a problem with the ignition switch (as mention on other sites)?

I don't start the car everyday, so I suspect a slightly down on power battery, so may invest in a solar charger,

Has anybody used oneof these, I know they are big in the states.

Ta

AG

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M3AG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II 7 series & e36 m3 registrar! (Madness) Joined: 17-October-2002 Location: Good Old Hertfordshire Status: Offline Points: 1644	Topic: Just a click? And chargers? Posted: 13-April-2005 at 15:07
	Why does the e23 (or other M30 engine's) suffer from this. When you turn the key, all you get is the click from the autobox, & no starting? I've heard it can be a common problem. If I connecvt the battery up to a booster, it engages fine, and starts on the button. Is this a simple case of a battery drain, or is it a problem with the ignition switch (as mention on other sites)? I don't start the car everyday, so I suspect a slightly down on power battery, so may invest in a solar charger, Has anybody used oneof these, I know they are big in the states. Ta AG

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Tetleysmooth Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 01-February-2005 Location: Rainham, Essex Status: Offline Points: 236	Posted: 13-April-2005 at 15:27
	AG, d'you remember when we met at Philips' house, I told you how to start the car by bridging two of the terminals on the service re-set plug? I had the two terminals painted on my EX, but alas it is no longer, but I think looking at the plug from the front. it's the third hole from the left and second from the right. The car must be in park or neutral when you do this as it by-passes the inhibitor switch. Works every time. I used long nosed pliers-insulated- to form the bridge.
	If you've got it, a lorry brought it.

M3AG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II 7 series & e36 m3 registrar! (Madness) Joined: 17-October-2002 Location: Good Old Hertfordshire Status: Offline Points: 1644	Posted: 13-April-2005 at 16:47
	Thanks Dave It does start, I just want to found out what the problem is that creates the problem when it happens! I'll find out the terminals I need to look at. AG

Philip Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II E23 the forgotten 80s BMW Joined: 28-January-2005 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 1425	Posted: 13-April-2005 at 17:23
	AG - not sure why you think the autobox is clicking when you turn the key??? Rob will tell us exactly what makes those clicking sounds when you turn the key to the Ign position. I think its the main & fuel pump relays clicking into life, plus maybe the injectors click as they receive power from the relays. if a battery booster gets the car going then surely low battery output is the problem??? batteries hate not being used every day (this was partly my E32's problem) UK weather may not make solar panel viable??? have you considered a permanently connected fully automatic battery conditioner/charger. about �25 from argos etc. connect it up and it keeps the battery fully topped up without overloading anything. a godsend to all cars that are not in use daily.
	Philip '86 E23 735iA SE - Polaris - The Silver Surfer '85 E23 735iA SE - Cosmos Blue - VJ '86 E28 528iA SE - Dia Black - Helga '86 E23 728iA SE - Polaris - The CHAV mobile

bmw1066 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II GOOD OLD E23 Joined: 16-January-2005 Location: West Sussex Nr Brighton Status: Offline Points: 1095	Posted: 13-April-2005 at 18:22
	flat battrey not enouth in it to start the car the clicking is the starter moter trying to work. Charg the battery and then try it, you could have a battrey drain, If you put a moltey meater betrean the neg termal and the battery withe it disconected you will soon see. all so see what the out put is on the battery should be 12.5 volte or there aboutes and when the car is runing you should be getting over 13 volts.
	Mark 735 se 1982 RED BARON A E23 is for life not just for x-mas BMW e34 530 v8 Sport kit Spelling always Bad

robs e23 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member I Joined: 28-January-2005 Location: colchester essex Status: Offline Points: 498	Posted: 13-April-2005 at 19:38
	ag,when you turn the key and it clicks and dosent start, its the solonoide in the starter motor. you have a sticking starter motor. as its not used very much it has a tendansey to stick somtimes. if you got that other new starter motor off ebay change it for that one. its not the battery unless the battery was totaly dead then it would do the same thing. the battery will drain slightley over a period of two weeks. its best to run the engine once a week for about 5 mins just to keep things tip top. these engines dont like to keep idle for to long they suffer from valve stem fatique from sitting around not running. or if you dont want to change the starter yet, wait till you get the car running it will then losen up the solonide when used on a daily basis. other clicking sounds you will hear are what philip said, fuel pump relay enagising to start the car...hope this helps rob..

M3AG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II 7 series & e36 m3 registrar! (Madness) Joined: 17-October-2002 Location: Good Old Hertfordshire Status: Offline Points: 1644	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 03:13
	Cheers all It's not the starter motor solenoid, I've had that before on another car, the only click that is heard is from the gearbox/transmission tunnel area, so more than likely the inhibitor switch if anything. Apparently this is a problem that can affect M30 engines as they get older (according to my local BMW man). Apparently the solar chargers just take UV rays, and can charge these days even under heavy cloud cover? But I may go for the item Phil suggested. The thing is, it can start OK, then the next evening I would have to connect the booster and with one turn of the key it will fire into life. So wether the battery is failing/losing current I don't know. AG Edited by M3AG

eta. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 21-October-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 599	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 03:42
	Andrew, I had this on my 735 (the almost ready to go back on the road one). It is your battery. I have had a new BM battery fitted and she starts first go even after standing for weeks. My understanding is that BM built in a circuit or solenoid that prevented someone completely draining the battery if the car failed to start, presumably to leave sufficent power to operate c/l and instrumentation.

M3AG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II 7 series & e36 m3 registrar! (Madness) Joined: 17-October-2002 Location: Good Old Hertfordshire Status: Offline Points: 1644	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 04:10
	Patrick, cheers for this, but the battery is new! Your car ready yet?

robs e23 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member I Joined: 28-January-2005 Location: colchester essex Status: Offline Points: 498	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 04:33
	ag, then its got to be the gearbox solenoid, daves idea will work but the cure the fault is the best way.. but if this was the gearbox solenoid then you would get no click if it wasent working it would just be the same as if you were trying to start the car in drive, nothing. Edited by robs e23

M3AG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II 7 series & e36 m3 registrar! (Madness) Joined: 17-October-2002 Location: Good Old Hertfordshire Status: Offline Points: 1644	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 04:38
	I agree Rob, how do I get to it? is it on top of the box?

robs e23 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member I Joined: 28-January-2005 Location: colchester essex Status: Offline Points: 498	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 04:56
	i havent seen the one on mine so i dont know.the gearbox solenoid dosent make any noise ag. im not saying its not this but i still think its the starter motor. the gearbox solenoid will either be on the bottom or slightly up the top but you will have to use ramps to get to it. its usually on the passenger side, bolted in to the gearbox with a 8 or 10mil bolt.

Philip Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II E23 the forgotten 80s BMW Joined: 28-January-2005 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 1425	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 04:59
	sorry to sound really thick, but was is the function of the gearbox solenoid? Is this the Neutral Safety Switch that is located at the base of the gear shifter?
	Philip '86 E23 735iA SE - Polaris - The Silver Surfer '85 E23 735iA SE - Cosmos Blue - VJ '86 E28 528iA SE - Dia Black - Helga '86 E23 728iA SE - Polaris - The CHAV mobile

M3AG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II 7 series & e36 m3 registrar! (Madness) Joined: 17-October-2002 Location: Good Old Hertfordshire Status: Offline Points: 1644	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 05:00
	It prevents the car from starting in gear. Definatley not the noise associated with the starter, but I will check it out. The click definatley sounds like the noise you get when, say, you have the switch selected to Sport, and when the key is turned it clicks back to Economy setting. The noise sounds like it's to my left, and under the transmission tunnel. Edited by M3AG

robs e23 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member I Joined: 28-January-2005 Location: colchester essex Status: Offline Points: 498	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 05:06
	ag, if thats the case, its worth changing this first. then if it still does it try moving the gear selecter through the gears then back into park then try starting it then. it might be the gearbox selecter needs ajusting, in fact try that first then see what happens..

M3AG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II 7 series & e36 m3 registrar! (Madness) Joined: 17-October-2002 Location: Good Old Hertfordshire Status: Offline Points: 1644	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 06:00
	OK Will do, & by the looks of it, the transmission trim etc has been disturbed before, so perhaps this has been looked at unsuccesfully (or just bodged I expect!)

Philip Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II E23 the forgotten 80s BMW Joined: 28-January-2005 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 1425	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 06:11
	AG - there is an excellent step by step guide on dismantling the trim around the gear shifter to gain access to the NSS. its on the bimmerboard. I have it on hard copy at home. How badly bodgered are your trims? if the wood panel around the gear shifter lifts off its been bodgered, to gain access. they are fixed permanently in place and should really be removed by dismantling the whole centre console area. VJ has been totally bodgered (surprise surprise) and the wood panel will lift off as its just got blu-tack holding it down. the upside of this vandalism is that I can access the NSS if needs be. do not smash the little plastic trim that holds the EH switch. they have plastic lugs on them that are so easy to break. I bought VJ a new one for �17 as the old one was ruined. you need a tiny crosshead screwdriver to undo the screws. see the bimmerboard for full info.
	Philip '86 E23 735iA SE - Polaris - The Silver Surfer '85 E23 735iA SE - Cosmos Blue - VJ '86 E28 528iA SE - Dia Black - Helga '86 E23 728iA SE - Polaris - The CHAV mobile

M3AG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II 7 series & e36 m3 registrar! (Madness) Joined: 17-October-2002 Location: Good Old Hertfordshire Status: Offline Points: 1644	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 06:22
	cheers Phil The trim around the gear lever is loose, and could do with replacing anyhow, so maybe I'll rectify that at the same time. AG

eta. Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 21-October-2002 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 599	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 08:08
	Andrew, has your B10 got an aftermarket immobiliser or alarm. Mine had one and that was stripped out as i suspected current drain. Now whether it's the new battery or the removal of that aftermarket stuff i don't know - all I do know is, no more 'click'!

M3AG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II 7 series & e36 m3 registrar! (Madness) Joined: 17-October-2002 Location: Good Old Hertfordshire Status: Offline Points: 1644	Posted: 14-April-2005 at 09:26
	It does have a rather intricate alarm system on it, that arms itself after a minute or so, and I think this does drain the battery a bit if the car is not used for a few days. Much to do.......................