Disaster Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Hi all, I know there's a few petrol heads on here so... My car (BMW E36 1998 coupe) is having a right paddy trying to start in the cold mornings. It almost went this morning after reading the wiki-how on cold starting and another tip such as turning ignition on/off a few times to get the battery juices flowing. But in the end, I still had to jump start it. Are there other things I can do to help get it going - and I've also been looking at heaters... Cheers chaps/chapettes
mac_shinobi Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 @cpjitservices or @twin--turbo Only thing I can think of is 1) Have the car in neutral and push the clutch all the way down and then try and start the car up / turn it over etc ? 2) Get a new car battery, maybe your current battery isn't holding enough amps / watts to actually start ya car up ?? 1
3s-gtech Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Which engine? I'll guess it's the M52 straight six. If you're having these sort of starting issues, it can be a number of things. These cars have a DMF which can break up and release swarf into the starter motor which causes it to fail. You also may have a duff battery! 1
Disaster Posted February 3, 2015 Author Posted February 3, 2015 Sorry I forgot to mention, the battery is about 16 months old, but I think it's just taken a battering the last few starts. It's 4cyl 318i.
3s-gtech Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 The 318 also has a DMF, depending on mileage and wear these can start to break down. Bit of a worst case scenario though. If you're doing very short journeys in this weather, it may be struggling to fully charge before you've arrived at your destination - this hammers it further.
Disaster Posted February 3, 2015 Author Posted February 3, 2015 Cheers for the info. I only do about 6miles on the way to work so not getting a good run. Last winter was quite mild, just waiting for this cold snap to stop. I might resort to parking it on a hill, which is about half a mile away so if I can't get it started, I can bump it.
Oaktech Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 trickle charge it overnight if you can... use something like this... OptiMate.co.uk Double turning the ignition is only any use if it's a diesel as it gives the car 2 blasts of preheater. 1
nikaso Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Second the optimate idea, I use one for my bike and it keeps the battery conditioned even when the temp drops to brass monkey level. The one for my bike also claims it can re-condition slightly damaged batteries so might be worth looking out for that feature if your battery has had a battering.
cpjitservices Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 If your having trouble starting always try and start with clutch dipped... you may need a bigger battery also one with a bigger kick. Aslong as the engine turns fast it should start but if it turns slowly itll just kill the battery. Dont use surestart if you can help it. Just incase anyone suggests it. BM engines dont like surestart. A good battery should last at least 3 years and turning the ignition on and off wont help at all unless you running a diesel. 1
Patrick Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Use a bit of throttle with the clutch down when starting?
CHR1S Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Could also check and re-gap your spark plugs and check your HT leads if you have the tools. Do you get any misfire or hesitation when driving?
crc-ict Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Surely any failure to start which is remedied by a jump start has to point to battery or charging problems? Have you checked/had checked your alternator output? Might not be charging the battery properly leaving it either wanting for charge, or damaged through overcharging.
cpjitservices Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Its probably the cold, it'll of killed the battery i've suffered the same thing in the past 3 weeks! Dont use throttle down trying to start ... youll flood the engine and itll take more work to start it - fuel pump will be pushing fuel through ti the engine and if the engine is only cranking it wont start and will choke. 1
Patrick Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Yeah my bad. Don't use the throttle. Didn't realise it's an old engine. An ECU wouldn't flood the engine but carb will.
cpjitservices Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 (edited) Yeah my bad. Don't use the throttle. Didn't realise it's an old engine. An ECU wouldn't flood the engine but carb will. Actually the ECU doesnt matter if its cranking over fast itll still need fuel and the fuel pump will pump fuel through at a given pressure and the ECU will say ok give me enough fuel to start but unless the engines actually running the ECU wll not tell the fuel to stop flowing if the engine has not started... Carbs ? Is it not injection ? Which you would still flood - you should never try to start a car with throttle down - your making the engine work harder. Clutch depressed fully, Neutral engaged and turn your key... dont hold your key for too long if its not going to start as youll weaken the starter motor. Id almost guarantee you've got a dicky battery, but if you still have the receipt you may still have warranty on it. Edited February 3, 2015 by cpjitservices
seustice Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 I've had similar problems with my 2005 BMW E46 330 diesel. Seems particularly bad on a Monday morning when it hasn't been used all weekend. Automatic as well so bump starting is not an option. Just shelled out nearly £100 for a new battery too.
Patrick Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 I used to have a car that stuttered and spluttered to get going. Little bit of gas and it used burst into life and run fine. It would then idle fine too. Worked for me.
cpjitservices Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 I used to have a car that stuttered and spluttered to get going. Little bit of gas and it used burst into life and run fine. It would then idle fine too. Worked for me. Thats fine but on this occasion it will make things 10 times worse, hes got a duff battery for sure.
pcstru Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 hes got a duff battery for sure. It does sounds like it. A lot of short runs can help reduce the life of the battery so the optimate is a good suggestion too.
mac_shinobi Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Its probably the cold, it'll of killed the battery i've suffered the same thing in the past 3 weeks! Dont use throttle down trying to start ... youll flood the engine and it'll take more work to start it - fuel pump will be pushing fuel through ti the engine and if the engine is only cranking it wont start and will choke. That has been my experience as well so I just ensure car is in neutral with the clutch down and try and start , as @cpjitservices has already suggested. Obviously not trying to do this for too long. If it doesn't start then either the battery or alternator ( battery is flat due to alternator not charging the battery, or the battery is too old and not holding enough current / amps etc in order to start the engine ) Think that is correct ..... Maybe Chris or someone can correct me 1
cpjitservices Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 (edited) That has been my experience as well so I just ensure car is in neutral with the clutch down and try and start , as @cpjitservices has already suggested. Obviously not trying to do this for too long. If it doesn't start then either the battery or alternator ( battery is flat due to alternator not charging the battery, or the battery is too old and not holding enough current / amps etc in order to start the engine ) Think that is correct ..... Maybe Chris or someone can correct me Chances are the cold weather has weakened the battery - I have one in my boot. Battery is two years old but the cold weather has killed it. What you ought to do is when you have a new battery, start the car whip the battery off whilst its running and connect old battery to the car and let the alternator charge it, once charged take it off and put your new battery back on. Charge your old battery so you have at least got a spare charged battery. Albeit wont be anygood in the winter but you have a spare for when its warm. This cold weather can break weak batteries. Ive just paid 65 for a new battery for mine, Charged my old one just incase my new one decided do go iffy. It wont start it in the cold but at least I have A spare when the engine is warm. As above its not that the alternator isnt charging the battery or over charging its a case of weak cells in the battery and the battery isnt holding any charge, or very minimal. It certainly wont be a very good battery if you cant start a petrol engine with it and its charged. Edited February 3, 2015 by cpjitservices 2
unixman_again Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Buy a Lada. Mine would start first turn of the key on the coldest of mornings. It didn't like starting in the hot weather though, although once going it was fine. 1
Disaster Posted February 3, 2015 Author Posted February 3, 2015 Good info here guys, fingers crossed for tomorrow. I'm sure I put my receipt somewhere so will have a look later for it, I know the battery has a 3 year warranty on it. I can't help thinking there there must be an underlying issue that makes the battery have to work twice as hard to start the car, other than it's freezing cold!
cpjitservices Posted February 3, 2015 Posted February 3, 2015 Nope, its plain old and simple, its a weak battery. Take it back and if you can get one with more of a kick and higher amps. You wont have another problem with starting (not with the battery anyway). 1
Disaster Posted February 3, 2015 Author Posted February 3, 2015 Cheers for your help. I've had the car 4 years and I've spent a total of about £300 on repairs, not bad for a car 14 years old and cost less than a grand! I'm hoping I can get through this winter and summer then time for another car, but I imagine this one will plough through for a couple more years yet.
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