big elec problem?

[gilb]

need help asap my starters gave up and i dont no if its just coincidence but my electrics are playing up bad the lights are dull if i put high beam on my radio goes off indicate and my temp gauge flutters also thats contantly in the red but its not over heating i was thinking maybe my starter aint gone its just not puttin enough power in to turn it any ideas anyone??

[seanboy]

Tried checking the battery, or if the leads are tight, If negative is loose on body, could be your alternator if this is going or gone your battery wont charge or charge as efficent. there will be plenty more answers/ideas soon

[Morat]

It does sound like a general lack of volts... like seanboy says, check battery connections and earth, check battery charge. If the charge is poor it could be new battery time or a dodgy alternator.

[Brianmoooore]

Meter required. What is the battery voltage with the engine off, and the engine running?
Also, check all the connections on all the big wires for heat after you've tried to start it.

[thebigone]

dito, reading with engine of and at the same time start her up with a helper and tkae further reading of meter acros the batt, should peak and drop back down to a steady 14ish volts, if that ok you will need to start looking for an earthing prob.

[gilb]

forgot 2 mention i replaced the alt with one that worked checked the battry indication light and its on black 4 re-charge so il do that and go from there

[Globulator]

Before you do too much more I'd check the earthing straps are all in good condition and tightly fastened, the main ones to check being battery to chassis and especially chassis to engine.

Give them a good check and/or take them off, clean their contact points up and refit them well. They may not be the problem of course but it never does any harm to check they are working fine..

[tomtomiS]

could be worthwhile replacing the earth strap from battery negative to body. had to do that on my phase 2 r5 gtt when the electrics went haywire after i knocked the earth and damaged the braids abit.

[fowler]

sounds like earth strap fromm chassis to engine is defective as most of the car eathrs through the block

[Brianmoooore]

Also, check all the connections on all the big wires for heat after you've tried to start it.

This is the easy way to check all the earth and power connections. A poor connection will dissipate heat.

[gilb]

charged the battry seams alot better but i turn the key to start it and now the starter clicks so i dunno whats happenin

[SPADGE]

charged the battry seams alot better but i turn the key to start it and now the starter clicks so i dunno whats happenin

Sounds like your battery could be fecked to me or you have a dodgy connection as has been suggested above! Does it start ok with a jump?

[gilb]

yeah starts fine with a jump

[Brianmoooore]

Doesn't start on its own freshly charged battery? Starts with jump leads? =One dud battery.

[DRIFTBOY]

When I first got my 335i going the battery was so knackered that it soon wouldn't even start with a set of good heavy duty jump leads!