Problem fixed. - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

lownslow95 · 05-27-2009, 07:44 AM

My parents own a 2002 BMW z3 with the 2.5i motor in it. I went out this morning because my dad needed it to take it to work, because his car was getting an oil change. I go out to start it, wont start, great. I go back in and tell him it would not start, and he was like what do you mean it wont start. It has a brand new battery on it, was replaced about two weeks ago. Pull out the jumper cabels, car starts right up. I'm guessing its the altenator, but I don't know jack **** about BMW's. Any one experience the same problem before?

twastheglow · 05-27-2009, 08:08 AM

Something in the car is drawing power while the car sits would be my guess. Some BMW's are known for that...but I can't say I've heard of newer Z3's doing that.

lownslow95 · 05-27-2009, 08:10 AM

I don't think anything was on...but I'll check it later when it comes back.

OMGz Turbo · 05-27-2009, 09:05 AM

Eric get yourself a multimeter and see whats still pulling power. She doesnt have a cell phone charger or anything in there does she? some power outlets are on 24/7 and will ALWAYS pull power

lownslow95 · 05-27-2009, 09:10 AM

Nope. Nothing was plugged in and it doesn't get used that much.

twastheglow · 05-27-2009, 09:43 AM

No...you missed what I was saying. Everything in that car could be off and something somewhere will still be drawing power. It's a weird ass thing I have read about a number of BMW's. Most people have an incredibly hard time locating it.

lownslow95 · 05-27-2009, 10:48 AM

Well, I hope me and my dad figure it out so I can finally take it to our new house in MD where it belongs.

twastheglow · 05-27-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lownslow95

Well, I hope me and my dad figure it out so I can finally take it to our new house in MD where it belongs.

Cars with that problem (if the problem is never found) are just fine if driven every day or two. It's when they sit for a period of time that your battery will run down.

lownslow95 · 05-27-2009, 11:02 AM

It sat for a week or so. I guess it needs to be driven more.

RednekWithABMW · 05-29-2009, 09:15 AM

haha yes it probably needs driven more than anything. my dad was told by the stealership to "drive his garage queen more often." its an '07 z4m coupe 4,100 miles on it.

lownslow95 · 05-29-2009, 11:57 AM

It seems to be fine now. I drove it for like 20 miles yesterday, and it started right up this morning.

RednekWithABMW · 05-29-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lownslow95

It seems to be fine now. I drove it for like 20 miles yesterday, and it started right up this morning.

hahaha tried to start my dad's after a week of it sitting(brought it back from dealership and parked) and it's dead again.

my dad's a dumbass. keep driving it for a few days man. don't let it sit a week.

side note: i think something is usin the power but i can't prove it to him. he won't believe me. i say its his dice(ipod hookup) but what the hell do i know? i'm just a 2 yr old who looks 25 in his eyes

bmwtech · 05-29-2009, 07:48 PM

Does your Z3 have the OBC? Sometimes they will start to short out and draw constant power. I had this same situation happen to my e36 M3, thought I was not driving it enough also until I ran some tests and took a random shot at the OBC. I just unpluged it and problem was solved. Drove me nuts! I'm not saying this is the problem because there are numerous things that it can be, good luck!

twastheglow · 05-29-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwtech

Does your Z3 have the OBC? Sometimes they will start to short out and draw constant power. I had this same situation happen to my e36 M3, thought I was not driving it enough also until I ran some tests and took a random shot at the OBC. I just unpluged it and problem was solved. Drove me nuts! I'm not saying this is the problem because there are numerous things that it can be, good luck!

I'm willing to bet it doesn't. My Dad's '08 Z4 doesn't even have one.

bmwtech · 05-31-2009, 03:02 PM

You can't compare a Z4 (e85/6) to a Z3 (e36/7- e36/8). Of course your Z4 does not have the older e36 obc. I'm not sure about the Z3's (I only owned a Z4M Coupe), but since they are e36's it may. Its worth a shot to take a look at. Thats all I'm saying.

lownslow95 · 06-01-2009, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwtech

Does your Z3 have the OBC? Sometimes they will start to short out and draw constant power. I had this same situation happen to my e36 M3, thought I was not driving it enough also until I ran some tests and took a random shot at the OBC. I just unpluged it and problem was solved. Drove me nuts! I'm not saying this is the problem because there are numerous things that it can be, good luck!

WTF is that?

twastheglow · 06-01-2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lownslow95

WTF is that?

It stands for On Board Computer. It's about the size of a head unit and has different buttons (range, temp, etc.) and it has an LCD screen above it.

lownslow95 · 06-01-2009, 08:53 AM

Oh, got ya. We got a trickle charger for it to put on it so it should work/stay charged now.

e30dude · 06-22-2009, 07:08 PM

yeap, obc is always draining for reasons like this

http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthre...ht=code+button

lownslow95 · 06-22-2009, 07:17 PM

Starts.

05-27-2009, 09:05 AM	#4
OMGz Turbo Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ltown Member #3108 My Ride: 01' WS6..That whistles...01' Explorer 5.slow iTrader: (0)	Eric get yourself a multimeter and see whats still pulling power. She doesnt have a cell phone charger or anything in there does she? some power outlets are on 24/7 and will ALWAYS pull power __________________ loading HATERS.....99% ████████████████] NO ONE CARES ABOUT BEING TTT APPROVED

05-29-2009, 07:48 PM	#13
bmwtech Tri-State Training Wheels Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mount Holly, NJ Member #6800 My Ride: 08' BMW M5, 6 speed iTrader: (0)	Does your Z3 have the OBC? Sometimes they will start to short out and draw constant power. I had this same situation happen to my e36 M3, thought I was not driving it enough also until I ran some tests and took a random shot at the OBC. I just unpluged it and problem was solved. Drove me nuts! I'm not saying this is the problem because there are numerous things that it can be, good luck! __________________ 08' BMW M5 6 speed 05' BMW Mini Cooper S 96' BMW M3 87" BMW 325i with s50 power 86" BMW 325i EURO Mtech1

05-31-2009, 03:02 PM	#15
bmwtech Tri-State Training Wheels Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mount Holly, NJ Member #6800 My Ride: 08' BMW M5, 6 speed iTrader: (0)	You can't compare a Z4 (e85/6) to a Z3 (e36/7- e36/8). Of course your Z4 does not have the older e36 obc. I'm not sure about the Z3's (I only owned a Z4M Coupe), but since they are e36's it may. Its worth a shot to take a look at. Thats all I'm saying. __________________ 08' BMW M5 6 speed 05' BMW Mini Cooper S 96' BMW M3 87" BMW 325i with s50 power 86" BMW 325i EURO Mtech1

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