Author Topic: E30 318is battery problems  (Read 2830 times)

HHH_SSS

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E30 318is battery problems
« on: January 07, 2010, 11:34:47 PM »
Ok so winter started and I parked my e30 in the garage. I make sure I dont let it sit too long, I make sure I start and drive it every once in a awhile. Now ever since it started getting really cold up here in mn I come to try and start the car and the battery is dead. That was no big deal it was something I excpected because it was so cold and i havent started it for a while. So I jump start it and it runs fine. I made sure to drive it around too. The problem is now everytime i try and start it up either the battery is dead or most of the time the lights are VERY dim and the battery doesnt have enough juice to start (cranks a little bit the first try but very weak). This happens every time i try and start the car now.If i turn off the car and start it again right away then the car has enough juice to start but if i leave it off longer than like 10 15 mins I try and start the car and the lights will be REALLY dim and wont have enough juice to start. I know this is probably a simple answer but Im a noob so if anyone knows what it could be: Alternator, battery itself... I would realy appreaciate the help. THANKS!

3bvert

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E30 318is battery problems
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2010, 11:47:17 PM »
battery

DesktopDave

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E30 318is battery problems
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2010, 06:52:51 AM »
Battery.  You can take it to an auto parts store for a free test.  You could get a multimeter to tell you pretty much the same thing.

It's just metal & acid...in six 2 volt chambers called "cells."  One or more of these cells are eroded & is now shorted out, I'll bet you have only 8-10 volts left in that battery...not enough to crank the engine.

Happily, they're easy to change out & cheap to troubleshoot.
'08 Karmesinrot 128i 6MT
'86 Zinnoberrot 635CSi (M30B32/G265/3.46 torsen LSD)

Sold: '97 Montrealblau 318iS, '91 Brilliantrot 318i, '91 Brilliantrot 318iS