What's wrong?

[88325edriver]

I have an 88 325e. Yesterday, my battery light came on on my dash. On my way to school today, I noticed my radio would not come on. The car was running fine though. However, on my way home, I had trouble starting the car, and then it died on the highway. I limped it to the nearest exit, and parked it. It would not start. I suspected a dead battery, so I had a friend come jump me. When he did, the car would start for a second or two, then die again. Has my alternator gone bad, or is it a bad battery? Any help is appreciated.

[Dj Buttchug]

probably both. need a DMM to test the charging system.

[toointoxicated60]

im beating alternator. If you get a jump and then it dies, your charging system isn't working properly.

You should be able to run a car without a battery after it has been started.

[87e30]

I'll bet alternator, or alternator belt, or bad connections.

Could also be a bad ground.

[88325edriver]

Ok cool. Thanks for your help!

[88325edriver]

Ok new development: I went to work on the car tonight. The battery tested great, the alternator belt was fine, and I spoke to the PO and he said he put on a new alternator. It does have an erratic idle because of a vacuum leak. I jumped it, and it ran for a few minutes, and I noticed that when the revs dropped during idle, there was a knocking from the back of the engine near the transmission. Don't know that that has anything to do with my problem. I also noticed that after it died and would not start up again, there was a loud "click" sound from the same area when I turned the key. Anyone know what that could be?

[rustybullet]

Just Replace the alternator. Take it out and have it tested at any auto zone.

[johnpaulmathew]

It is surely the alternator problem...

[slammin.e28]

im beating alternator.

I'm going to report you for alternator abuse.

[Sagaris]

It is surely the alternator problem...

Congratulations on being the first spammer to yield a quasi-relatable reply to a thread!

[ReallyDirtyThirty]

Why isn't anyone suggesting the voltage regulator? My E30 did the exact things yours is doing last winter. I replaced the voltage regulator for $24 which sure beat $100 plus for a new alternator.

[mikeedler]

Why isn't anyone suggesting the voltage regulator? My E30 did the exact things yours is doing last winter. I replaced the voltage regulator for $24 which sure beat $100 plus for a new alternator.

because most of us have a large enough parts stash, that an alternator would cost nothing. try making a ground wire from the housing of the alt. to the frame of the car, first and see if that works. also you could take a multimeter and see what kind of voltage the batt. has running vs. motor off- its a half azzed way of seeing if the alt is working. car running should be about 13.0-14.3V

I would also say the alt. is bad though.- does the batt. light in your dash light up when the ignition is on without the motor running? it has to or the car won't charge either.

[88325edriver]

I took the alternator to the local alternator shop and the guy said the reciprocator was bad. He rebuilt it for me and now it is running fine. Thanks for the input!

[Cletonius]

I took the alternator to the local alternator shop and the guy said the reciprocator was bad. He rebuilt it for me and now it is running fine. Thanks for the input!

Alternator shop?

Glad you got it running again!

[88325edriver]

"Alternator shop?

Glad you got it running again!"

Yeah it's an alternator and starter shop. They rebuilt the alternator on my '72 2002tii and it works great. So far the e30 seems to be running well too.