Starter???????

[OnMy2ndE30]

Hey all. I encountered an issue today with my 87 325i vert today. I was going to leave after eating lunch at a local restaurant and went to start my car. Nothing happened. I checked to see if the typical warning indicators came on when the key is in the run position and they were. Radio, headlights, everything worked as intended.....except the starter. I raised the hood and when I turned the key to the start position, I could hear the relays clicking in the fuse block. If I held the key in the start position for a few seconds, I could hear what sounded like a very slow turning of the starter motor that would go away when the key was released. I took a long pry bar and tapped on the starter assy while my wife held the key in the start position. Nothing. I arced across the posts on the solenoid and the starter motor spun up fine, but did not engage the bendix to start the engine. I sat there trying to figure out who I could call to come get me so I could go back with my truck and tow it home. I figured for shits and giggles, I would try one more time. Holy hell it started. From the time of initial no-crank to the time it fired was probably 10 minutes or so. I got it home and tried again, nothing. The battery is testing fine. Alternator seems to be doing well. I am at a loss here. I thought about buying a starter from someone on here to see if that is the problem. I must be honest and admit that I am not really good at trouble shooting. I tried looking for others that have had the same issues, but couldn't really find anyone who had the same issue as mine. I am hoping that someone can guide me in the right direction here....

Thanks in advance guys....

[jlevie]

That sounds like a failing starter, but a bad engine to frame ground or a bad primary power connection is a possibility and should be checked before replacing the starter.

[OnMy2ndE30]

Thanks bud. I will get it on a rack here at work and check everything before I go replacing expensive components like the starter. I almost think it may be an alternator issue to as this morning driving in, the lights on my car got extremely dim and when I got it to work, it was running really crappy. I turned off the headlights and it smoothed out. Turned them back on and the engine died, no restart. I will start with the grounds though.....

[Ninz30]

Make sure to rebuild a starter. DONT BUY NEW. I bought a new starter Bosch and it was the worst move.

[E30ruben]

I have a 325i starter if you want? PM me

[OnMy2ndE30]

Well, Here is an update. I had one of the techs at work diag my car. Showed 9.2 volts when the engine was idling a little over 7 volts with a load on the alternator. So, we figured alternator. Ordered said alternator and then installed said alternator with a new battery. Checked voltage at the battery. Shows 12.35 volts no load and 11.35 with a load. Revved the engine and no increase in alternator output. I had one of the techs help me to diagnose the car. All fuses are good. Both unloader relays are good and working. Looked up the wiring diagram on AllData...no help. We took a diagnostic test light (the kind that has the switch on it to power a circuit to find ground faults) and probed the small terminal on the alternator. Showed no output. When we flipped the switch to apply power to the terminal on the alternator through the test light, the alternator started charging at 13.8 volts. Where does that small wire on the alternator come from? I am hoping that when I arced across the solenoid yesterday to try and start my car that I possibly fried a fusible link. Any help at this point would be greatly appreciated......

[paperplane94]

Is your Idiot light working???
I believe that is where the small wire goes.

[OnMy2ndE30]

I was looking at the ETM for the 88 vert as I can't seem to find one for the 87 and it looks like there is a note that the wire comes off the idiot light to "excite" the field coil in the alternator to get it to charge. Is it possible that if the bulb is burnt out that the alternator wont charge? Surely it can't be THAT easy....

[paperplane94]

If you see my other posts I always like to list the Easy stuff :).

Its definitely worth a shot, just see if its on with the ignition in pos.II.

[paperplane94]

ALSO you said that you think yo fried the link.
If you fried the fusible link it likely wouldn't run at all.

[OnMy2ndE30]

It runs alright. Just doesn't charge the battery until i apply power to the small terminal on the alternator. First thing to check this morning will be the idiot light.

Edit: Turned the switch to the run position and the battery light doesnt light up. I will see if the local stealership has those bulbs and get that replaced. I still don't think it is that easy......

[Beach Bum]

It is that easy, actually. If the battery light is out the car won't charge, look at the circuit.

BMW's... :roll:

[OnMy2ndE30]

Well, replaced the bulb thinking it was the bulb and no light still. Where does the signal for the battery light come from? I am almost to the point of wiring a push button in to get the exciter signal to the alternator in lieu of the actual wire. Anyone have a link to the 87 convertible ETM? I have only found one for 88 and up.....

[paperplane94]

It runs alright. Just doesn't charge the battery until i apply power to the small terminal on the alternator. First thing to check this morning will be the idiot light.

Edit: Turned the switch to the run position and the battery light doesnt light up. I will see if the local stealership has those bulbs and get that replaced. I still don't think it is that easy......

you just wait...:p

[OnMy2ndE30]

you just wait...:p

Bulb replaced, still no worky....