new battery no start plz help!!

[Trptguy]

Neither the OBC nor the DME would affect most of the dash lights nor would they affect the rest of the car's lights. From the OP it sounds like battery power isn't reaching the car. Verify the battery's charge level (12.6-12.7v on a fully charged battery) at the battery posts. Then compare that to what you read from the battery positive to chassis ground. That is a check of the ground connection and should be the same as measured across the battery. From there start probing the primary power connections.

oh what a headache, but i will do that

also if the battery power isn't reaching the car would I still be able to start the car from a hill and pop the clutch?

[SmokeE30]

Yea you can pop start it with a completely dead battery, I did that for a while with an 84 Toyota I had with a bad voltage regulator. It would run, but poorly and no other electrical stuff like headlights or signals could be used lol

[jlevie]

oh what a headache, but i will do that

also if the battery power isn't reaching the car would I still be able to start the car from a hill and pop the clutch?

If no power is reaching the car, there'll be no power to the DME, fuel pump, coil, etc., and the engine will not run at all.

[Trptguy]

ok so battery check out as fully charged.

[Trptguy]

so i should say that on the last battery I did jump it and the car started and ran and I drove it for around an hour. So with that in mind I am thinking that it isn;t the power from the battery not making it but some random relay or fuse going.

Wish I had extra relays laying around to test my theory

[Trptguy]

ok so chassis ground checks out fine also...sigh....car might be lit on fire before the end of the day

[jlevie]

This really isn't that hard to diagnose, start with what I suggested earlier.

[dnguyen1963]

Be very patient when troubleshooting electrical stuffs...one step at a time starting from the battery. Sometimes the fuse might look fine, but does not pass any current. Check all of your fuses or, better yet, replace them all.

[bddog]

From your pic it looks like the battery is grounded in a terrible spot. Surely this is not where it is supposed to be. Clean the shit out of all connections and connect the ground properly. Sand to bare metal everything. No rust. Check the connection at the starter. Make sure it is completely fresh.Have you tried jumping it? New batteries can be bad. This sounds like a simple problem, not a computer.

[bddog]

A closer look shows the positive cable completely corroded. Take the whole thing apart, wire brush every cable absolutely clean . The terminal also.

[vert_this]

here is a easy check, just jump start the car and see if it fires up. If it does its your terminals. I know you said you have over 12 at the battery but unless your measuring power on the outside of the terminal you dont really know what is flowing. I had terminals that appear to be clean and wouldnt pass enough power to start. I was stuck out and I used a pocket knife to shave the inner material of terminal.

[bddog]

Where the cable has been stripped to accommodate the after market battery terminal it is completely corroded. Disassemble. Clean every strand of wire entirely. Use a wire brush. Reassemble.
Disconnect the ground cable where it attaches to the body. Sand everything to bare metal for a good connection. ( I would find a new spot)
I doubt a jump would get past the corrosion. I have had this exact problem before, with a similar looking setup. Gotta clean this type of terminal often.

[M-technik-3]

You can clean the battery wire with a baking soda solution. But doubt that's the issue, Jay was putting you in the right direction.

Do a search for 19XX BMW 325i Electronic Troubleshooting Manual pdf

and start with that, I'd love to have shot out to help but unfortunately I'm going back out on the road. Any 380 or 173 or 153 ecu should help you start.

I do have a suggestion that you disconnect the battery for 30 minutes in case some how the 12 button OBC disable function came on. By removing power for thirty minutes resets the system by discharging it completely.

[Trptguy]

You can clean the battery wire with a baking soda solution. But doubt that's the issue, Jay was putting you in the right direction.

Do a search for 19XX BMW 325i Electronic Troubleshooting Manual pdf

and start with that, I'd love to have shot out to help but unfortunately I'm going back out on the road. Any 380 or 173 or 153 ecu should help you start.

I do have a suggestion that you disconnect the battery for 30 minutes in case some how the 12 button OBC disable function came on. By removing power for thirty minutes resets the system by discharging it completely.

ok so I think you are on to something here. I was gone for the weekend and came back. I just reconnected the battery and went to start it. All the lights in the dash suddenly came on when I put the key in the start position and when I tried to start it then poof it all went dead. Any ideas what might cause it to do this?????

[M-technik-3]

Did the starter Click? I hate to be a dick and suggest the battery might have a 12.5V but might not have the amperage to support turning the starter over.

Suggestion disconnect for 30 minutes again then connect a know running car via jumpers and have the car running and then try starting your car. Try that let us know what happened. You have not had this battery load tested yet correct?