Car won't start sometimes

[Brew]

11-12 volts is way too low. Should be at least 12.4 volts.

Thats actually okay. 11-12 volts is fine. 12-13 is ideal, but 11-12 should be okay. But having said that, it depends on the drain the battery is getting upon start up.

Take the car to Autozone or the like and have them do a load test on the battery and alternator while the car is running. You'll know what you need from that.

Not to nitpick, but:

12.65v -- 100%
12.45v -- 75%
12.24v -- 50%
12.06v -- 25%

So no, 11-12v is NOT fine.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Same exact thing happened to me - it was my starter. It'd get heated up by the engine, and it wouldn't work. Let it cool off, and it started.

Glad you got it all sorted.

PS:


Your sig pic could totally be an e30 dukes of hazzard style chase - cop in the background with the two e30's taking off lol.

[lucky7]

glad to see the situation resolved. i would have suggested tightening all ground/battery wires. seems to be a very common problem with filthy engine bays. if it wont even turn over, and its irratic. from my experience, 9/10 times its a shatty connection to the battery. just something to keep in mind.

[Digitalwave]

glad to see the situation resolved. i would have suggested tightening all ground/battery wires. seems to be a very common problem with filthy engine bays. if it wont even turn over, and its irratic. from my experience, 9/10 times its a shatty connection to the battery. just something to keep in mind.

The batteries are in the trunks of E30's anyways so that didn't matter. Connections there are spotless. And my engine bay is spotless too :)

[arsevader]

glad to see the situation resolved. i would have suggested tightening all ground/battery wires. seems to be a very common problem with filthy engine bays. if it wont even turn over, and its irratic. from my experience, 9/10 times its a shatty connection to the battery. just something to keep in mind.

The batteries are in the trunks of E30's anyways so that didn't matter. Connections there are spotless. And my engine bay is spotless too :)

You can eat off my engine compartment...well you'd probably get sick from the filth but you could if you wanted. :)

Only the six cylinder cars have trunk batteries, but I know you knew that.

James

[mph]

PS:


Your sig pic could totally be an e30 dukes of hazzard style chase - cop in the background with the two e30's taking off lol.

HAHA. Thats my dads police car.

[nando]

Only the six cylinder cars have trunk batteries, but I know you knew that.

James

so does the 318is..

[mph]

Thanks for the help guys (especially mph).

NP man.

[arsevader]

Only the six cylinder cars have trunk batteries, but I know you knew that.

James

so does the 318is..

Pretty sure the 318is has it under the hood, at least the european ones do.

James

[Wes325]

318is = in the trunk. Im having the exact same problem you are, pretty stoked to find this thread. I just randomly decided to search r3v before I ventured out on my own to fix things and came across this. Lots of good help on this forum

[lucky7]

glad to see the situation resolved. i would have suggested tightening all ground/battery wires. seems to be a very common problem with filthy engine bays. if it wont even turn over, and its irratic. from my experience, 9/10 times its a shatty connection to the battery. just something to keep in mind.

The batteries are in the trunks of E30's anyways so that didn't matter. Connections there are spotless. And my engine bay is spotless too :)

:D ahaha, it HAS been a while! that's right! my E32 had the battery under the passenger side rear seat. sneaky sneaky. another thing i almost forgot about. R is next to 1. that is the best. good lookin out.