Loud click, won’t start...

[DarthDavi]

Hey roadsters!...hope everyone is doing great...I’m new to the forum and new to Z3 ownership. I have a small concern about my 1999 Z3 though.
When I bought it a day ago I bought a new battery for it and it started fine for the entire day. Today all I did was clean it up a bit, cleaned the air filter, inspected the fuses (the ones in the engine bay, just took some out and put them back in). However, when I try to start the car, I get a loud click from the engine bay and no start up.
Also, all the dash lights dip and blink when I turn the key to the on position...
Also, when in the on position I hear this constant whirring sound coming from behind the dash...I’m not sure what’s making that sound...
I checked the battery voltage and it is at 12.4 in the off position but drops to about 9 in the on position. I charged the battery for about an hour and even tried to jump start it but now it’s 2 beeps in the on position and I hear a humming sound coming from around the center console area...the humming eventually stopped though.

has anyone experienced this or knows what the issue can be??

any help will be greatly appreciated!

kind regards
Darthdavi

 

[colb]

It would appear from your description that your starter motor has failed or your alternator has failed, since you have a new battery fitted it could be the alternator is not putting enough charge out when running to charge the new battery. First thing to check is the battery connections are tight and clean, also check the connections at the starter motor and alternator are ok. The fact that the voltage drops to 9v when engaging the starter on the key would lread me to suspect the alternator has failed to charge the battery when it was running.
Can you jump start the car using the terminals in the engine bay, if it engages the starter motor when jump started then check the voltage across the battery terminals with the jump start disconnected and your engine running, you should see at least 14volts if the akternator is charging, anything less would indicate a bad alternator.

 

[DarthDavi]

Thanks colb...I checked the battery terminals and they are tight...I will look for the starter and check the connections there too...
The voltage drops to 9v not when I engage the starter, it does that when I turn the key to the on position before I hit the starter.

Also, when I turn the key to the accessories and on position, the instrument panel lights keep dimming and brightening in a sort of flickering manner
I have the 2.8 inline 6, do you know of anywhere online that I could get a factory service manual for this engine? I'm assuming because of the age of the car that there would be a pdf version of it on the net somewhere...

Could the problem have anything to do with the fuses?

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Sounds like either a short circuit or dodgy earth connection. I would check the cable that runs from the battery to the front of the car to make sure it hasn't been rubbing on something and has cut through the insulation. Next port of call would be the boot loom of doom and followed by the grounding points.

 

[colb]

Don't think it is fuses new battery could be duff but do check the points I suggested can you jump start it off another car or known good battery?

 

[DarthDavi]

ok, so I may have this sorted...I used the battery off another vehicle and it started without any problems...so the new battery was the source of the problems but...I'm not sure why the new battery doesn't have enough juice to start it...maybe it has that parasitic drain thing goin on...I'm currently charging the battery, it's an automatic charger so it'll tell me if the battery is holding charge or not..
Also, when i started it with the other batt, I checke the charging voltage and it was 14v so the alternator is working...

 

[colb]

Good fix at least you know the alternator is good, see how it stands up after it's fully charged, not unknown for a new battery to be faulty

 

[DarthDavi]

Thanks colb...do you by chance know where I can locate a service manual for the Z3 (either online or purchase)? I noticed the diff bushing is busted and wanted a manual so I would get the part numbers for when I need to buy parts.

 

[t-tony]

For part numbers look on REAL OEM.com

Tony.

 

[Althulas]

Use realoem for looking at part numbers. I have a Bentley manual and not used it much. They are pricey BMW Z3 Service Manual: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002: 1.9, 2.3, 2.5i, 2.8, 3.0i, 3.2 - Z3 Roadster, Z3 Coupe, M Roadster, M Coupe https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0837616...c_FVKBTZ55G17MJHSHYSY3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1or emaunualsonline a cheaper option but to be honest I’ve looked at threads on here YouTube vids which I found more useful than a manual. I found this channel useful E30 but the principles are the same https://youtube.com/c/RestoreIt

There’s a new thread about manuals as well https://zroadster.org/threads/repair-workshop-manual.47665/#post-692175

 

[colb]

Just put this link to a Dutch site on the other thread thats running

BMW Z3 tis documenten

Webpagina Ad Kusters met TIS (technical instruction sheets) voor de BMW Z3

www.adkusters.dsmynas.com