I just recently finished putting in new clutch in my 03 s. I have test driven it with no problems. Today was first trip to town, I had been driving for a few minutes when I got low tire press light. shortly after I got a abs light then batt light, I ended up with all lights on. I figured out fairly fast that I was not charging as A/C turned off and dash started dyeing . In making a run for home I lost power steering also, I would think this would be normal for a dead battery. Got it back home,got a charge on battery went to go see if alt is making juice and starter will not turn over. heard it click once then wouldn't even click. Battery is showing good volts. Have I done something while putting in clutch I didn't realize? Am I just having a really bad day and lost the starter and the alternator ?? Any help or insight would be great !!


Tyler

 

How old is the battery?

 

a few years maybe. multi meter is saying it has good voltage .

 

check the ground wire.....
Both by the battery and the engine mount.

 

My guess would be the ground too. Either that or you just coincidentally lost the alternator and starter
at the same time.

 

checked grounds at battery and engine. Both showing good. Battery voltage is showing 12.5, this should be enough to crank engine? I can hear what I think is solenoid clicking when key is turned to start. Iam not opposed to thinking that I am having a starter/alternator failure at the same time but just dose not seem very likely to me. I have been wrong before.

 

I would have someone crank the engine for you while you have the voltmeter on the battery to see what it does under load. I have seen batteries test good until a load is applied and then it is obvious that it is bad. If it checks out, pull the starter and have it bench tested at the nearest Autozone.

 

Yeah, just because it shows good voltage does not mean that it can supply the amperage needed.

 

This.

Normal meter will not be able to apply the load needed to TEST the battery.

Sounds like you have a ground or the alternator isn't working or somehting left unplugged.

 

A normal meter can't test the battery, but it can show that the voltage drops when a load is applied. The best thing to do is to take the battery down to Autozone or somewhere similar and have them load test your battery, but a simple meter on the battery when you try to crank the car will tell you if you're on the right track. If it drops < 12, you probably need a new battery. If it holds > 12, you need to pull the starter and have it tested.

Another less likely possibility is that the starter isn't torqued all the way down and has shifted causing it to bind. Just something else you can check.

 

Your symptoms were exactly what I had when my alternator died. Lucky to have babied it home w/o overheating. It's a Denso unit w/ BMW PN:12317515030. Some had luck w/ new TYC 211049 from Rockauto @ only $118.79.
From experience, the R53 needs a lotta juice to crank. I don't believe your starter died. I'd bet on your alternator.

 

threw in a battery I had from a different car still no starting to even check if alternator is toast. I thinking that the alternator went first then the starter for some reason. I am picking my brain thinking of what I could of done to either to cause this.

 

Check the alternator 1st. I've a hunch your starter is still breathing. Our alternators are known to fail in our hot & cramped engine bay. They do very well in Toyotas & other Japs though.

 

Even with a bad alternator, I should be able to crank the engine with a fresh battery?

 

yes it should. but this honestly sounds like you left somehthing lose and then drove it till the battery crapped out and drained the entire system.

if you have a way of taking the alternator off and going to an actual shop not advanced and having it tested this is your best move in tracking this down.

 

You probably could but it's gotta be a good one. Don't count on an R53 to easily cooperate. I tried jumping a dying battery to crank the engine to no avail. It just clicked & clicked. As I've said, our starters need a lotta juice to crank.

 

At this point I need to pull the starter either way. It clicks but no crank, grabbed the battery from my v8 car same issue this battery is brand new it should be able to turn over the mini. frustrating

 

Recheck all your ground connections.