E30 still dead

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Matthew Warren - 18 Apr 2006 03:38 GMT

'91 318is

Symptoms in review: Car runs great for a day, and then the next day after
several miles (say 25-30) of driving, the battery goes dead and the car
quits. Battery tested bad and was replaced, same result. Today I took the
alternator off and had it tested and everything came up green... Where else
do I look? It is the bosch alt so the regulator is internal... Just don't
know where else to look. thanks.

Matt

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Josh Assing - 18 Apr 2006 12:49 GMT

when the car is running -- how many volts at the battery terminals?

Broken wires from the altenator back?
Fuses?

>'91 318is
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
>Matt

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dave - 18 Apr 2006 14:38 GMT

ok, i had similar problem last winter, batt was at least 6 yrs so i
figured it was on borrowed time anyways and changed it...2 days later
same prob. Grabbed $10 voltmeter, recharged new battery, tested batt
with car off, read about 12.6 vlts, started car tested batt again, it
read 13.9( figured alt/reg was good, it was charging ok). Shut off car
opened hood and went through fuse box 1 by 1 reading any draw off a
possible open circuit. Found 1 , i think fuse 4?? was letting thru 3.46
vlts.WTF? disconnected aftermarket radio, checked again, same. Now
figured i got a short somewhere draining batt. Talked to mech friend and
he said...old bmw, electrical prob, l$o$l...
Came home that night, backed car into garage, was walking around to get
plug in and noticed a slight light coming from trunk. Loooked again and
i sure i could see light thru the crack of my somewhat bowed/misaligned
trunk. LAughed when i realized that my trunk light apparently has been
on for days and draws about 3 vlts. Problem solved.
You'll be real real real lucky if u got same prob lol, but similar
testing should narrow it down some, net search should give u fuse
diagram if you don't have one,post back after a lil investigation post
battery draws/at each fuse as well as at the batt and i'm sure one of
the experts can help solve prob or at least give u somewhere to look. g/l

> '91 318is
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Matt

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Matthew Warren - 19 Apr 2006 12:16 GMT

> ok, i had similar problem last winter, batt was at least 6 yrs so i
> figured it was on borrowed time anyways and changed it...2 days later same
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> each fuse as well as at the batt and i'm sure one of the experts can help
> solve prob or at least give u somewhere to look. g/l

Did your car quit while running? Because the battery always starts out
strong when I get in the car (after charging) and then slowly dies as I
drive.

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dave - 19 Apr 2006 15:10 GMT

so, like, what did your batt read after fully charged, not hooked to
car? so like what did it read after connected to car, not started? same
question + 1hour...take a break were going at it pretty hard lol? so
like what did it read when u started car at idle, was it charging? g/l d

>>ok, i had similar problem last winter, batt was at least 6 yrs so i
>>figured it was on borrowed time anyways and changed it...2 days later same
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> strong when I get in the car (after charging) and then slowly dies as I
> drive.

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