Power loss + dead car

X5x4x3

X5x4x3

New member
Hi all,

Had a situation yesterday evening, whilst driving lost all power, went to P then back to D and car started moving in limp mode, went to do a sharp turn and the steering became very heavy and ABS alert come up, pulled up to a side turned the car off and went to turn on but everything was fully dead, nothing responding, had AA and they boosted the battery so got me back home but the media screen kept going black and back to normal, steering went very hard again when backing to the drive, as I have the armrest out atm (whilst sorting other bits) I started to hear a louder than normal clicking noise coming from between the seats, started from when car went into limp mode and every 2/3 seconds repeated.

it seems to me to be the alternator potentially, had OBD reader connected a week earlier and no faults other than two broken sensors which I am/was working on and few other telematic errors (which are known from my prev post).

Any ideas? Based in Warwickshire so any recommendation for good specialist near Stratford upon Avon or/and Kineton?

Thanks in advance
 
As you have an OBD reader stick it on and look at the static and engine running voltages.
I'd expect 12.6v on the battery with engine off and something between 13.5v and 15v with it running
Should be able to decide as per Kev's post on alternator/charging circuit (which feels the right start point) or complete failure of battery
Surprised AA didn't give some insight
 
Thanks Kev, that’s my gut feeling too.


@cj10jeeper the battery is completely dead (no power whatsoever) so couldn’t use the OBD reader when I got the car back home, I’m going to stick the trickle charger on tomorrow to see how the battery’s going to behave, hopefully it’ll get some power and give me the ignition back and then can see what’s going on via OBD.

AA chap seemed fed up for the day, it was 11.30pm and he just wanted to get it over and done with, he said he thinks it’s something to do with battery which I guess doesn’t take a genius to figure out!
 
I’d certainly get it on charge and see what happens.
Open the bonnet and see if the belts on the alternator and tight.
Alternators rarely fail, but batteries often lose a cell. It’ll be one of belt, alternator or battery, so a bit of elimination of the obvious first before looking further.
 
cj10jeeper said:
I’d certainly get it on charge and see what happens.
Open the bonnet and see if the belts on the alternator and tight.
Alternators rarely fail, but batteries often lose a cell. It’ll be one of belt, alternator or battery, so a bit of elimination of the obvious first before looking further.
Click to expand...

Thank you
 
Lunar said:
Worth checking the engine earth strap too - could be a corrosion issue or loose bolt.
Click to expand...

I used to get that on my company Cavaliers - 4 days after every service the battery ran out of electrons. I traced it to the earthing strap that was attached to the alternator tensioner bracket - when they adjusted it, they managed to snap the cable, every time!
 
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