220D Coupe - charging issue
Discussion
Mrs F has a 2014 220d Coupe. She doesn't think there's an issue but we had to call the AA at one point. She's had to call me once as the car wouldn't crank outside Tescos. Then after a few mins, it cranked and started.
More or less since she bought it in 2021, it's slow-cranked when starting. A coupe of times it's failed to start and the screen has told us to book it in as there's a charging or battery issue.
She changed the battery in 2022, still slow-cranking.
The Stop/Start hasn't worked for a couple of years. Battery tested, no problem.
I charged the battery and it started much better. The S/S worked for a change. Over the next few days, it gradually got worse. The S/S stopped working.
I took it to an auto-electrician in these parts who is widely held in god-like status. No charging issue he said. He advised to change what could be a 'lazy starter'
Got it changed - no difference.
Had a 160 mile round trip to Sheffield last weekend, non-stop on the M1. S/S never worked once when we got in the town.
I charged the battery again Sunday, battery charger said 'full' so I took it off before I went to bed. Started better again Monday morning. Mrs F called me on the way to work next morning to say her S/S kicked in. Again, it gradually gets worse, S/S stops working and then cranking slows down.
I have a 320D, same engine, same battery. It starts like it's on steroids, which is how I think hers should start.
I guess the next stage is changing the alternator even though I'm advised there's nothing wrong with the charging system. No battery lights on the dash either.
My reasoning is that something is failing in the charging system, and that the battery is working of it's own charge or being drip-fed a charge to keep it just topped up enough to start the car.
i thought about swapping over batteries, mine for hers and observing what happens to both.
Would I need to get them recoded or could I do this for a while then swap them back?
Anything else I should try?
More or less since she bought it in 2021, it's slow-cranked when starting. A coupe of times it's failed to start and the screen has told us to book it in as there's a charging or battery issue.
She changed the battery in 2022, still slow-cranking.
The Stop/Start hasn't worked for a couple of years. Battery tested, no problem.
I charged the battery and it started much better. The S/S worked for a change. Over the next few days, it gradually got worse. The S/S stopped working.
I took it to an auto-electrician in these parts who is widely held in god-like status. No charging issue he said. He advised to change what could be a 'lazy starter'
Got it changed - no difference.
Had a 160 mile round trip to Sheffield last weekend, non-stop on the M1. S/S never worked once when we got in the town.
I charged the battery again Sunday, battery charger said 'full' so I took it off before I went to bed. Started better again Monday morning. Mrs F called me on the way to work next morning to say her S/S kicked in. Again, it gradually gets worse, S/S stops working and then cranking slows down.
I have a 320D, same engine, same battery. It starts like it's on steroids, which is how I think hers should start.
I guess the next stage is changing the alternator even though I'm advised there's nothing wrong with the charging system. No battery lights on the dash either.
My reasoning is that something is failing in the charging system, and that the battery is working of it's own charge or being drip-fed a charge to keep it just topped up enough to start the car.
i thought about swapping over batteries, mine for hers and observing what happens to both.
Would I need to get them recoded or could I do this for a while then swap them back?
Anything else I should try?
sortedcossie said:
Isn't the S/S efficient dynamics battery separate?
Weather and load also affects the stop start, both of ours (F31 and F40) aren't doing it as much as in the summer.
Think BMW battery is all in one unless mild hybrid which came in much later.Weather and load also affects the stop start, both of ours (F31 and F40) aren't doing it as much as in the summer.
Was the battery coded to the car when changed ? My 2013 320d started fine normally but slow on start stop, for reasons I never worked out but I coded it off anyway. Figured constantly starting and stopping of the engine would not do the chain any favours.
Just the one battery, and it has the right one fitted for s S/S system.
When the engine is warm, and it's had a big journey, the S/S should work as mine does. The temp is also around 10deg at the moment, so it's not really 'winter'.
The S/S not working isn't the issue, we don't mind, but it's the charging and slow cranking and the risk of it leaving us stranded that is the concern.
The S/S not working is an indicator that something isn't right. It is disengaging that as it can't rely on the car restarting every time.
When the engine is warm, and it's had a big journey, the S/S should work as mine does. The temp is also around 10deg at the moment, so it's not really 'winter'.
The S/S not working isn't the issue, we don't mind, but it's the charging and slow cranking and the risk of it leaving us stranded that is the concern.
The S/S not working is an indicator that something isn't right. It is disengaging that as it can't rely on the car restarting every time.
joropug said:
sortedcossie said:
Isn't the S/S efficient dynamics battery separate?
Weather and load also affects the stop start, both of ours (F31 and F40) aren't doing it as much as in the summer.
Think BMW battery is all in one unless mild hybrid which came in much later.Weather and load also affects the stop start, both of ours (F31 and F40) aren't doing it as much as in the summer.
Was the battery coded to the car when changed ? My 2013 320d started fine normally but slow on start stop, for reasons I never worked out but I coded it off anyway. Figured constantly starting and stopping of the engine would not do the chain any favours.
bigdom said:
When you charge the battery, is this under the bonnet, or directly on the battery terminals?
It sounds like it could be an IBS sensor. Worth getting a BMW specialist to check, only replace with an OEM sensor, pattern parts on that can be problematic.
Directly on the battery in the boot. I'll look into this, thanks.It sounds like it could be an IBS sensor. Worth getting a BMW specialist to check, only replace with an OEM sensor, pattern parts on that can be problematic.
Yeah, thats a mistake. It needs to be done from under the bonnet. The IBS lead connected to the battery won't know what's being fed into the battery.
Before you look at whether the IBS lead is at fault, try charging this way.
In the engine bay, find the red battery terminal, there will be a neutral on one of the struts. Give it a charge that way, and see if it makes any difference.
Before you look at whether the IBS lead is at fault, try charging this way.
In the engine bay, find the red battery terminal, there will be a neutral on one of the struts. Give it a charge that way, and see if it makes any difference.
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