[ChickenSAKF]

2006 E90 330i Intermittent non start - HELP
Hi there new to the forum but not to Bmw. Looking for some advice before I loose my right hand to the stealers...

Car details:2006 BMW 330I M Sport
Miles: 73000
Owned: Since new (great car until now)

I have a intermittent non start ever since battery went dead (gets garaged over winter). Yellow steering wheel light and click when start button pressed but when plugged into Ista+, INPA, Snap-on EthosTech no faults.

Iv tried:

New battery - no success
Reset ELV with Ista+ and tool 32 - no success
Reset CAS - no success
Resync’d CAS and DME - no success
ELV Emulator and reset - no success
Checked all engine and battery earths for corrosion - no success

😫 can any one point me in the next direction?

Kind regards

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by ChickenSAKF

2006 E90 330i Intermittent non start ... ever since battery went dead (gets garaged over winter). Yellow steering wheel light and click when start button pressed but when plugged into Ista+, INPA, Snap-on EthosTech no faults...

QUESTIONS:
1) If you use INPA > Functional Jobs > F4 > F1 Read Fault Memory, ALL Modules, you get NO Faults in ANY Module? Using Functional Jobs > F2 Identification, how many Modules are listed & can you attach a ScreenPrint of that List, SavedAs a jpg file?
2) When you press START button and Starter does NOT crank engine, (a) WHERE does click come from, and (b) is it a SINGLE click as opposed to a "ratchet-like" repeated clicking, ~ 6 to 8 clicks per second?
3) Measured at the Jumpstart Terminals under hood/bonnet, WHAT is Battery Voltage BEFORE attempting Starter Crank?
4) What is Battery Voltage immediately AFTER attempting Starter crank, measured at Jumpstart Terminals?
5) If you attach a jumper cable from the Chassis Ground "hex-pin" or Ground Jumpstart connection under hood to a large bolthead or other clean metal of engine (providing "Supplemental Ground Strap") will Starter NOW crank?

Use INPA to determine if CAS is activating the Starter Solenoid by sending 12V+ signal to Solenoid:
1) Connect to CAS Module (Body/Karosserie > Car Access System)
2) Select F5 > F2 > F1 Diagnose Terminals (Klemmen)
3) Note "Terminal 50" or KL50 in the bottom 2 rows of the display of bar graphs. Spannung (Voltage) KL50 and Strom (Amperage) KL50.
4) If the CAS is sending Start Signal to Starter Solenoid when START button is pressed, KL50 (Terminal 50) Voltage will go to ~ 10V for a second or two as Starter cranks engine.

If you have NOT already done so, while connected to CAS Module, ALSO Select F4 > F1 Read Fault Memory (Fehlerspeicher Lesen) and make sure there are NO Fault Codes saved there. If there are, save a ScreenPrint (Shft+PrtSc) as a jpg file and post here.

Please let us know what you find,
George

[marvinstockman]

Worn or dirty brushes in the starter.

[ChickenSAKF]

I have recalibrated the steering angle sensor with inpa - no success.

I have also towed it to try eliminate a starter motor fault but it will not bump start with the steering fault.

It only starts if I leave the car over night, starts first try. Then again if i lock it up and leave for a few hours it will start no problem. But in between, it just pings up the yellow steering light and nothing.

Iv ordered a new 30g relay for the CAS to give that a try.

I’m just total baffled why it isn’t showing a fault that can guide me. All the modules I am able to communicate with on inpa the only faults have are - number plate lights - has led’s fitted
Ride height sensor - it’s disconnected cause my Xenons where Twitching up and down.


Thanks George I will have a play with it tonight with inpa and answer your questions.
Regards

[ChickenSAKF]

George after replacing the 30g relay I have managed to get some stored faults any thoughts ?



















Also when I try and read the ignition data to check Kl 50 im getting this error ?






is it anything to do with having ISTA+ recently installed ? (I use this as my primary source of diagnostic as its in English)


Kind Regards

[stoveadam]

really informative post i love to read more about this topic.

[TunafishE93]

Sounds like starters going out. The "click" is a tell tell when you have a good battery.

[ChickenSAKF]

I get the click is a usual tell-tail sign of a faulty starter motor... the fact that it will not bring on full ignition and bump start sorta points me in different directions plus the steering/ELV fault is the only warning I have..

Don’t worry StoveAdam ones I have a solution this will be shared I have seen this fault on various forums but with little results.

George seems to be a very switched on cookie and hopefully he can assist.

I have read one post where a reflash of the latest CAS software solves the issue and as you can see from the Inpa information my car is still running factory software for all modules.

Regards

[TunafishE93]

Maybe those are the 9xxx codes but not seeing anything on the steering angle.. You have the Axxx codes which I am guessing was after you was towed and since you stated that you didnt have errors before, seems related to that.. I still going with starter but let us know.

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by ChickenSAKF

George after replacing the 30g relay I have managed to get some stored faults any thoughts ?
Also when I try and read the ignition data to check Kl 50 im getting this error ?
Attachment 2244217
is it anything to do with having ISTA+ recently installed ? (I use this as my primary source of diagnostic as its in English)

I don't think the error screen has anything to do with ISTA+ being installed. You were able to view F2 Identification, and F4 Fault Memory (All Modules) using "Functional Jobs" without issue. You were able to connect to, and read Fault Codes in, CAS Fault Memory, and CAS Info Memory without issue.

If you attempt to open that screen (CAS F5 > F2 > F1 Terminals) with key OUT for more than 30 minutes, can you get screen to open, WITHOUT any error message? If so, with screen OPEN, try simply inserting Remote Key into Insert compartment, and see if KLR (Radio Terminal) shows voltage and/or if Error Message appears? Then try turning on Ignition, WITHOUT pressing Brake/Clutch Pedal to see if KL15 (Ignition Terminal 15) shows battery voltage, and if error message occurs. LAST, try pressing Clutch & START button, to see if KL50 bars momentarily show ~ 10V.

If Error Message persists, BEFORE attempting to crank starter, then try reading Parameters (using F5 Function) in another Module, such as DME (MSV70). We need to determine if such an Error Message appears ONLY when trying to read CAS Parameters/ Inputs, or this happens in OTHER Modules.

You want to make sure that your COM Port and "Latency" settings in Device Manager are BOTH set to "1". Check/Change those settings with the K+DCAN Cable connected to the Laptop USB Port, but NOT connected to the Vehicle OBD II Socket. See the attached "Tutorial" pdf for procedure.

I assume you have MT as opposed to AT, since you have NO transmission Module shown in your Module identification of 17 modules in your vehicle? If so, your Clutch Switch, which must be working and signal received by CAS BEFORE CAS will activate the Starter, may be intermittent in its operation. You can view Inputs of: (1) Brake Light Switch (Bremse) and (2) Clutch Switch (Kupplung) to CAS Module by selecting CAS > F5 > F1 > F2 and if switch contacts are sending proper ground signal to CAS, the circle will fill/ blacken. If vehicle has Auto Transmission, Gear Position must also be "P or N".

While the "Intermittent Non-Start" symptoms you have described thus far are consistent with worn Starter Brushes or failing Solenoid, that would/should be premature at 73,000 miles. Some other wiring or input fault (such as failing clutch switch or corroded connector at switch) seems MORE likely to me. Most people would just start throwing parts at it, beginning with a new starter, but you have INPA & ISTA, so might as well learn all the diagnostic tricks they are capable of BEFORE throwing parts.

Please let us know what you find,
George

[gbalthrop]

INPA: CAS F5, F1, F2 Inputs Required for Start Engagement

How INPA can quickly show you if Brake, Clutch, P/N inputs are received by CAS for Start Signal to Starter Solenoid:

Circles are FILLED/BLACK if Brake/Clutch Switches active, as P/N circle is filled in ScreenPrint.

George

[ChickenSAKF]

Ok things have gone from worse to even worse....

I tried playing with the above terminal control and everything was working fine nothing intermittent..

So I've bitten the bullet and a really bad one at that. Spoke to a local so called Bmw diagnostic specialist, he's been out to my car today tried a few different things checked wiring etc, nothing to be found.

He decided to update cas with v67 during the process removed key etc then he had a fault throw up and he's started swearing in his native language got out my car to his van and from what looks like to me forgotten to switch his battery charger / PSU on. He's trying to blame my battery witch is a genuine Bosch and a few weeks old... He left my property pretty fast with obviously no charge. my car is now completely dead iv checked battery with multimeter and reading 7v...

What's next has he killed my cas ? Can it be recovered ?

I'm going to phone Bmw in the morning and I'm afraid looks like I'm going to have to get my car recovered there and pay the ridiculous labour rates