no start with a click from the S/E/123(auto)

[RoundLightsRule]

I just ran my car in the driveway for 30 minutes less than a week ago. i put a different battery in it today (12.46v i checked) and now i got nothing. the lights come on, i hear the fuel pump and when i goto the start position, i only get a click from the S/E/123 switch. if i put it in S or 123, it clicks back to E. when i try to start it with the switch in E i only hear a click. Ive driven e28s,e23,and e32s with that switch not even functional so i dont know whazts causing the issue off the top of my head. im not even susposed to be working on the six, im susposed to be painting the downstairs bedroom and bathroom.

[JRanmann]

Unlike the '73 and earlier 2002's (round lights) these cars have a very sophisticated electrical system and in changing out your battery you may have caused one of the accessory leads on the positive terminal to become loose and inoperative at the battery connection...check carefully and you may find a loose connector or a poorly terminated ground strap, etc...likely some such human interventionary error that went temporarily unnoticed...lol!

Cheers!

Ran

[Wrekless]

And the click you're hearing is normal. It's the solenoid that returns the transmission mode to E(conomy) every time it's started.

[Lavalamp]

try putting it in neutral to start it, the switch or whatever that tells the ecu that the engine is in park by not be getting a good connection. it's worth a shot.

[RoundLightsRule]

I dont know why, i rechecked battery voltage and it was fine but when i hooked up some jumped cables to prevent draining the battery, it fired right up. wierd. however my windows randomly work now where there worked fine before. tried messing witht he circuit breaker button but it didnt help.

[bimmerjo]

Have your battery load tested. I've seen may that will hold between 12.1-12.5 but yet, will not provide enough current to even kick the solenoid.

[CW6er]

If the mode switch is working and returning the knob to "E" then that means that power is getting from the ignition switch to start relay and that the start relay is passing power through it. Check the connections from the start relay to the starter (BL/YL wire, Term 50). The only thing left are the cables and ground at the battery and the cable at the starter.

[JRanmann]

The only thing left are the cables and ground at the battery and the cable at the starter.

Agreed Chris (CW) and the only human interference point possible are those darned mulitple battery connectors or the gound strap disintegrated when the battery got swappe out of it's hidey hole... which is very possible...lastly the starter cable may be loose at the motor end and a bit of Yankee yanking should indicate if it's necessary to venture down thataway...


Good luck!