Up on a lift, now it won't start

[sabego66]

Hello everyone, need some help here....

Put the car up on a lift to change a strut and to change the oil. Now it won't start. Is there a kill switch (something like it) that does not allow electricity to the selenoid.
Battery is good, Battery light is on, alternator is good, jumped started the car from the bottom, and it worked.

Dashboard light also... looks like a gear with an exclamation sign in it.

Can anyone show me the way please.....

[edjack]

That's the trans failure symbol - it operates in a failsafe mode, and does not inhibit engine start.

You say the battery is good. How did you determine that? You also say the battery light is on. I'm confused.

[bartelbe]

Dash light is transmission fault indicator. Dont panic just yet it could be a power supply problem. When you say you jumped car from bottom and it worked. What worked (it started and ran)? if so that suggest possibly you battery is bad did you load check the battery also if it does start and run did you check volts at the alternator? Bad battery or alternator will cause alot of problems. Alternator output should be above 13.2v

[Benny771]

Did you put it in park?

[andre14]

don't want to scare you but i had a starter go bad without warning (on my 740i). stopped to get gas, filled up and nothing. no click, no crank. $700.

[E39 Sean 540ia]

Hey this happened to me I didn't even pop the hood all i did was lift it up to look at the suspension. I towed it to a shop and they said my alternator was going bad or battery, they checked both and everything was fine they didn't know what to do. I thought It was going to be my starter when I tried starting it made no noise.So I had them jump start it from the bottom then I drove it to BMW and it ended up being two $2 fuses. You never know with these cars.

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[webdesigner]

don't want to scare you but i had a starter go bad without warning (on my 740i). stopped to get gas, filled up and nothing. no click, no crank. $700.

$700 for a starter? LOL

It's unbolting like 4 bolts and a $150~ part

[JimLev]

$700 for a starter? LOL

It's unbolting like 4 bolts and a $150~ part

LOL, you forgot a few wires.
He must have taken it to a dealer. I replaced one on a friends car, he paid about $150 for a Bosch starter (not from the dealer) and it took me an hour to replace it.
Don't forget the plush waiting rooms, the free food/drinks and overhead costs at the dealer, someone has to pay for that!
I just have a cold garage floor, a few stools, no lift, but the beer fridge is close by!

[andre14]

$700 for a starter? LOL

It's unbolting like 4 bolts and a $150~ part

Give me your phone #. Next time I need a new starter next day in February at 0 deg F. I'll give you a shout to come and fix it for... 650?

[LuisGT]

Check and see if the ground cable didn't come loose...

If it's like the 530, it should be bolted from the engine support to the chassis...

[fullthrottle540]

Don't forget the plush waiting rooms, the free food/drinks and overhead costs at the dealer, someone has to pay for that!


Don't forget they have a very clean bathroom with handsoap. At home I just use a 5gal bucket and toss the contents out my 2nd story window.

[sabego66]

do you know which fuses they changed?

Mechanic battery tester, he also checked the amps on the alternator all was good....

Yes

What about this immobiliser this car has ? How do you reset it? I say this because after it was started by jump from the bottom, the car bearly wants to start moving in drive.

[E39 Sean 540ia]

do you know which fuses they changed?

Mechanic battery tester, he also checked the amps on the alternator all was good....

Yes

What about this immobiliser this car has ? How do you reset it? I say this because after it was started by jump from the bottom, the car bearly wants to start moving in drive.

I don't know what fuses they were it was at BMW and I forgot to ask, maybe it's will say on the receipt, I will check. My car felt the same when I drove it from the shop to BMW its like you have to press on the gas a lot for it to move and it was jumpy right? I think I had/you have the same problem.

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the only thing the receipt says about it was "Check engine operation/no start 1.50 check and interrogate fault memory checked operation on shift interlock checked connections, power and ground no power in circuit checked and replaced blown fuse cleared faults and rechecked operation vehicle starts now" hope that helps

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[sabego66]

Have to hit the gas hard for it to start going.....

Thanks, sounds like all they did , besides replacing the fuses was to clear the computer. Its going to the scanner tomorrow...

[antsE39]

Update?