I replaced the starter in my 04 330ci today and the first few times I started it it was fine. I drove it for about 15 mins and when I stopped i heard what I thought was the aux fan running. I just fixed my ac and thought that's why it might be running now. I came out 2 minutes later and still heard it, when I went to start the car I had no starter. Popped the hood and the sound was coming from inside or below the manifold. I popped started the car and got to my appointment. Tried again and a few times after and still no starter. Coming home I realized my speedometer only reads about 16mph. As soon as I start moving it jumps up and when I stop it drops below 0. Anyone got any ideas? I'm suppose to be taking the car on a 6 hour trip saturday morning and need everything working.
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I suspect that you disturbed the crankshaft position sensor/connection while replacing the starter,
as they are located in the same general area.
Why would it have started fine the first few times I tried it?
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Because if you knocked it loose while working on it, running the car could have caused it to lose connection.
Problem solved. The battery + wire shorted to the small terminal (the one on the top when the starter is installed, black /yellow wire). The starter stayed running and burnt out. What I didn't realize until I pulled it back out is the standoff that the battery and alt wire mount to is much shorter on the starter I swapped in. It must have moved just enough to short out as I was driving. Swapped the old one (with the longer B+ standoff) in and it started right up. Haven't been on a test drive yet to check the speedo but I was able to do an oil service reset so I'm guessing all is good. No idea why the nazi engineers designed it that way but if your speedo only reads 0 or 15 mph but everything else works and no lights on the dash then check that wire. I thought I had seen something about it in one of the searches I did but couldn't find it again. Thanks for the help
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