My son’s key fob went dead today. Is there a way to still drive it?
Dead as in won’t lock/unlock car? If you put it in the ignition slot does it start up?
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Howard in Orlando
2001 740iS
1987 535is (sold)
Correct. Had to use the spare slot key. Will not start car either. Can the push button be taken out?
That’s weird. I have 3 key fobs and one died last year. Won’t lock/unlock but once I insert it it will start the car
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Howard in Orlando
2001 740iS
1987 535is (sold)
Hmmmm….. ??
Could dead car battery be the culprit?
Last edited by kino1161; 08-11-2020 at 07:09 AM.
Do you have the key symbol on the dash when you try to start?
Do you hear just a click when you hit the start button?
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
He gets nothing when he inserts the key fob into the ignition, nor does the key unlock the doors (via the buttons).
Last edited by kino1161; 08-11-2020 at 07:11 AM.
Sounds like a dead battery if no lights come on the dash.
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
Would the dead battery cause the key fob not to work even on the doors?
Open the door with the metal key and try jump start the car.
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Well, I jumped the car and it started. Keep the mind, I cut open the key and ordered a new shell and battery. ��. Anyway, does anyone know what the following warning lights mean? Yes, he has warning lights now. One looks like a spark plug, one looks like a red circle with a liquid in it with a parenthesis and the last is the front end of a car with a circle with exclamation point inside above the hood....with a parenthesis around it.
I can’t seem to post pics...
Last edited by kino1161; 08-11-2020 at 04:49 PM.
Wait, you cut open the key to get to the battery inside? There are plenty of YouTube vidoes showing how to open the back cover to access the key's battery. IIRC the battery tend to last about 4 years on those keys.
You can also use another website to host the photos and just link it here. Sounds like you have a service due on the first one, would have to see a picture to be sure.
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
If the car doesn't have comfort access, the battery isn't replaceable by simple means. It does require opening the fob.
ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
Update. Went home at lunch to check on car. Dead again! So, after letting it run forever yesterday and re-starting last night, it is dead again! Someone mentioned the failed Alternator Diodes/ Voltage Regulator. Does the symptom sound familiar? If so where do I purchase from?
Last edited by kino1161; 08-12-2020 at 12:32 PM.
Modern day BMWs don’t charge batteries. They’re not made to do that. They replenish the little bit of power used to start the engine, and then simply maintain a constant voltage. If the battery in the vehicle is dead, which it sounds like it is, then it needs to be replaced.
If you can jump start the car, you can easily test the alternators output with a volt meter. My guess is that the alternator is fine, and the car needs a new battery. Don’t make it overcomplicated.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician
Went to AutoZone. Battery is good, alternator is bad. What are my options? I need to get him back on the road.
Thanks! I’m new to BMW and just trying to get some guidance from those that know. I can’t possibly know what you BMW veterans know. I can assume things but I don’t because these cars a big computers. I do my own maintenance on my wife’s MB and my Cayenne but I am very new to BMW and don’t want to mess something up..... just looking for guidance and save a few dollars in the process.....but thanks again for your help.��
Last edited by kino1161; 08-12-2020 at 09:40 PM.
That battery is not good. AutoZone is not equipped to properly test it. Their testers don’t put a real load on the battery. Nor can they run a diagnostic scan, including an energy diagnosis test plan.
My advice would be to replace the battery, have it registered at a BMW specialist shop, and then check the alternator. A bad battery will affect the alternator charging, or not, or even overcharging. Don’t trust autozone. They’re not trained, experienced, or anything. Minimum wage idiots usually.
ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician
white94RX,
How can I rule out the battery without wasting money on a new one? This battery was purchased in May 2019. i registered it with my Foxwell with the BMW app. Thanks. for your help.
Energy diagnosis test plan. That's going to require ISTA.
If it is your alternator, and that battery has been deep cycled a few times, it's probably not going to hold up. Have you charged it with a real battery charger? Or just ran the engine and expected the alternator (which is questionable as of now) to charge it?
ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician
No battery charger. What's this I hear about replacing the regulator? Is that an option?
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