So I went out to start my 2001 325i today. I have full power but it won turn over, it just starts clicking and all the lights start flashing with the clicks. Plus my head lights automatically come on when I turn the key, I have never noticed that before. I have cleaned the battery post and tried to jump start the car. so I have no clue whats wrong.. Help. Thanks Shawn Ryan
Welcome to the forum! It could be any number of things but if the instrument lights flash when attempting to crank, it may actually be a bad or almost dead battery? The lights can still light with a bad battery until you apply enough load to the battery, which would be the starter motor. The clicking is typically the started solenoid trying to engage but it sounds like there is not sufficient battery power to hold it engaged and turn the engine over.
Sounds like a dead battery to me. Not that that's the primary cause - it could be something else killing the battery, but you can't figure that out until the battery is fully charged and the car's running.
Thanks, I was just worried it was something worse. I went out and got a new battery, and that worked. Now I just hope its not my alternator. Thanks for your help. Shawn
do you have a multimeter? if you do, test voltage at the battery terminals with the car running, it should be about 14 volts if the alternator is charging properly, any less and the alternator needs to be replaced
+1! Now that you've eliminated the simple, obvious thing, check to see if it was something else that took it down.
