Battery Problems

Marc08EX · 05-08-2015, 10:46 AM

Do our cars give a low battery or battery discharged warning light when the battery is about to go?

I haven't used my car in about 11 days... I have it hooked up to a CTEK charger so I thought I wouldn't have issues... This morning, I disconnected the car charger (fully charged from the indicator light) and tried to start the car... All I got was a loud clicking from under the hood and all the electronics were flickering...

What I don't understand is that I didn't get any low battery charge warning (I thought we have that when the battery is about to go)..

I tried to reconnect my CTEK after this and it was staying on the "charging" stage for a while (stage 3 in the MUS4.3 model). I don't understand why it's taking a while to charge when it was fully charged a while ago...

I guess it's time for a new battery...

I just didn't expect this to happen when I have a battery charger hooked up...

The Wind Breezes · 05-08-2015, 11:14 AM

Was the charger on maintain or did you just plug it in to charge? If the latter it probably finished charging the first day and did nothing thereafter. Even so you'll need a new battery.

Marc08EX · 05-08-2015, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

Was the charger on maintain or did you just plug it in to charge? If the latter it probably finished charging the first day and did nothing thereafter. Even so you'll need a new battery.

I've had the charger on since the last time I used it.

fastdrivingjr · 05-08-2015, 11:47 AM

I just had a similar problem ntb or your local battery shop can test your battery.. my 2010 just died in like 1 week it just went south... after you notice struggle to start swap battery asap

Marc08EX · 05-08-2015, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastdrivingjr

I just had a similar problem ntb or your local battery shop can test your battery.. my 2010 just died in like 1 week it just went south... after you notice struggle to start swap battery asap

I never noticed any struggles to start because I always hook up my charger. It always started the engine without any hesitation.. But today, it just didn't start...

Marc08EX · 05-08-2015, 11:51 AM

How do you guys figure out what type of battery you have installed in the car? Like if it's AGM or lead acid?

bmw1racer · 05-08-2015, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc08EX

Do our cars give a low battery or battery discharged warning light when the battery is about to go?

I don't think so, since my battery died the second time I started in in a 15-minute period... Weird.

Quote:

I haven't used my car in about 11 days... I have it hooked up to a CTEK charger so I thought I wouldn't have issues... This morning, I disconnected the car charger (fully charged from the indicator light) and tried to start the car... All I got was a loud clicking from under the hood and all the electronics were flickering...

Yup, that's a dead battery indicator... I know that first hand.

Quote:

I tried to reconnect my CTEK after this and it was staying on the "charging" stage for a while (stage 3 in the MUS4.3 model). I don't understand why it's taking a while to charge when it was fully charged a while ago...

Yeah, my CTEK 0.8 does the same thing... It appears that once you disconnect the AC or unlock a door and the battery voltage drops a bit, the entire charging process restarts... Odd.

Quote:

I guess it's time for a new battery...

I just didn't expect this to happen when I have a battery charger hooked up...

How old was your battery? Mine lasted only 2.5 years.

If your CTEK is still under warranty, I'd complain to CTEK... Unlikely that you'd get any traction from them, but it's worth asking.

Stock4Evr · 05-09-2015, 07:21 AM

I had to replace my battery (2012 135i) after only 17595 miles. I now keep it on a BMW trickle charger. I drove it regularly and keep it in the garage. No reason for the failure.

bmw1racer · 05-09-2015, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SocHermit(2)

I had to replace my battery (2012 135i) after only 17595 miles. I now keep it on a BMW trickle charger. I drove it regularly and keep it in the garage. No reason for the failure.

Yeah, my 2012 conked out at 13K miles... How much did the stealership stick you for a new battery or were you smart to not go to them?

Marc08EX · 05-09-2015, 09:52 AM

I've had my car in a CTEK charger for a year now... I thought I'd get a longer life with a battery charger than this.

Stock4Evr · 05-10-2015, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Yeah, my 2012 conked out at 13K miles... How much did the stealership stick you for a new battery or were you smart to not go to them?

Stuck me with a $391.30 bill. I questioned it but to no avail. Just something to remember when I go for another auto purchase.

bmw1racer · 05-10-2015, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SocHermit(2)

Stuck me with a $391.30 bill.

Wow, you got off cheap.

Quote:

I questioned it but to no avail.

Yeah, I've been battling the stealership and BMWNA for two months now... Looks like a lost cause.

bmw1racer · 05-27-2015, 08:38 AM

Good things come to those who wait:

Just got a call from BMW NA: they're going to reimburse me for the cost of the battery... It's not the entire cost of the battery replacement, but it's better than nothing.

Marc08EX · 05-27-2015, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

Good things come to those who wait:

Just got a call from BMW NA: they're going to reimburse me for the cost of the battery... It's not the entire cost of the battery replacement, but it's better than nothing.

Congrats man! Finally!

05-08-2015, 10:46 AM	#1
Marc08EX Lieutenant 139 Rep 575 Posts Drives: 2011 E82 135i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: AZ iTrader: (5)	Battery Problems Do our cars give a low battery or battery discharged warning light when the battery is about to go? I haven't used my car in about 11 days... I have it hooked up to a CTEK charger so I thought I wouldn't have issues... This morning, I disconnected the car charger (fully charged from the indicator light) and tried to start the car... All I got was a loud clicking from under the hood and all the electronics were flickering... What I don't understand is that I didn't get any low battery charge warning (I thought we have that when the battery is about to go).. I tried to reconnect my CTEK after this and it was staying on the "charging" stage for a while (stage 3 in the MUS4.3 model). I don't understand why it's taking a while to charge when it was fully charged a while ago... I guess it's time for a new battery... I just didn't expect this to happen when I have a battery charger hooked up... __________________ 2011 135i 6MT \| Alpine White \| Terracotta Boston Leather \| M-Sport \| BMW Performance Exhaust Resonator Delete \| Active Autowerke Signature Exhaust \| BMW Performance Suspension \| Blackline LCI Taillights \| BMW Performance CF Spoiler \| CF Rear Diffuser \| PPK \| E92 M3 FSB \| Matte Black Kidney Grilles \| VMR V710 Jet Anthracite \| Michelin PSS \| BMW SS Pedals
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05-08-2015, 11:14 AM	#2
The Wind Breezes Lieutenant Colonel 912 Rep 1,850 Posts Drives: 135i N55 DCT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Was the charger on maintain or did you just plug it in to charge? If the latter it probably finished charging the first day and did nothing thereafter. Even so you'll need a new battery.
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05-08-2015, 11:47 AM	#4
fastdrivingjr Private First Class 3 Rep 141 Posts Drives: ducati 749 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ATLANTA GA iTrader: (0)	I just had a similar problem ntb or your local battery shop can test your battery.. my 2010 just died in like 1 week it just went south... after you notice struggle to start swap battery asap
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05-08-2015, 11:51 AM	#6
Marc08EX Lieutenant 139 Rep 575 Posts Drives: 2011 E82 135i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: AZ iTrader: (5)	How do you guys figure out what type of battery you have installed in the car? Like if it's AGM or lead acid? __________________ 2011 135i 6MT \| Alpine White \| Terracotta Boston Leather \| M-Sport \| BMW Performance Exhaust Resonator Delete \| Active Autowerke Signature Exhaust \| BMW Performance Suspension \| Blackline LCI Taillights \| BMW Performance CF Spoiler \| CF Rear Diffuser \| PPK \| E92 M3 FSB \| Matte Black Kidney Grilles \| VMR V710 Jet Anthracite \| Michelin PSS \| BMW SS Pedals
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05-09-2015, 07:21 AM	#8
Stock4Evr RetNavSpook 67 Rep 398 Posts Drives: 2012 135i - 2016 320i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Canyon Lake, Texas iTrader: (0)	I had to replace my battery (2012 135i) after only 17595 miles. I now keep it on a BMW trickle charger. I drove it regularly and keep it in the garage. No reason for the failure.
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05-09-2015, 09:52 AM	#10
Marc08EX Lieutenant 139 Rep 575 Posts Drives: 2011 E82 135i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: AZ iTrader: (5)	I've had my car in a CTEK charger for a year now... I thought I'd get a longer life with a battery charger than this. __________________ 2011 135i 6MT \| Alpine White \| Terracotta Boston Leather \| M-Sport \| BMW Performance Exhaust Resonator Delete \| Active Autowerke Signature Exhaust \| BMW Performance Suspension \| Blackline LCI Taillights \| BMW Performance CF Spoiler \| CF Rear Diffuser \| PPK \| E92 M3 FSB \| Matte Black Kidney Grilles \| VMR V710 Jet Anthracite \| Michelin PSS \| BMW SS Pedals
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05-27-2015, 08:38 AM	#13
bmw1racer bimmerphile, technogeek 998 Rep 3,784 Posts Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 128i Coupe [0.00]	Good things come to those who wait: Just got a call from BMW NA: they're going to reimburse me for the cost of the battery... It's not the entire cost of the battery replacement, but it's better than nothing. __________________
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