From dale_at_unofficialbmw.com Thu Jul 23 18:14:28 1998
Thu, 23 Jul 1998 18:14:26 -0700
From: Dale Beuning <dale_at_unofficialbmw.com>
Thu, 23 Jul 1998 18:14:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: e30 dead every few days
To: andrewsb_at_netnitco.net (BEN ANDREWS)
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 18:14:54 -0700 (PDT)
Cc: dale_at_unofficialbmw.com ()

Hi Ben,
You can still check at the fuses. Just pull each fuse and check for current flow across it with everything in the car turned off. Expect some small number for the clock and a slightly bigger (??) number for the motronic.

How far do you drive every day? Do you drive 5-10 minutes at least to give the battery time to get charged up? Is your trunk light on when you close the lid? You can pull a speaker in the rear deck to see, or open the trunk and feel the light, if it heats as you hold it, that's not the problem.

It's cheap and easy to change out the internal regulator and brushes. I'd stick with the factory setup to keep things simple.

How old is your battery? Over 3 years, replace it. Hit any big bumps lately? That can kill an older battery.

hope this helps
Dale

> I searched your site for dead battery info. After a day or so my =
> battery on a 91 318 is drains down enough to clear the clock/radio code =
> & prevent starting. I initially thought it was the radar/cell phone =
> doing it. With all the electronic stuff that is supposed to be always =
> on & ready, how does one find the drain? Used to be you could put a =
> test light betw. post & disconnected neg terminal and plug in fuses =
> until one lit the light & verified current flow.
> I read in european car about bosch alternator diodes going bad. I =
> believe they recommended an external regulator kit to eliminate the =
> problem (volvo) (lots cheaper than alternator) How could one check the =
> alt. as the drain source? Courtesy lights seem to all be off.
> Thanks

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                       |            Dale Beuning           |
                       |       email: dale_at_unofficialbmw.com     |
                       | web: http://www.unofficialbmw.com |
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