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Won't crank over

Tiny
TNDNCARSON
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 BMW X3
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 70,000 MILES
Key turns, lights on dash engage, battery seems to work but no noise at all when you turn the key on. Just silence, does not even try to turn over

fuse? Starter? Battery? Where do I start?
Thursday, February 26th, 2009 AT 4:10 PM

17 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,833 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like the starter has gone out, here is a guide that will help you figure if the starter is getting signal.

The guide is at the bottom.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-engine-will-not-crank-over

Also is the security light flashing when your are trying to start it?

If so follow this guide.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-reset-a-security-system

Please run this test and get back to us so we can continue helping you.

Best, Ken
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:22 PM
Tiny
ROY REASOR
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2004 BMW X3
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 60,000 MILES
BMW 2004 X3 will not start. Batter is OK. BWM dealership replaced starter and car started for few weeks and then would not start. BMW dealership replaced ignition switch and started for few days and then would not start. Returned to dealership and replaced another part and started for a few days and then would not start. Started few days later and now will not start again. Both myself and dealership can not figure out problem. Help!
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
What was "another" part? Where is the dealership? A no start condition might be loss of EWS/DME alignment. I had several X3 issues like this at the dealer, it required sending the parts to BMW in Germany to resolve the problem.
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ROY REASOR
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Dealership was Don Jacobs in Lexington, Kentucky. I do not know what other part was because I was not charged by dealership for this 3rd visit.
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
Then we have not to the root of the issue yet.
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DDAWSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 BMW X3
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 74,000 MILES
I have a 2004 BMW X3. Yesterday morning I went to start my car and it is not starting, just 'clicking'. Dome lights do come on, as do radio and 'door open' beep, but it does nothing more than click. Checked the battery, it is a little low, but not so low to have it do this. Checked starter fuse, it is a little 'foggy' but not sure if that's a problem or not. Any suggestions? Thank you!
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Sounds like a faulty starter, get that checked
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MCULLUM
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2004 BMW X3
2004 BMW X3

We took the back hatch off and when we put it back on the vehicle will roll over but will not start, what should we do or where should we start?
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
There is nothing in the rear hatch area that would do what you claim unless there is a ground wire that was forgotten or perhaps a preexisting condition. A crank, no start condition will set a fault and it is readable with proprietary software. Will it start if you spray carburetor cleaner into the intake? If so then fuel delivery is an issue, start with checking the fuel pressure and delivery. BTW, just to satisfy curiosity, what did the hatch come off the car for?
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MCULLUM
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I was wrong the back hatch was not taken off. This is what happend. The battery was dead and the son put the battery charger on it, but put them on backwards. While it was hooked up he pushed the button to pop the back hatch. Then after that we found out what happend and put a new battery in. The car would start and run but the back hatch would not work. So, they torn the back hatch apart and check for power with a test light and then it would never run after that. We do have a fuel smell out the exhaust and tried to put ether in it and it will still not run, but it will roll over. So something is wrong with the relay to the back hatch and we do not know where to find that b/c we have replaced the actualor on the back hatch latch and the new swith to the latch and the hatch still does not work and the car wont start. Everything else works and we do not have the software for 2004 x3 and we cant buy a manual b/c no one can get them for the x3. What should we do or where should we look?
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
You will need to go to the dealer for repairs. Reversing the battery voltage is very, very bad and you have most likely caused severe damage to the engine control module.
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MCULLUM
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Would that have to do with the back hatch not working too? Also where would the reley be for the back hatch? Thanks
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
The general module controls the central locking, the sunroof, and the rear hatch. There is no separate relay. What this has to do with it is that the X3 platform is very sensitive as far as the electronic modules go and reversing the charge at the battery may have caused damage to several modules and you will need to go to the dealer to repair these issues. As the little sticker on some electronic devices says "there are no user serviceable parts inside" I am sorry if this advice seems harsh, but there is a price to pay for not following the correct procedures and letting unqualified personnel perform repairs on your vehicle.
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MCULLUM
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Would there be a fusable link somewhere to this, b/c the car did run after he crossed the terminals it is when they used the check light that the vehicle would not run anymore.
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
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A light used to test circuitry might not cause this but there is a possibility there is an issue with some of the electronics. First let's try the easy stuff, disconnect the battery for 10 minutes, this is what BMW calls a master battery reset, its like control, alt, delete on your computer, then reconnect the battery and try it again.
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Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 AT 4:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CRANKY1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2006 BMW X3
  • 100,000 MILES
Tried to boost but no response at all, no click, no turn over
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Tuesday, October 1st, 2019 AT 3:53 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like the starter has gone out but to be sure here is a guide to help us confirm the issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Tuesday, October 1st, 2019 AT 3:53 PM (Merged)

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