95 E34 530I V2.37
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy
I think you need an ice cold beer jeff
HID 5000k low 3000k fogs
dynaudio seps. mc intosh amp
ACS w/yokohama advan sport tires
Race logic TractionControl
Don't feel bad. I went through no less trouble than you did. Initially I fished the alternator from the top between the engine and the radiator scratching the radiator fins and my knuckle pretty badly. After a couple of times I found a less painful way. It is still a PITA. Just a little less so.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/500521/
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/370372/
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/189257/
'01 540it, 6/01
'03 325i 5 speed, 9/02
'10 535ix. 9/09
'10 mini 6 speed
'15 mini countryman 6 speed
it's worst case but I think I am getting closer... I stopped killing batteries once I started watching obc test09 on a regular basis. I am working on chapter 18 ("Sisyphus vs the E-box") of 'charge trek' at the moment.
(preview)
Recently I bought a little ammeter gauge and rigged it up to the alternator charge wire. Just the engine running everything else off I am drawing 30 amps on a fully charged battery, which I think is maybe a lot for just the essentials. The alternator will give me up to 65 amps at idle which I think is what a decent alternator should give.
Anyway, I kind of nosed around diagrams looking for what would be drawing current while just the engine is running and most stuff points to this
where F,L,and J go to things like the fuel pump and injectors and critical stuff like that.
So then the other day when it was really cold I noticed (because I'm always watching the voltage) a sudden voltage drop right when I shifted out of park... and I can't remember which diagrams I was looking at but the electronic transmission control seemed to point toward the dme also.
So then I posted this.
I have ordered a main relay ($16) and when I get the chance I'm going to look at all the power connections around the E-box like the fusible link and as far as I can tell the main connection is underneath the relays or the DME box. It might be a while before I have a chance (read feel like) going there seeing as I live in a frozen wasteland and it gets dark at 4. Besides, I discovered today (since I am already rambling now) I have bigger problems - my ds carpet is soaking wet (aaargh that is the worst thing in this climate) - it's not the sun roof drains... aaargh.
Anyways - thanks for asking! I'll go chime in on the Xmas thread now - Yeah Jeff, you thought YOU had problems.
Spelling must be difficult for you, but it's okay I can still read it.
Not arguing with your experience but a few things I noticed along the way. theres the battery to the alternator that runs under the intake that 'on my car' looks like it takes a hit over time. Looks squished yet fundamentally intact.
I don't know how the wires are routed behind the alternator, they just shove back into the birthing hole or perhaps escape to bake on the exhaust area? Like you say perhaps as I said the Batt lead has some corrosion going on compromising it's condition?
Just a shot man, awaiting a personal attack reply.
been here done this,
95 E34 530I V2.37
===========
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy
I don't quite understand your question. But here is a few thousand words reply.
'01 540it, 6/01
'03 325i 5 speed, 9/02
'10 535ix. 9/09
'10 mini 6 speed
'15 mini countryman 6 speed
Excellent! Not that I want to rush out and pull the intake again, my power wire crosses over the water tube around the middle. Have no little yellow wire holders either. I see how this is supposed to go and will try to route the wire like that next time.
95 E34 530I V2.37
===========
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy