Slow crankning in cold weather

mskvarenina · 11-30-2010, 06:17 AM

It seems the colder it gets, the slower the startup cranking until the engine fires up. Could this be the battery already? The car us only 4 years old.

335imax · 11-30-2010, 08:12 AM

So I would say you have nailed it.

mike-y · 11-30-2010, 11:44 AM

yep. cold weather is harder on batteries, so an older one will most likely start to die out during the winter.

fdriller9 · 11-30-2010, 11:49 AM

Hmmm I've noticed this as well with my '06.

I have a cap for my amp in the trunk and it is around 11.7 when the car is off.

I'm going to be measuring standing voltage, cranking, and running voltage later today with my BT scan tool.

e90pilot · 11-30-2010, 08:35 PM

The same thing happened to me and it turned out to be a bad starter. Battery was fine. I have over 5 years and 145k mi on this battery with LOTS of cycles.

fdriller9 · 11-30-2010, 09:53 PM

So I measure the voltage using my BT scan tool and the voltages seem fine except for when the car's off.

My cap stays around 11.7 and my BT scan tool measured 12.1 with the car off.

14.7 with the car on.

Battery right? Can you test the starter with the BT tool? I'm assuming no.

11-30-2010, 06:17 AM	#1
mskvarenina Private 9 Rep 60 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	Slow crankning in cold weather It seems the colder it gets, the slower the startup cranking until the engine fires up. Could this be the battery already? The car us only 4 years old.
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11-30-2010, 08:12 AM	#2
335imax Second Lieutenant 44 Rep 210 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Virginia iTrader: (1)	Batteries last about 5 years So I would say you have nailed it. __________________ M Performance Suspension
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11-30-2010, 11:44 AM	#3
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	yep. cold weather is harder on batteries, so an older one will most likely start to die out during the winter.
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11-30-2010, 11:49 AM	#4
fdriller9 Banned 252 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	Hmmm I've noticed this as well with my '06. I have a cap for my amp in the trunk and it is around 11.7 when the car is off. I'm going to be measuring standing voltage, cranking, and running voltage later today with my BT scan tool.
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11-30-2010, 08:35 PM	#5
e90pilot Freight Dawg 104 Rep 2,103 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oakland, CA iTrader: (3)	The same thing happened to me and it turned out to be a bad starter. Battery was fine. I have over 5 years and 145k mi on this battery with LOTS of cycles. __________________ --Marcelo '06 Arctic Metallic 325i \| Sport Package \| 6MT \| Dinan Stage III suspension \| Dinan exhaust \| 330i manifold swap! Click here! \| Active Autowerke tune \| 135i Brake Calipers \| Deiselboost caliper brackets \| E46 M3 front rotors
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11-30-2010, 09:53 PM	#6
fdriller9 Banned 252 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	So I measure the voltage using my BT scan tool and the voltages seem fine except for when the car's off. My cap stays around 11.7 and my BT scan tool measured 12.1 with the car off. 14.7 with the car on. Battery right? Can you test the starter with the BT tool? I'm assuming no.
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