[HELP]

DylxnJames · 12-22-2020, 12:38 PM

Hi All,

Came out this morning to a flat battery on my 56 plate (2006) 3 series. Must have left a light on or something. Anyway, get some jump cables on, give it 10 minutes to get some charge, stick the key in to start it and I am greeted with the steering wheel lock dash light (Red) and the car wont turn on at all.

I left the battery to charge, went back a few hours later, steering lock light still there and engine still wont start.

How did my battery going flat prompt the car to decide it fancied locking the wheel and not letting me start the car?! Had zero issue with it before, no cause for concern...

I have ordered a can cable and have the bmw software ready to go but all of this hassle because the battery died? Does this happen every time a BMW battery goes flat?

Vivek. · 12-22-2020, 12:39 PM

What's your voltage at the battery? There's a chance you've drained it beyond recovery and it may need a new battery

TunafishE93 · 12-22-2020, 01:02 PM

Yep pretty much. This is common for a BMW. Best solution is to take battery out and charge than get tested while out of car. Any other way can cause more issues (jumping). You see it all the time, jumped the car now wont start.

F31B48 · 12-22-2020, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DylxnJames

Hi All,

Came out this morning to a flat battery on my 56 plate 3 series. Must have left a light on or something. Anyway, get some jump cables on, give it 10 minutes to get some charge, stick the key in to start it and I am greeted with the steering wheel lock dash light (Red) and the car wont turn on at all.

I left the battery to charge, went back a few hours later, steering lock light still there and engine still wont start.

How did my battery going flat prompt the car to decide it fancied locking the wheel and not letting me start the car?! Had zero issue with it before, no cause for concern...

I have ordered a can cable and have the bmw software ready to go but all of this hassle because the battery died? Does this happen every time a BMW battery goes flat?

If the steering lock symbol is red, you will need to reset the ELV counter and CAS. No this doesn't happen everytime a battery dies. It usually only happens if the battery has been in poor condition for a long time. Get the battery charged and tested with a proper battery tester. You will more than likely need a new battery. Then reset the counters after rectifying the battery issue. Be sure to check the alternator charge rate after you get it running.

DylxnJames · 12-22-2020, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vivek.

What's your voltage at the battery? There's a chance you've drained it beyond recovery and it may need a new battery

Sitting just over 12v. Just strange there were no warnings about the battery

DylxnJames · 12-22-2020, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvaBmw

If the steering lock symbol is red, you will need to reset the ELV counter and CAS. No this doesn't happen everytime a battery dies. It usually only happens if the battery has been in poor condition for a long time. Get the battery charged and tested with a proper battery tester. You will more than likely need a new battery. Then reset the counters after rectifying the battery issue. Be sure to check the alternator charge rate after you get it running.

Got the can cable coming and have the laptop pre-loaded with the software so will see how that goes. Cheers

ctuna · 12-22-2020, 01:38 PM

I managed to google that a 56 plate is and 2006 but most of us
here will have no idea of what that means.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...&highlight=elv

I have and 06 and have had to replace the steering column because of this
wacky problem .
However when I installed and aftermarket stereo and when I changed the battery
the problem did not pop up.

DylxnJames · 12-22-2020, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctuna

I managed to google that a 56 plate is and 2006 but most of us
here will have no idea of what that means.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...&highlight=elv

I have and 06 and have had to replace the steering column because of this
wacky problem .
However when I installed and aftermarket stereo and when I changed the battery
the problem did not pop up.

My bad, yes its a 2006. I'm praying that I don't have to replace the steering column and that clearing the code will do the job. You would think there would be some indication that the part is going faulty, not just locking up and refusing to budge!

ctuna · 12-22-2020, 05:09 PM

Seems strange that it would go bad at precisely the time you changed the battery.
Usually it gives you a bunch of yellow faults first.

See the link I sent that really covers it better than anything else.

You can try cleaning an re lubing the plastic gear box for the lock mechanism
unfortunately that requires taking the damn column out .

12-22-2020, 12:38 PM	#1
DylxnJames Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: BMW 3 Series E90 Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Suffolk, UK iTrader: (0)	[HELP] - E90 battery died, now steering lock on Hi All, Came out this morning to a flat battery on my 56 plate (2006) 3 series. Must have left a light on or something. Anyway, get some jump cables on, give it 10 minutes to get some charge, stick the key in to start it and I am greeted with the steering wheel lock dash light (Red) and the car wont turn on at all. I left the battery to charge, went back a few hours later, steering lock light still there and engine still wont start. How did my battery going flat prompt the car to decide it fancied locking the wheel and not letting me start the car?! Had zero issue with it before, no cause for concern... I have ordered a can cable and have the bmw software ready to go but all of this hassle because the battery died? Does this happen every time a BMW battery goes flat? Last edited by DylxnJames; 12-22-2020 at 02:09 PM..
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12-22-2020, 12:39 PM	#2
Vivek. Lieutenant Colonel 1366 Rep 1,532 Posts Drives: 335is coupe, e30 vert Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Los Gatos, California iTrader: (0)	What's your voltage at the battery? There's a chance you've drained it beyond recovery and it may need a new battery
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12-22-2020, 01:02 PM	#3
TunafishE93 Major 418 Rep 1,155 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: NV iTrader: (0)	Yep pretty much. This is common for a BMW. Best solution is to take battery out and charge than get tested while out of car. Any other way can cause more issues (jumping). You see it all the time, jumped the car now wont start.
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12-22-2020, 01:38 PM	#7
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,101 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	I managed to google that a 56 plate is and 2006 but most of us here will have no idea of what that means. https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...&highlight=elv I have and 06 and have had to replace the steering column because of this wacky problem . However when I installed and aftermarket stereo and when I changed the battery the problem did not pop up.
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12-22-2020, 05:09 PM	#9
ctuna Lieutenant General 1911 Rep 13,101 Posts Drives: 325xi 06 wagon MT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Santa Cruz, Ca iTrader: (0)	Seems strange that it would go bad at precisely the time you changed the battery. Usually it gives you a bunch of yellow faults first. See the link I sent that really covers it better than anything else. You can try cleaning an re lubing the plastic gear box for the lock mechanism unfortunately that requires taking the damn column out .
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