Why my car sometimes starts and why other times it wont?

Question

I have a 1993 325i BMW that will start perfectly fine sometimes but then other times I will be out and it wont start at all. It just makes a clicking noise that you can hear from the dash board. But if I wait like 40 minutes to an hour it will start again. Could there be something wrong with my starter or is it something else?

Answer 1

Sounds like the solenoid, provided you've checked the battery connections. The solenoid is attached to the starter. Check all the wires for security on these connections too.

Answer 2

sounds like the solenoid is sticking sometimes.

Answer 3

the car is a 1993 and probably has the original battery cables. sometimes they replace the ends for the battery connection and sometimes not. The point is that most of the time the problem you describe is caused by old corroded cables.

Heres a temporary fix:

Get a spray can of WD40 and spray the ends of the cable that go to the battery. Makes sure that you get the oil into the connection point where the copper cable goes into the clamp that attaches the battery.

You may see a greenish color there. Thats the corrosion thats giving you all the trouble--get it good and wet. It will help to provide a better contact.

If you still have problems have someone get under the car and check the connections at the starter also.( disconnect the neg cable off the battery before he does this--for safety)

Normally at a shop I would just change the cables,,,but this will work also for a while,,,in a pinch.

Answer 4

Could be a weak battery, loose battery cable, corrosion on the battery terminals, bad starter solenoid switch, bad wire from solenoid switch to starter or wire from battery to solenoid switch, unseated starter, or bad starter.  I'd check the terminals and connections first.  From there, run down the line to find the problem.  Check if there is 12 volts going into the starter solenoid switch.  Then, while cranking, test is you get 12 volts on the other end of it.  Check voltage going into your starter, just disconnect the power cable and run a voltmeter and have someone turn the ignition, if there is 12 volts, probably a fine cable.  Check the voltage on the smaller cable going into the starter, this is what tells the starter to throw the gear out to engage the flywheel.  Pull the starter and have it tested.  If you go in order, it should narrow down the problem.  But most likely, because it's intermittent, it's corrostion or a bad battery.

Answer 5

Load test to find if battery is good, then check good connection

at battery post and cable, then check starter ( relay or solenoid ).

Answer 6

I will attempt to answer in 2 category:

1.Any recent repairs in area of iginition swicth or distributor coil? If yes then check magnetic brushes and also reposition the distributor coil and also clean up carbon deposit on the coil head.

2.Any external security locks connected?If yes, have it checked for failure and also car immobilizer.

Most hard start not related to a known fault is due to carbon build up obstructing flow of starter current. Some times merely cleaning carbon from ignition or starter signal fuse or replacing them solves the problem.

Answer 7

bad conection somewhere or a weak battery

Answer 8

Man,,,this could be a nightmare to diagnose.It could be a short in the wiring somewhere.It could be a bad connection or corrosion also.Sometimes an electrical component will work fine when cool,but after it gets hot,not work.It could be the starter,or selenoid.Or it could be the ignition switch.I hope you can solve the mystery without too much difficulty.