Turn the key and EVERYTHING dies?

john_bigboote · 12-29-2012, 10:14 PM

Soooo, I twice now when leaving work, I have tried to start the car while the driver's door is open, and upon turning the key, EVERYTHING dies, as if you took the battery out of the car. No electrical whatsoever. The first time, about a week ago, I thought I noticed the little red light near the radio blinking (can't remember for sure though) so I closed the door and tried lock and then unlock on the key fob, which seemed to do the trick, and allowed me to start the car. When the power came back on, clock and trip meter and stuff were all blanked out, as if the battery died.

When it happened after work last night, no such luck with the key fob. COMPLETELY DEAD. I wanted to try and disconnect the battery and reconnect it, but it turns out you can't get the flap cover off the battery tray (in a wagon that is) without opening the back hatch, which, without power, will not open! So as I was trying to figure out what the hell to do, and closed one of the back doors, the lights all came back on, and again I was able to start the car. I would guess about 5 minutes had gone by since turning the key and killing all the electrics.

I am kind of assuming this is some kind of glitch in the anti-theft? Can't think of what else would cut ALL power like that but some kind of relay.

Backstory, electrically: I think I have a bad ballast or something in one of my HID headlights, as it goes out once in a while but then comes back.

-Recently something similar has been happening with my right front directional - when I start the car, the failure indicator is lit, and the right turn signal fast blinks, but then comes back eventually.

-Replaced the Final Stage Resistor in the HVAC system about a month ago, could I have scrambled something somehow?

-Replaced the battery (original factory) with the Autozone one that fits our cars (94DL?) just prior to the FSU.

so in conclusion, WTF??????

thanks for any input.

darksideracer69 · 12-30-2012, 05:41 PM

loose battery connection, or ground would be my guess

stuntin325 · 01-05-2013, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darksideracer69

loose battery connection, or ground would be my guess

+1 on this
You should try opening it with the key

john_bigboote · 01-10-2013, 05:58 PM

Bumping this because it happened again.

Battery connections are all good. Ground connections seem good but I haven't checked under the car.

Again happened while starting with the door open. My key fob clicker is dying, can this be a contributor? I am fairly convinced it is anti-theft related because closing the door, and locking then unlocking via the fob is what seemed to "fix" this two out of the three times it has happened.

Anything??

12-29-2012, 10:14 PM	#1
john_bigboote Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 16 My Ride: 2002 325i Wagon View My Garage	Turn the key and EVERYTHING dies? Soooo, I twice now when leaving work, I have tried to start the car while the driver's door is open, and upon turning the key, EVERYTHING dies, as if you took the battery out of the car. No electrical whatsoever. The first time, about a week ago, I thought I noticed the little red light near the radio blinking (can't remember for sure though) so I closed the door and tried lock and then unlock on the key fob, which seemed to do the trick, and allowed me to start the car. When the power came back on, clock and trip meter and stuff were all blanked out, as if the battery died. When it happened after work last night, no such luck with the key fob. COMPLETELY DEAD. I wanted to try and disconnect the battery and reconnect it, but it turns out you can't get the flap cover off the battery tray (in a wagon that is) without opening the back hatch, which, without power, will not open! So as I was trying to figure out what the hell to do, and closed one of the back doors, the lights all came back on, and again I was able to start the car. I would guess about 5 minutes had gone by since turning the key and killing all the electrics. I am kind of assuming this is some kind of glitch in the anti-theft? Can't think of what else would cut ALL power like that but some kind of relay. Backstory, electrically: I think I have a bad ballast or something in one of my HID headlights, as it goes out once in a while but then comes back. -Recently something similar has been happening with my right front directional - when I start the car, the failure indicator is lit, and the right turn signal fast blinks, but then comes back eventually. -Replaced the Final Stage Resistor in the HVAC system about a month ago, could I have scrambled something somehow? -Replaced the battery (original factory) with the Autozone one that fits our cars (94DL?) just prior to the FSU. so in conclusion, WTF?????? thanks for any input.

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01-10-2013, 05:58 PM	#4
john_bigboote Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 16 My Ride: 2002 325i Wagon View My Garage	Bumping this because it happened again. Battery connections are all good. Ground connections seem good but I haven't checked under the car. Again happened while starting with the door open. My key fob clicker is dying, can this be a contributor? I am fairly convinced it is anti-theft related because closing the door, and locking then unlocking via the fob is what seemed to "fix" this two out of the three times it has happened. Anything??