My Car wont Start Plz Help !!

[m3f_Angella_c036ec6b5f]

ok my car still wont start wtf !!



I could probably assume the answer is yes, but did you check the fuses?



You said you tried to jump it, and asked about the starter - most cars you can jump directly from the starter, but I've not tried that (or even thought about it) yet.



Do you own a multimeter?

[m3f_mcselectro_7dbefcecfe]

no i dont what is it ?

[m3f_Angella_c036ec6b5f]

are you asking about the fuses?



or the multimeter - probably the latter... a multimeter is a gadget with probs, tells you what the voltage, amps, omhs, etc. are on a specific item, usually related to electricity (but I've used mine to tell me the temp of my freezer before, they can do lots of things...)



did you check the fuses?

[m3f_genner21_b0df9c1cac]

Ok i took out my seats and door panels so i could clean them and when i put the door panels and seats back in the car wont start !!! The computer works/emergency lights work and some other thing work , my alarm/turn signals/headlights/ac and other dont for some reason , and when i try to start it the starter dosent even spin or nothing dosent do anything !!! and on cluster in the right corner there is a light that goes on it a person in a seat and a light behind it. whats wrong ?



Is there anything in security that wouldn't let the car be turned on because of the seats not being installed properl. Maybe so one won't be smashed if chrashed. Its kinda a wild idea but it may be possible.

[m3f_mcselectro_7dbefcecfe]

nope. hey since you are from hayward you know any shops that do electrical bmw work

[m3f_Angella_c036ec6b5f]

yeah, extrav.dreams said the same thing... about the security. I don't know anything about that, but I know I've had my seats out a couple of times, no problems... and mine are power, and I didn't have a clue what I was doing at the time. Also, I've never heard of someone having a problem putting their seats back in.



Look at the fuses... if that doesn't work, get a multimeter and start poking around - clearly, it sounds like something related to power.

[m3f_mcselectro_7dbefcecfe]

where can i get the multimeter. i dont think its fuses

[m3f_Extrav.Dre_53c7fb859e]

i dont think its fuses



Well.. DiD YA LOOK?!?!?!



There's no maybe answer.. it is either yes, I looked and found no broken fuses.. Yes, I looked and found the problem.. or no, I have not looked but really really Really(!) should.



A multimeter can be bought at electronic type stores.. something like radioshack or the sort. You could probably find them for cheaper online though.

[m3f_astan100_7ef66fbe89]

What year is your car?



If it is like what...pre 98 it doesn't have that chip anyway.



I'm still confused...did your lights work WITH the working battery?



If not...then you have a really bizarre problem.



What kind of alarm do you have?

[m3f_mcselectro_7dbefcecfe]

mine is 97. light currently dont work. Clifford G series

[m3f_astan100_7ef66fbe89]

oh...aftermarket means we'll have less expertise.



Starter kill in pre 98's like your car is wired in with your double locking. I wonder if they system somehow thinks that it is still double locked......



Unless your clifford is wired in some other way too. Like it did another ignition kill over the stock one.



Wait, the lights don't currently work, but did they work with the other battery? You might just have some gigantic electrical failure going on if that's the case.



Checking the fuse box takes like 3 minutes. Pop hood, go to drivers side, open black box, look at tops of all fuses to see if any of the wires are broken. I've blown more fuses in my M3 then I've ever heard of blowing. Seriously, I've blown about 8 fuses between installing my alarm and installing headlights and I've only owned the car since last summer.

[m3f_astan100_7ef66fbe89]

Okay, I just thought of something else. Your interior lights are dim right? I bet your battery is dead. Are you sure you got a really good ground? I had trouble with that when I had to jump my car like 5 times last month.



What I found worked the best (and I think you should give this another shot to be sure) is playing with the negative connection until you see the interior lights get a lot brighter. You don't have a solid connection if they don't get better.



I was surprised how much toying around it took actually. Once you are sure it is connected, then turn on your headlights while you're at it to see if it works.



You should really give these little stupid fixes a try before doing anything hardcore.

[m3f_97BLKM3COU_0f375e15e2]

Do you think that if he hasn't checked the fuses, that he will know how to use a multimeter?



Check the fuses, and try to get a jump again. If everything is turning on, but your car will just not turn over, maybe your alarm is causing problems. Pull the fuse for that and reset it.

[m3f_Angella_c036ec6b5f]

no - that's why I dropped it : ) Half the people who own multimeters don't know how to use them (I only know how to use the basic functions on mine - I should have bought a simpler one : )



He needs to check those fuses, and the battery... those are the 2 tops... I think astan has a good point about getting a good connection for the jump - that's probably something he's also not terribly familiar with. He said he tried a battery from a different car, and it didn't work either... but I wouldn't necessarily expect that to work anyway.

[m3f_park828_94ead836d3]

what alarm is it. clifford g what. g4 just means generation 4 there should be something like intelliguard or concept or somthing like that.. i just finished installing my intelliguard 9000 and it was a biaaaaaaaach.. anyway.. if you still can't get it started... where are you located.. hayward CA?? if so then maybe i'll drop by and get your M started.. good luck let me know if you will need help...



couple things to check.. i take if you didn't install the alarm.. clifford alarms have sep fuses... if the starter or ign kill was wired properly by the installer and the alarm fuses blow the car will not start... also try this.. put the key in ON. then find the starter.. starter should have two wires going to it.. one is thick 12 v power. other is 12 v solenoid starter switch. check to make sure you have 12 at the thick wire.. then take a piece of wire and connect the two wires and the car should start.. good luck