Engine shut off randomly?

W12x · 10-22-2020, 02:39 PM

Haven't drove my car in a little over a month, the battery(replaced around early 2019) was low so I charged it overnight.

Car started with no problem after battery charged, no weird engine sound, and it sat there with engine on for a few minutes, but as I popped the hood to check some stuff the engine just randomly shut off.

Was able to start it right away with no problem or weird sound. Only warning is increased battery discharge.

RB was done back in June and didn't have any problem with it. Now the battery is charged (NOCO charger showing 75%-100% charge the car have no problem starting.

Anyone else had this before? What could be causing if?

JP10 · 10-22-2020, 02:48 PM

Alternator maybe. Even if you charge your battery it can only hold on for so long without additional charge from the alternator. Good luck amigo.

W12x · 10-22-2020, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP10

Alternator maybe. Even if you charge your battery it can only hold on for so long without additional charge from the alternator. Good luck amigo.

Thanks, but from unplugging the charger, immediately starting the car, and then engine shut off randomly, it was all within 5-10 minutes. And the engine started without any problem right after that..

I had other cars with alternator problems and usually the battery drains over time not this quick..?

nrubenstein · 10-22-2020, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP10

Alternator maybe. Even if you charge your battery it can only hold on for so long without additional charge from the alternator. Good luck amigo.

Not if it started right back up.

Ajolives · 10-22-2020, 03:18 PM

I had that happen to me randomly IIRC. Pretty sure my alternator died on me subsequently, not sure about the timeframe or if it was even connected.

I do know my battery died three months prior to my alternator.

I would keep an eye on it, my alternator gave me two discreet warnings a couple weeks in between, and then the third warning came 20 minutes before failure.

W12x · 10-22-2020, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajolives

I had that happen to me randomly IIRC. Pretty sure my alternator died on me subsequently, not sure about the timeframe or if it was even connected.

I do know my battery died three months prior to my alternator.

I would keep an eye on it, my alternator gave me two discreet warnings a couple weeks in between, and then the third warning came 20 minutes before failure.

Since the car is just charged I will try to drive it a little more and see if this comes back. Thanks

TBH I'm not concerned about alternator, it's not too bad to replace that. Just don't want to get hit by something major like RB level disaster lol

Ajolives · 10-22-2020, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W12x

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajolives

I had that happen to me randomly IIRC. Pretty sure my alternator died on me subsequently, not sure about the timeframe or if it was even connected.

I do know my battery died three months prior to my alternator.

I would keep an eye on it, my alternator gave me two discreet warnings a couple weeks in between, and then the third warning came 20 minutes before failure.

Since the car is just charged I will try to drive it a little more and see if this comes back. Thanks

TBH I'm not concerned about alternator, it's not too bad to replace that. Just don't want to get hit by something major like RB level disaster lol

Agreed, I hope it's not RB related. Alternators are much cheaper, however I busted that coolant return line fitting while taking out the fan, so my alternator came with a premium.

JP10 · 10-22-2020, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrubenstein

Not if it started right back up.

Alternator can function intermittently due to faulty voltage regulator, not saying it is the issue, but worth checking into due to the low price tag and easy labor.

W12x · 10-22-2020, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajolives

Quote:

Originally Posted by W12x

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajolives

I had that happen to me randomly IIRC. Pretty sure my alternator died on me subsequently, not sure about the timeframe or if it was even connected.

I do know my battery died three months prior to my alternator.

I would keep an eye on it, my alternator gave me two discreet warnings a couple weeks in between, and then the third warning came 20 minutes before failure.

Since the car is just charged I will try to drive it a little more and see if this comes back. Thanks

TBH I'm not concerned about alternator, it's not too bad to replace that. Just don't want to get hit by something major like RB level disaster lol

Agreed, I hope it's not RB related. Alternators are much cheaper, however I busted that coolant return line fitting while taking out the fan, so my alternator came with a premium.

Yea, since I got the RB with BE bearings done at a reputable shop recently I'm not worried..alternator looks easy enough for a DIY lol

SAMM3Y · 10-22-2020, 03:48 PM

Fuel breather? Take it for an Italian tune up, clear it's throat

W12x · 10-22-2020, 09:43 PM

Took the car for another 30 minutes drive earlier, engines runs great and no starting issues...doing an Italian tune up tomorrow as suggested above

FrozenE92M3 · 10-22-2020, 10:23 PM

I don't know much about bimmer charging systems since I just got my M3 a couple of months ago, but, when I worked parts in honda, nissan, infinity etc, the cars alternator would not start charging the battery until the car was at operating temperature. Just a thought.

kyrix1st · 10-22-2020, 11:17 PM

Alternator. Exact symptoms and my car shut down on the highway. Charged the battery overnight, drove it to a shop next morning.

amrazM · 10-23-2020, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrozenE92M3

I don't know much about bimmer charging systems since I just got my M3 a couple of months ago, but, when I worked parts in honda, nissan, infinity etc, the cars alternator would not start charging the battery until the car was at operating temperature. Just a thought.

I’ve been in the auto industry for a few years now, never heard this one.

Helmsman · 10-24-2020, 03:15 AM

OP, very easy to check if the alternator is dead by measure the voltage (use red jumpstart under hood). If not increasing pretty immediately after engine started, this is where I'd start searching.

W12x · 12-01-2020, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsman

OP, very easy to check if the alternator is dead by measure the voltage (use red jumpstart under hood). If not increasing pretty immediately after engine started, this is where I'd start searching.

I couldn't find my voltmeter at this time, but pulling live data from the ECU/DME(using Carly app, relatively accurate based on past experience) the voltage is around 14.3-14.8V while idle, and sometimes drop down to 13.5V when I step on the gas and idle around 2-3K RPM.

Doesn't seems like it's an alternator issue, when I had to replace the failed alternator on a Toyota it was no higher than 13V the whole time.

Guess I will take the M3 out more in the coming weeks and see if the problem happen again

Helmsman · 12-02-2020, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W12x

I couldn't find my voltmeter at this time, but pulling live data from the ECU/DME(using Carly app, relatively accurate based on past experience) the voltage is around 14.3-14.8V while idle, and sometimes drop down to 13.5V when I step on the gas and idle around 2-3K RPM.

Doesn't seems like it's an alternator issue, when I had to replace the failed alternator on a Toyota it was no higher than 13V the whole time.

Guess I will take the M3 out more in the coming weeks and see if the problem happen again

Yep, alternator seems to work then. You can also check the output current iwth Carly. Quite intersing to see what things drain, full fan for instance and the current goes another 20 amp!

rcracin · 12-02-2020, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amrazM

I’ve been in the auto industry for a few years now, never heard this one.

I don't think it's operating temp, rather a certain rpm or under load. So basically the alternator won't be charging the battery much at idle.

W12x · 12-02-2020, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Quote:

Originally Posted by W12x

I couldn't find my voltmeter at this time, but pulling live data from the ECU/DME(using Carly app, relatively accurate based on past experience) the voltage is around 14.3-14.8V while idle, and sometimes drop down to 13.5V when I step on the gas and idle around 2-3K RPM.

Doesn't seems like it's an alternator issue, when I had to replace the failed alternator on a Toyota it was no higher than 13V the whole time.

Guess I will take the M3 out more in the coming weeks and see if the problem happen again

Yep, alternator seems to work then. You can also check the output current iwth Carly. Quite intersing to see what things drain, full fan for instance and the current goes another 20 amp!

Just took the car for a 1.5 hours highway drive, no problem at all, so I think it's just I wasn't driving the car often enough and how BMWs drain the battery a bit more than most other cars.

We got a Camaro and the battery do much better than the E92 if both cars are just parked there for roughly the same amount of time.

Helmsman · 12-02-2020, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W12x

Just took the car for a 1.5 hours highway drive, no problem at all, so I think it's just I wasn't driving the car often enough and how BMWs drain the battery a bit more than most other cars.

We got a Camaro and the battery do much better than the E92 if both cars are just parked there for roughly the same amount of time.

Not much electronics in the US cars...

. Or, more clever shut down process!

W12x · 12-02-2020, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Quote:

Originally Posted by W12x

Just took the car for a 1.5 hours highway drive, no problem at all, so I think it's just I wasn't driving the car often enough and how BMWs drain the battery a bit more than most other cars.

We got a Camaro and the battery do much better than the E92 if both cars are just parked there for roughly the same amount of time.

Not much electronics in the US cars...

. Or, more clever shut down process!

Considering newer GM cars have OnStar remote diagnostic system I think it's pretty clever/well optimized...I don't even know why BMWs need to drain battery the way they do lol

Helmsman · 12-03-2020, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W12x

Considering newer GM cars have OnStar remote diagnostic system I think it's pretty clever/well optimized...I don't even know why BMWs need to drain battery the way they do lol

Tend to agree. I don't know by how much but clearly their "stand by" power is too high.

10-22-2020, 02:39 PM	#1
W12x Captain 203 Rep 795 Posts Drives: M3, Z/28, Evo Final Edition Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	Engine shut off randomly? Haven't drove my car in a little over a month, the battery(replaced around early 2019) was low so I charged it overnight. Car started with no problem after battery charged, no weird engine sound, and it sat there with engine on for a few minutes, but as I popped the hood to check some stuff the engine just randomly shut off. Was able to start it right away with no problem or weird sound. Only warning is increased battery discharge. RB was done back in June and didn't have any problem with it. Now the battery is charged (NOCO charger showing 75%-100% charge the car have no problem starting. Anyone else had this before? What could be causing if? __________________ 2011 BMW E92 M3 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD
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10-22-2020, 02:48 PM	#2
JP10 Major 2463 Rep 1,144 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: SC iTrader: (0)	Alternator maybe. Even if you charge your battery it can only hold on for so long without additional charge from the alternator. Good luck amigo.
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10-22-2020, 03:18 PM	#5
Ajolives Captain 922 Rep 933 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 Audi SQ5 [0.00] 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	I had that happen to me randomly IIRC. Pretty sure my alternator died on me subsequently, not sure about the timeframe or if it was even connected. I do know my battery died three months prior to my alternator. I would keep an eye on it, my alternator gave me two discreet warnings a couple weeks in between, and then the third warning came 20 minutes before failure.
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10-22-2020, 03:48 PM	#10
SAMM3Y Colonel 3085 Rep 2,747 Posts Drives: 2008 m3 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (2)	Fuel breather? Take it for an Italian tune up, clear it's throat __________________ 9ers
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10-22-2020, 09:43 PM	#11
W12x Captain 203 Rep 795 Posts Drives: M3, Z/28, Evo Final Edition Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	Took the car for another 30 minutes drive earlier, engines runs great and no starting issues...doing an Italian tune up tomorrow as suggested above __________________ 2011 BMW E92 M3 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD
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10-22-2020, 10:23 PM	#12
FrozenE92M3 Banned 432 Rep 235 Posts Drives: Frozen White Edition E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: California iTrader: (0)	I don't know much about bimmer charging systems since I just got my M3 a couple of months ago, but, when I worked parts in honda, nissan, infinity etc, the cars alternator would not start charging the battery until the car was at operating temperature. Just a thought.
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10-22-2020, 11:17 PM	#13
kyrix1st Colonel 2360 Rep 2,360 Posts Drives: G87 M2; E92M3 MT&DCT; M3 euro Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: nyc iTrader: (0) Garage List 2004 BMW Z4 [0.00]	Alternator. Exact symptoms and my car shut down on the highway. Charged the battery overnight, drove it to a shop next morning. __________________ Pass me if you can.
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10-24-2020, 03:15 AM	#15
Helmsman Major General 4465 Rep 7,109 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Stockholm, Sweden iTrader: (0)	OP, very easy to check if the alternator is dead by measure the voltage (use red jumpstart under hood). If not increasing pretty immediately after engine started, this is where I'd start searching.
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