Track forum general chit chat.

[Hein Jockins]

Originally Posted by M eyedoc

Electrical question for the group: Having charging/voltage issues. Difficulties starting car lasr fall. Originally thought it was a battery so I replaced it with an original type AGM battery. Good for a short time but problems returned at Mid Ohio in May. Slowing crank throughout the weekend until it lit up the dash with lights and stranded me in Park in the grid line for a 40min session. Unhooked and rehooked the battery, packed up and it got me home. OK, must be the alternator. Replaced it with OEM (not rebuilt). Bought foxwell scanner for codes. Cleared lots of codes. Ran relatively well for a day and it went back to throwing enough codes to light a Christmas tree. Took new alternator out again to have tested and of course it passed (as did the original alternator). Had battery tested, low on charge but healthy. One of my favorite codes: "alternator not found". Ordered replacement alternator in case it was a deffective. And of course same results. Voltage (after charging battery) 12.9V and drops with lights an AC. Does increase slightly when revving engine and driving but only to about 13V max. Took it to the track over the weekend hoping the new alternator would make it and had the charge battery between every run (did at least get PB lap) Does anyone have a recommendation before I drive it into a lake in frustration?

Before I replaced my alternator and was researching probable causes for battery drain, I read a faulty EDC module can continue to drain battery whilst the car is off. Worth looking into, and there's several forum posts about it here. I'm sure some other members might have other suggestions as well though.

[Redd]

Originally Posted by M eyedoc

Electrical question for the group: Having charging/voltage issues. Difficulties starting car lasr fall. Originally thought it was a battery so I replaced it with an original type AGM battery. Good for a short time but problems returned at Mid Ohio in May. Slowing crank throughout the weekend until it lit up the dash with lights and stranded me in Park in the grid line for a 40min session. Unhooked and rehooked the battery, packed up and it got me home. OK, must be the alternator. Replaced it with OEM (not rebuilt). Bought foxwell scanner for codes. Cleared lots of codes. Ran relatively well for a day and it went back to throwing enough codes to light a Christmas tree. Took new alternator out again to have tested and of course it passed (as did the original alternator). Had battery tested, low on charge but healthy. One of my favorite codes: "alternator not found". Ordered replacement alternator in case it was a deffective. And of course same results. Voltage (after charging battery) 12.9V and drops with lights an AC. Does increase slightly when revving engine and driving but only to about 13V max. Took it to the track over the weekend hoping the new alternator would make it and had the charge battery between every run (did at least get PB lap) Does anyone have a recommendation before I drive it into a lake in frustration?

Unplug your IBS (small blue connector at your battery negative cable) and see if the problem goes away. If it does you need to replace the negative cable because the IBS is attached to it.

Another possible culprit is the big red power cable behind the main fuse box inside your glove box. Look for discoloration on the shielding of the cable, especially at the fuse box end. We've been seeing this happen more frequently as the car ages.

[derbo]

Originally Posted by slcook54

Hagerty / RLI for me was always $278 at Laguna, then recently increased to $324. $60k, no mods. I think I put 10% deductible.

I've heard a lot of people prefer open track and you can stack cars on a single policy.

Originally Posted by spooni

Yeah I'm reading more of the fine print now and see that. Doing a Laguna day this weekend and RLI is $400

But I would need to do at least like 8-10 events in the next year to get my money's worth out of open track.

RLI underwrites for Lockton and Hagerty. Might as well go directly to them.


I want to mention that they distinguish mods and the mods have more weight to raise the daily rate.

For example, my E90: $50k M3 was $285, where $35k M3 + $15k mods to $50k total was $448.


This is listed during the quote:

Modifications
Coverage for after market modifications are NOT covered unless specifically listed here

[M eyedoc]

Originally Posted by Redd

Unplug your IBS (small blue connector at your battery negative cable) and see if the problem goes away. If it does you need to replace the negative cable because the IBS is attached to it.

Another possible culprit is the big red power cable behind the main fuse box inside your glove box. Look for discoloration on the shielding of the cable, especially at the fuse box end. We've been seeing this happen more frequently as the car ages.

Thank you Redd. Unfortunately disconnecting IBS and even the large black connector didn't change anything. Voltage runs between 12.4 and 12.9V and fluctuates only slightly with revs. As it is now dark in my area, will have to wait to check into the other power cable you mentioned. I Really hate electronics!

[m3number86]

Originally Posted by M eyedoc

Thank you Redd. Unfortunately disconnecting IBS and even the large black connector didn't change anything. Voltage runs between 12.4 and 12.9V and fluctuates only slightly with revs. As it is now dark in my area, will have to wait to check into the other power cable you mentioned. I Really hate electronics!

I thibk that cable was a recall item?

[m3number86]

Got em finally. Time to take the BC off lol

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by m3number86

Got em finally. Time to take the BC off lol

Are you coming out of retirement?

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by m3number86

Got em finally. Time to take the BC off lol

now we can swap cars for 30 minutes

[m3number86]

Originally Posted by omgzirra_exe

now we can swap cars for 30 minutes

Lol

[m3number86]

Originally Posted by omgzirra_exe

now we can swap cars for 30 minutes

Not quite yet since number 2 is only 2. Older one wants to go to a track soon though so maybe!

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by m3number86

Not quite yet since number 2 is only 2. Older one wants to go to a track soon though so maybe!

soooo many babies :3

[m3number86]

Originally Posted by omgzirra_exe

soooo many babies :3

My woman wants a third. No thanks!

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by m3number86

I thibk that cable was a recall item?

Behind the fuse box was definitely a recall in the US

[slcook54]

@SAMM3Y hooked it up.

[Bimmer Barney]

Originally Posted by slcook54

@SAMM3Y hooked it up.

Passes Laguna? Gorgeous pieces.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by slcook54

@SAMM3Y hooked it up.

I like big pipes and I can not lie. Other drivers I'll pass by.

[slcook54]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

Passes Laguna? Gorgeous pieces.

Ya, Evo passes. It's part of the reason I wanted Akra since Laguna is my home track. The 50lbs in weight loss doesn't hurt either.

Will upgrade to stage 2 from BPM.

Once the profi XL's are in, rear seats are pulled and the 1/2 cage is installed, I'm estimating around 3,350 on a full tank.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by slcook54

Ya, Evo passes. It's part of the reason I wanted Akra since Laguna is my home track. The 50lbs in weight loss doesn't hurt either.

Will upgrade to stage 2 from BPM.

Once the profi XL's are in, rear seats are pulled and the 1/2 cage is installed, I'm estimating around 3,350 on a full tank.

So around 3270 dry? What else have you done by way of weight reduction.

[SAMM3Y]

Originally Posted by slcook54

Ya, Evo passes. It's part of the reason I wanted Akra since Laguna is my home track. The 50lbs in weight loss doesn't hurt either.

Will upgrade to stage 2 from BPM.

Once the profi XL's are in, rear seats are pulled and the 1/2 cage is installed, I'm estimating around 3,350 on a full tank.

Nice new evo for your beautiful car!

[m3number86]

Originally Posted by slcook54

Ya, Evo passes. It's part of the reason I wanted Akra since Laguna is my home track. The 50lbs in weight loss doesn't hurt either.

Will upgrade to stage 2 from BPM.

Once the profi XL's are in, rear seats are pulled and the 1/2 cage is installed, I'm estimating around 3,350 on a full tank.

Do you start the day with a full tank?

[slcook54]

Originally Posted by DRLane

So around 3270 dry? What else have you done by way of weight reduction.

Ya. That seems right.

I'm DCT, manual / cloth seats, single hump.

With the AP 9660/9449 kit, E88s and AG 60AH battery and full tank, the car weighed 3,514.

Rough math was

- 50 for Akra
- 150 for front seats / rear seats / sound deadening and some of the other ancillary items in the trunk
+ 50 for 1/2 cage

= 3,364 - 14 gallons at 6 lbs (84) = 3,280.

After that there are no more obvious, non-comprising weight reduction options out there that I'm aware of. I'm still open to some of the below, but all of them have specific comfort or $/benefit trade offs.

AC, 50lbs?
Carbon hood, 10lbs?
Trunk, 10lbs?
Carbon doors (I drive to the track so doubt I'll go full cage)
Carbon door cards, 20lbs
Speakers

[slcook54]

Originally Posted by m3number86

Do you start the day with a full tank?

I do. It's my process. Get there, fill up 3 gallons 101, rest 91. That gets me 3 sessions, if 20 minutes. Fill up again after 3rd session.