Something weird happened to the CSL

rstoughy · 21-05-2010, 07:09 PM

Was driving home from work today sitting at a steady 50.

Decided that id stick on the Aircon for the 1st time this year and run it for the 20mile journey home just to circulate the gas etc.

Now the car has done around 300miles since going back on the road about 3 weeks ago after its winter rest and has ran perfect.

Aircon had been on for no more that 10sec when the dash / radio / heater display went blank. I could just make out the gear indicator and i mean just, really really dull.
Quickly switched the aircon off again but everything remained the same probably for another 30secs before returning to normal.

My 1st thought was that the Aircon pump had seized causing belt dammage to the Altenator / belt but kept going and got home.

Lifted the bonnet once home and tried the Aircon again and confirmed that the pump and belt are ok and operating fine.

It's in the back of my head......"altenator" but i have had no light flickering, dodgy starting etc

Any ideas?
Have Croft in 2 weeks so need the car to be tip top

On a happier note came home to my new Cups waiting for me

Cheers,

**glendog74** · 21-05-2010, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstoughy

Any ideas?

Use your CSL more often!

**JezP** · 21-05-2010, 10:11 PM

The same happened to me a few weeks ago had changed the wheels over the night before for a trackday on the way there the next morning the steering took a little jerk to the left and then all my display dissapeard all came back before 5mins and no problems during the trackday. Prolly maybe because i didnt do the reset both paddle back thing after wheel change earlier..

Bounce · 21-05-2010, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glendog74

Use your CSL more often!

rstoughy · 21-05-2010, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glendog74

Use your CSL more often!

thats what i'm thinking, might just keep it taxed through the winter this year.
Seems they dont like sitting around. (have got 59K on the clock though

)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JezP

The same happened to me a few weeks ago had changed the wheels over the night before for a trackday on the way there the next morning the steering took a little jerk to the left and then all my display dissapeard all came back before 5mins and no problems during the trackday. Prolly maybe because i didnt do the reset both paddle back thing after wheel change earlier..

Done the SMG reset the other day as it was getting a little jerky.
Ran fine since and i've not touched it, just the 40mile round trip to work for the past few days.

**alexk** · 21-05-2010, 11:33 PM

I had the same issue 3-4 times.
Problem was the battery (low voltage).
This was also the fault recorded in the ECU.
Yes, the alternator is charging, but if the battery is fecked up, E46 tends to do these things.

Get a c-tek charger, leave it on the car and it will fix the battery

I invested in the charger and didn't have to change the battery.

**grumps** · 21-05-2010, 11:59 PM

Talking of weird shit i complained about a noisey steering pump a while back and was out this week and took a left hander at sensible speed and the steering went rock hard (missus was hoping) i then straightened up and its been fine ever since but still a bit noisey at low speed! I had it on the ramp also and noticed that both rack boots had sucked in almost as if their was a vacuum in the rack any ideas. I would just add about the battery charger that batterys need to cycle ie: charge and discharge.

shane@mbtech · 21-05-2010, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rstoughy

Was driving home from work today sitting at a steady 50.

Decided that id stick on the Aircon for the 1st time this year and run it for the 20mile journey home just to circulate the gas etc.

Now the car has done around 300miles since going back on the road about 3 weeks ago after its winter rest and has ran perfect.

Aircon had been on for no more that 10sec when the dash / radio / heater display went blank. I could just make out the gear indicator and i mean just, really really dull.
Quickly switched the aircon off again but everything remained the same probably for another 30secs before returning to normal.

My 1st thought was that the Aircon pump had seized causing belt dammage to the Altenator / belt but kept going and got home.

Lifted the bonnet once home and tried the Aircon again and confirmed that the pump and belt are ok and operating fine.

It's in the back of my head......"altenator" but i have had no light flickering, dodgy starting etc

Any ideas?
Have Croft in 2 weeks so need the car to be tip top

On a happier note came home to my new Cups waiting for me

Cheers,

Could be one of those unexplained gremlins. Or a first sign of alternator failure,

Give shimmy a bell, last I heard he was trawling the scrapyards for alternators to recondition as spares..... just in case

21-05-2010, 07:09 PM	#1
rstoughy S6, Sport On, Traction Off Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 1,947 Casino cash: $25407	Something weird happened to the CSL Was driving home from work today sitting at a steady 50. Decided that id stick on the Aircon for the 1st time this year and run it for the 20mile journey home just to circulate the gas etc. Now the car has done around 300miles since going back on the road about 3 weeks ago after its winter rest and has ran perfect. Aircon had been on for no more that 10sec when the dash / radio / heater display went blank. I could just make out the gear indicator and i mean just, really really dull. Quickly switched the aircon off again but everything remained the same probably for another 30secs before returning to normal. My 1st thought was that the Aircon pump had seized causing belt dammage to the Altenator / belt but kept going and got home. Lifted the bonnet once home and tried the Aircon again and confirmed that the pump and belt are ok and operating fine. It's in the back of my head......"altenator" but i have had no light flickering, dodgy starting etc Any ideas? Have Croft in 2 weeks so need the car to be tip top On a happier note came home to my new Cups waiting for me Cheers, __________________ Paul. Ooooft!!! 16yrs in the CSL and still loving it "shine on you crazy diamond" Last edited by rstoughy; 21-05-2010 at 07:21 PM.

21-05-2010, 11:33 PM	#6
alexk Driving it like I nicked it Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,786 Casino cash: $29971	I had the same issue 3-4 times. Problem was the battery (low voltage). This was also the fault recorded in the ECU. Yes, the alternator is charging, but if the battery is fecked up, E46 tends to do these things. Get a c-tek charger, leave it on the car and it will fix the battery I invested in the charger and didn't have to change the battery. __________________ www.clubcsl.com - I am a BMW Motorsport fan ! My youtube channel is here

21-05-2010, 10:11 PM	#3
JezP S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: sw london Posts: 296 Casino cash: $6123	The same happened to me a few weeks ago had changed the wheels over the night before for a trackday on the way there the next morning the steering took a little jerk to the left and then all my display dissapeard all came back before 5mins and no problems during the trackday. Prolly maybe because i didnt do the reset both paddle back thing after wheel change earlier..

21-05-2010, 11:59 PM	#7
grumps S4 - Getting the hang of it Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: devon Posts: 181 Casino cash: $632	Talking of weird shit i complained about a noisey steering pump a while back and was out this week and took a left hander at sensible speed and the steering went rock hard (missus was hoping) i then straightened up and its been fine ever since but still a bit noisey at low speed! I had it on the ramp also and noticed that both rack boots had sucked in almost as if their was a vacuum in the rack any ideas. I would just add about the battery charger that batterys need to cycle ie: charge and discharge.