Car Died While Driving - No Start Condition

[mikerunt]

I purchased an e90m3 from a shop I won’t name yet in LA and have been having a series of issues.

The car is totally gutted with a cartek GT isolator.

Most recently I was at Willow Springs coming through 8/9 full clip when the engine completely died. Power on my AIM DASH and the oem cluster was still on - but zero engine power.

I rolled into the pit, hit the kill switcand turned the car off. Waited about 10secs, turned the kill switch back on. All the lights in my AIM and oem cluster came back on but when I pushed the start button I got nothing. No click, no crank, just infuriating silence. This was my 4th session of the day with no issues any other sessions.

On the oem cluster I have the following new warnings:

• Service engine soon
• Exclamation in gear
• Exclamation in (O)

I bought a Foxwell scanner to pull codes and that will be here tonight, but looking for a sequence of simple things to check like:

• Ground straps (which ones and where)
• Power cables (which ones and where)
• Battery check (currently on a antigravity)
• Relays
• Anything else?

I did recently move my oem gauge cluster to up underneath the dash but left it fully connected.

I understand pulling codes is helpful which I am doing - so please don’t respond with “pull the codes”. I’m looking for the simple troubleshooting “no duh” things to check first.

[BP709]

I’m willing to bet you’re alternator went out and drained the battery.

[mikerunt]

Originally Posted by BP709

I’m willing to bet you’re alternator went out and drained the battery.

I have read through some other posts about that being a possible cause. However, would I still get power to all my gauges?

[Brandoch]

Engine seized?

[mikerunt]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Engine seized?

Anything is possible but I hope not.

I also had a leak down done literally the day before and everything seemed good. Doesn’t mean there wasn’t some other internal deal that gave up the ghost.

I was at around 6700rpm and had good oil pressure.

I’m not sure why the engine still wouldnt try and crank though - would sound like shit I imagine but I assume it would still try and turn over.

[Brandoch]

Originally Posted by mikerunt

Anything is possible but I hope not.

I was at around 6700rpm and had good oil pressure.

I’m not sure why the engine still wouldnt try and crank though - would sound like shit I imagine but I assume it would still try and turn over.

If the engine is seized, the starter has no hope in making the engine move.
In your attempt to restart it the first time, the starter gear probably got launched to the flywheel and got stuck. No more noise after that.

Just a theory that I hope I'm wrong.

[Ajolives]

Faulty isolator or install? Loose wiring?

[mikerunt]

Originally Posted by Ajolives

Faulty isolator or install? Loose wiring?

I’m leaning towards this - but what’s odd is I still get power to the oem cluster and aim dash - just nothing (not even a click) when I push the start stop button.

[m3peat]

Sounds similar to when my alternator died. Hopefully it’s just that.

[mikerunt]

OK - pulled codes and also grabbed some data off my AIM. i will also attached a video.

Link

From my Foxwell i attached the full report. the codes that i think are current are the CAS, GWS, JBE, FRM related codes. the others are old codes - and even a few of the FRM codes are old. It looks like the DME and DKG showed no faults, which i hope is a good sign.

From my AIM dash, at the time i lost total power the vitals were:

Water Temp: 186f
Oil Temp: 222f
DCT Temp: 183f
Oil Pressure: 4.76bar
Volt: 14.2
RPM: 6678

i checked my Antigravity battery tonight at it was at 13.2V

I am looking for any helpful info to exclude things to chase town and where i should be looking. from my VERY limited understanding this seems to be an electrical gremlin.

Any thoughts or help is appreciated.

[amrazM]

is the dme getting power? id start there, check the cas also

[mikerunt]

Originally Posted by amrazM

is the dme getting power? id start there, check the cas also

In my post above I attached the codes in the PDF attachments.

There is a CAS fault but the DME did not post any faults at all?

[omgzirra_exe]

I would suggest isolating the issue. Are you able to uninstall the Cartek Isolator system and connect directly to the battery to see if it clicks/starts?

As for the CAS, I've only seen maybe two cars with CAS issues that prevented the car from starting, but in those cases, there were likely numerous CAS codes. Nonetheless, it's worth checking these fuses just to be sure.

CAS fuses: F55 (5A), F36 (40A).

It's quite unusual for the engine to die on the track like that. Usually, you can still run the car on the alternator alone even if the battery dies while driven (I know from experience, lol).

The most common ground strap that fails in the one by the driver side header to xpipe connection.

also did you use the re-start feature on the AG battery to give it a jump? although now sure how that works with the cartek isolator...

[amrazM]

ok but is the dme actually getting power? check in the power connector in the bin and see if it has 12v, that would be the determining factor as to how to go about diagnosing the car.

[mikerunt]

Originally Posted by amrazM

ok but is the dme actually getting power? check in the power connector in the bin and see if it has 12v, that would be the determining factor as to how to go about diagnosing the car.

Hi - thanks for this. could you elaborate - sorry, i'm an absolute newb.

Where is the "power connector in the bin"?

appreciate the help here!!!!

[Brandoch]

Why are you trying to diagnose electrical issues when your engine stopped turning? The dash is powered, the AIM is powered, you can communicate with the various modules, the battery even has the correct open voltage. I don't see any electrical issues here.

[mikerunt]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Why are you trying to diagnose electrical issues when your engine stopped turning? The dash is powered, the AIM is powered, you can communicate with the various modules, the battery even has the correct open voltage. I don't see any electrical issues here.

I’m just asking the questions based on the info I have.

[Brandoch]

Originally Posted by mikerunt

I’m just asking the questions based on the info I have.

Does the engine rotate by hand?

[mikerunt]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Does the engine rotate by hand?

I haven’t had a chance to check - but it’s in my list with the other input from everyone. I’m hopeful it’s not mechanical based on the lack of codes and the vitals/circumstaces at the time I lost power.

Did you see the video link I posted as well? It does sound like there is that starter solenoid click (which is concerning).

[Brandoch]

Originally Posted by mikerunt

I haven’t had a chance to check - but it’s in my list with the other input from everyone. I’m hopeful it’s not mechanical based on the lack of codes and the vitals/circumstaces at the time I lost power.

Did you see the video link I posted as well? It does sound like there is that starter solenoid click (which is concerning).

I don't see a video, I'm also using the app so that could be why.

[mikerunt]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

I don't see a video, I'm also using the app so that could be why.

It’s under LINK in the post with the aim and the PDF

[Brandoch]

Originally Posted by mikerunt

It’s under LINK in the post with the aim and the PDF

Won't let me look at the video, Icloud just gives errors.