Engine problem - drained battery

[Rampicatore]

Hi. A few weeks ago I bought a 1969 BMW 2000. The engine won't start.
First it turned but died. Now it just gives a click and that's it. I've changed the oil , replaced the battery for a high capacity one , changed the cooling , put in new sparkplugs and HTleads and there's enough gas in the tank (normal unleaded with leadreplacer). It seems like something drains my battery empty. Any idea what it could be?

2° question : the springs are in need of replacement . Could be confirmed just by looking at them. The schockabsorbers themselves however ... . How do I know they need to be replaced too ?

Thanks alot in advance !

[AEstud]

ever think about having your alternator or starter looked at?

[enginerd]

There is a drain on the battery somewhere. Look for loose connections and check the radio (especially if it is aftermarket). Often, owners will install radios and not wire them correctly or to the original harness and the battery will drain because of it. The shocks can be checked with the jounce test. Put your knee on the front bumper and jounce (bounce) the car up and down several times, gathering momentum. If the car rebounds more than twice, the shocks are bad.

[Rampicatore]

My guess was the alternator too. Does anybody know if a new alternator or starter could be used in my old car? Since I'm not restoring the car to it"s original state , I don't mind using modern pieces. (I'm trying to make a custom out of it.)

- the batterycable for the negative pole is in bad condition. Can this cable be replaced easily or are there any restrictions ?

Thanks for the help on the shockabsorbers! I think it would be safer to replace the absorbers too and not just the springs.

As for the battery , there isn't a radio installed. But can a short circuit of the switch of the headlights also be one of the reasons why the battery is drained?

Thanx

[MBTN]

Usually the clicking sound is the sound of a dead battery. I think something must be draining it. Before you bought it, was it running?

[enginerd]

Originally posted by Rampicatore
My guess was the alternator too. Does anybody know if a new alternator or starter could be used in my old car? Since I'm not restoring the car to it"s original state , I don't mind using modern pieces. (I'm trying to make a custom out of it.)

- the batterycable for the negative pole is in bad condition. Can this cable be replaced easily or are there any restrictions ?

Thanks for the help on the shockabsorbers! I think it would be safer to replace the absorbers too and not just the springs.

As for the battery , there isn't a radio installed. But can a short circuit of the switch of the headlights also be one of the reasons why the battery is drained?

Thanx

I'd first have the charging system tested and if it's fine, you have a drain somewhere. With a car that old, some wire has probably rubbed it's insulation off on a metal part.

[Rampicatore]

The car had been stalled for about 9 months when I bought it.
The previous owner had driven it one time before that.
From the owner's manual you could read that the car has been used daily from 1969 till 1990. Later till about 1996 it was used occasionaly and from 1996 it has been put in a garage. So it has been a while , to say the least , that the car has been running. The engine has about 120.000 km (about 75.000miles)
I still bought it because of the following reasons :
1. I'm very fond of the "60-"70 BMWcars and this one in particular.
2. My dad drove one when he was younger and still likes to talk about (you have to know my dad thinks of cars as being just a way of transportation)
3. It was in a fairly good condition. Chassis very good , interiour in leather like new , body had only rust at the place of the sparetire and front-bumper.
4. For european measures a rather large car (4.45 meters). At the moment I drive a Ford Fiesta which is about 3.85 meters).
5. A powerful engine (2000cc) for european measures.
6. Body has a lot of genuine chromeparts.
7. Can be easily converted to a nice custom American style , what I'm planning to do.

Before I start on the body , I would like to have the engine running. I know it"s not going to be easy , but it"s a hobby . Working on my car actually keeps me from getting insane

[The Dude]

Sounds like starter. But put a volt meter on you battery. Say 12 volts. IF not id take all your fuses out and just put in the ones you need to start the car. What kind of click is it? Is it coming under the car? Is it coming from inside the steering wheel?

[texan]

Originally posted by The Dude
Sounds like starter. But put a volt meter on you battery. Say 12 volts. IF not id take all your fuses out and just put in the ones you need to start the car. What kind of click is it? Is it coming under the car? Is it coming from inside the steering wheel?

Agreed on the starter part, but I'd be more likely to think it's either a bad selenoid or a starter well past its prime. First hook up a set of jumper cables directly to the starter (ground to engine ground, positive to starter positive). This bypasses everything else that could be wrong other than the starter itself, if it's an otherwise electrical problem you'll still get cold cranking but the engine won't fire.

If it still clicks when hooked up in this fashion, get a ball peen hammer and tap the start casing. When a starter motor is starting to die this will generally kickstart it back to life a few more times, as the brushes continue to wear though it'll eventually die for good. If this works, just get a new starter as soon as possible and meanwhile carry around a small hammer.

If that doesn't work either, it's the starter selenoid or motor. Replace the starter, and make absolutely sure the flywheel teeth are in good condition when you go about it. A very old starter can cause havoc with the flywheel teeth if it's been hard to start for years.

[Rampicatore]

Thankx for the advice ! I will try it right after I come from work.
I'll keep you informed

[The Dude]

Hey texan are the solenoids on bmw/s on the starter? I dont know much bout bmw's