Starting problem

[glen allen]

I have 1995 325ic that has some starting issues.

One day I go to start my car and it wont start. I jumped started the car thinking the battery might be dead. The car started fine and I drove it around the neighborhood for a bit trying to give the alt. time to charge the battery. I pulled back in the driveway turned the car off and tried to restart and it wouldnt start back up. I could jump it at any time a drive with no problems but as soon as I turn the car off that was it.

I ended up replaceing the battery and that solved the problem so I thought. It would start and restart fine for awhile but it wasn't to long before I had the same problems again.

My next step was to go out and buy a battery charger/tester (shumacher smart charger). I tested the battery and got voltage reading of .4 and a battery % of 0. When I try to charge the battery it wont charge or even go into the charging mode on both the new and old battery. I can test & charge batteries in my other vehicles just fine so I know its notthe the charger itself.

I just went to jump start it so I could check the altenator and my hazzard lights came on like they always do when I first hook up to juice from another battery and I when I turned the key it just died on me completely. I couldn't turn the head lights or hazzards on while still hooked ot good battery.

What should I do next next?

Does any one have an idea what could be causing my problem?

Thanks in advance for your help.
GLEN


P.S. Why do my hazzards come on when I hook up to another battery?

[kazzoo]

I think your hazzards come on because they may be linked to the immoblizer.Make sure your immoblizer is dis-armed if fitted.you proberly have an alternator problem.

[supervisor1886]

the rectifier in the alternator failed. (or the voltage regulator maybe, not likely). Or you have some bad gorunds. I suggest rebuilding the alternator, since those rectifiers fail a lot from heat. Its charging the battery at the border of 9 volts (normal 13-14.5) at this point. So there is virtually no charge-only drain.