1981 BMW 320is won't start

"PaulG" <gibson1919 DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote in message ...
> Stupid me. I had to work offsite at another
> facillity for my job and accidently left the
> sunroof open on my car for about two weeks. It
> never rains in Texas with the exception of this
> time period I was gone. The interior is pretty
> much dry, but the start won't start.
> It's stone dead. Nothing happens when you turn
> the key, not lights turn on - not even the digital
> clock. I fully charged the battery.
> The postive battery cable was a little corrided,
> so I replaced that today with a new one. That
> didn't do anything to fix the problem. Is
> it possible for some sort of electrical short to
> occur inside the car that would cause this to
> happen? I'm out of ideas here. Thanks!
>

JoshIII responds:
I have a 1980 320i, so there probably
not alot of difference electrically.

I would take off the cardboard panel that
covers the steering column, and using
a volt meter, see if the steering column
and ignition switch is getting voltage, i.e.
12 volts. I think its easy to remove
part of the plastic cover to the steering
column itself.

If not check all your fuses that are in the
covered box next to the battery. You have
to twist all of the fuses that are in their sockets
to make sure they making good connections.

There might be a terminal block in the area
of the steering column that needs cleaning
and tightening also.

JoshIII
Not UK
 >> Stay informed about: 1981 BMW 320is won't start 

In article <1182723684.830090.161090 RemoveThis @q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com>,
PaulG <gibson1919 RemoveThis @aol.com> wrote:
> Stupid me. I had to work offsite at another facillity for my job and
> accidently left the sunroof open on my car for about two weeks. It
> never rains in Texas with the exception of this time period I was
> gone. The interior is pretty much dry, but the start won't start.
> It's stone dead. Nothing happens when you turn the key, not lights
> turn on - not even the digital clock. I fully charged the battery.
> The postive battery cable was a little corrided, so I replaced that
> today with a new one. That didn't do anything to fix the problem. Is
> it possible for some sort of electrical short to occur inside the car
> that would cause this to happen? I'm out of ideas here. Thanks!

Do the lights work - or other things that don't need the ignition switched
on? If so I'd first look at the ignition switch itself - it's possible
water has got into it.

--
*If God had wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knees

Dave Plowman dave RemoveThis @davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: 1981 BMW 320is won't start 

The lights do not work. Absolutely nothing does. I did have the
plastic piece that goes around the whole bottom of the steering column
off though. It's been off for a long time. I had to see if I could
get a key code off the lock so I could get a replacement key from BMW
and didn't screw it back on yet.
 >> Stay informed about: 1981 BMW 320is won't start 

In article <1182790823.619570.232720.RemoveThis@e16g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
PaulG <gibson1919.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote:
> The lights do not work. Absolutely nothing does. I did have the
> plastic piece that goes around the whole bottom of the steering column
> off though. It's been off for a long time. I had to see if I could
> get a key code off the lock so I could get a replacement key from BMW
> and didn't screw it back on yet.

Assuming the battery and connections are ok about the only thing left is
the fusible link in the main cable.

--
*Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Dave Plowman dave.RemoveThis@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
 >> Stay informed about: 1981 BMW 320is won't start 

"PaulG" <gibson1919 DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote in message
news:1182790823.619570.232720@e16g2000pri.googlegroups.com...
> The lights do not work. Absolutely nothing does. I did have the
> plastic piece that goes around the whole bottom of the steering column
> off though. It's been off for a long time. I had to see if I could
> get a key code off the lock so I could get a replacement key from BMW
> and didn't screw it back on yet.
>
>
Sounds like the battery is dead. Did it hold the charge that you gave it?

How much current is escaping the battery with all systems turned off?

Jim
 >> Stay informed about: 1981 BMW 320is won't start 

PaulG <gibson1919 DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote in news:1182790823.619570.232720
@e16g2000pri.googlegroups.com:

> The lights do not work. Absolutely nothing does. I did have the
> plastic piece that goes around the whole bottom of the steering column
> off though. It's been off for a long time. I had to see if I could
> get a key code off the lock so I could get a replacement key from BMW
> and didn't screw it back on yet.
>
>

dono whats up with that, but it might be worth while to run a hair dryer
and hit all the various connections in the dash -- ignition switch, and
anywhere else that might ahve got wet
 >> Stay informed about: 1981 BMW 320is won't start 

"PaulG" <gibson1919 DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote in message
news:1182723684.830090.161090@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> Stupid me. I had to work offsite at another facillity for my job and
> accidently left the sunroof open on my car for about two weeks. It
> never rains in Texas with the exception of this time period I was
> gone. The interior is pretty much dry, but the start won't start.
> It's stone dead. Nothing happens when you turn the key, not lights
> turn on - not even the digital clock. I fully charged the battery.
> The postive battery cable was a little corrided, so I replaced that
> today with a new one. That didn't do anything to fix the problem. Is
> it possible for some sort of electrical short to occur inside the car
> that would cause this to happen? I'm out of ideas here. Thanks!
>
What part of Texas? Texas is a big place and has quite varied climates.
Here is North Texas, we are in line for a near record rainfall for June.
Jim
 >> Stay informed about: 1981 BMW 320is won't start 

I'm in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, within a few miles of DFW airport.
It has been raining here so much as of late. I think it's rained
everyday for at least a week, and I'm talking about heavy rain too.
 >> Stay informed about: 1981 BMW 320is won't start