WTF just happened......

webb70 · 10-27-2011, 08:34 PM

2002 330CI (Steptronic)

I get in my car and am driving to work and my radio starts cutting in and out, so I turn it off. Then I was driving down the hyway at around 110KPH when all of a sudden I hear/feel a clunk from my car, I look down at my dash and both the Traction control lights are on, the ABS light is on, there is no radio display and no climate control display???
I continue to drive as I take the next exit and there doesn't seem to be any loss of power or anything, I try switching to sport mode and it does, but when I try to shift the car stayes in SD and does not go to Manual mode. When I get off the hyway and stop at the lights I look under the car but see no leaks or smoke. When I pulled away from the lights its obvious that the car is still in a high gear and pulls away slowly.......
Any thoughts/ Ideas ??

Thanks in advance

Eurostyle · 10-27-2011, 09:22 PM

Alternator...if it goes bad the radio will stop, other electronics will not function right...

webb70 · 10-27-2011, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eurostyle

Alternator...if it goes bad the radio will stop, other electronics will not function right...

Thank you Sir...do you have one in stock??

Eurostyle · 10-27-2011, 10:07 PM

Yes i do, but get it tested first to make sure this is the problem.

webb70 · 10-27-2011, 10:26 PM

I just went out and checked the belt and its still there and looks good, so I started the car and now everything works except the radio.
I put the car in gear and switched to manual and it went in fine. The ABs light is off, the TC lights are off, and the climate control display is back on. The radio lights up but when I turn it on it only plays a muffled bass.....
I'll take it in tomorrw and have it checked out, Thanks for your help.
I will call you tomorrow if I do need an alternator.

radi0activem · 10-28-2011, 10:53 AM

Same thing happened to me. Ended up being the alternator.
Put a multimeter on the battery with the car off, take note of the voltage. Then start the car and take note of the voltage.

let us know what you get.

webb70 · 10-31-2011, 06:18 PM

So it turns out it was the alternator....
Replaced it today with one from Eurostyle and it looks like all is well now....

Thanks for your help Sir.

Blackedout95 · 10-31-2011, 08:55 PM

This is a cool thread