Car can't start

[cyrus271]

Wonder if anybody's come across this problem - yesterday evening when I stopped my car, I noticed the steering lock did not engage when I removed the key. This morning, the car refused to start or engage ignition-ready mode. Brake pedal remained hard. Then just as I tried one last time in front of the tow truck, the car fired up! (Embarrassing, but relieved!)

My ride is an almost 4 year old E90 - is this a steering lock problem? Guess it should be checked, in case it happens again outside.

 

[armValkyrie]

Re: Car can't start due to steering lock

hi,

It happened to my ride last year. Drove and parked my car in the early evening. Came back to drive it out for dinner but "steering lock failure" alarm (iDrive) was activated and refused to start.

Tried moving (shaking) the steering, in-out ignition key but failed. In the end, called my warranty workshop. Tow truck came next morning and brought it back to workshop since I was travelling the very same day.

Workshop reported failure of steering lock. Replacement component installed. The failed component was returned to me; its just a small motor with rack/pinion lock on a rectangular PCB.

Unfortunately the problem did not completely resolved. The steering lock failure alarm still appears once awhile BUT after the "repairs" the alarm could be cleared every time by re-insert ignition key and shaking the steering. My ride is also a 4yr old E90.

So I guess that yours will be the same unless you bring it to workshop.

If it comes, don't panic (provided you are in Singapore ) and try re-insert the key and "shake the steering".

Hope the above helps...

Cheers

 

[vegadonovan]

Re: Car can't start

Hi Val,

I have this alarm once in a while. Are you able to share roughly how much it costed to change that lock?

Thanks~!

 

[kuvesh]

Re: Car can't start

there are 2 types of steering lock failure - bad and worse.

the bad version is when you get a yellow CEL. this is an intermittent nuisance and the CEL clears but is a sign that bad things are to come.

the worse problem is when you get a red CEL. this is permanent CEL and you get an i-drive warning not to turn off the car because you may not be able to restart.

i experienced these problems in the past. my tip is if your car does not start, you need to completely shut it down before retrying. that means, taking out the key and locking the doors (this is when the steering lock engages). then try again by unlocking the doors and putting the fob into the ignition while wiggling the steering wheel.

i was told the repair for these isses is an upgrade to software and/or entire steering column replacement. this can be a very expensive problem if not covered by warranty.

 

[cyrus271]

Re: Car can't start due to steering lock

hi,

It happened to my ride last year. Drove and parked my car in the early evening. Came back to drive it out for dinner but "steering lock failure" alarm (iDrive) was activated and refused to start.

Tried moving (shaking) the steering, in-out ignition key but failed. In the end, called my warranty workshop. Tow truck came next morning and brought it back to workshop since I was travelling the very same day.

Workshop reported failure of steering lock. Replacement component installed. The failed component was returned to me; its just a small motor with rack/pinion lock on a rectangular PCB.

Unfortunately the problem did not completely resolved. The steering lock failure alarm still appears once awhile BUT after the "repairs" the alarm could be cleared every time by re-insert ignition key and shaking the steering. My ride is also a 4yr old E90.

So I guess that yours will be the same unless you bring it to workshop.

If it comes, don't panic (provided you are in Singapore ) and try re-insert the key and "shake the steering".

Hope the above helps...

Cheers

Thanks for the reply. I think I actually had the steering lock component changed under warranty (as the warning light popped up now and then - got it fixed before it died on me). This time there was no warning at all. I think my problem might be the opposite - the failure occurred with the lock disengaged. Either way, I guess car can't be started. Anyway, fingers crossed it does not recur until the workshops open and I get an appointment for it to be checked.

A timely reminder not to take my (up till now) relatively faultless car for granted!

Btw - how much to replace the lock?

 

[cyrus271]

Re: Car can't start

there are 2 types of steering lock failure - bad and worse.

the bad version is when you get a yellow CEL. this is an intermittent nuisance and the CEL clears but is a sign that bad things are to come.

the worse problem is when you get a red CEL. this is permanent CEL and you get an i-drive warning not to turn off the car because you may not be able to restart.

i experienced these problems in the past. my tip is if your car does not start, you need to completely shut it down before retrying. that means, taking out the key and locking the doors (this is when the steering lock engages). then try again by unlocking the doors and putting the fob into the ignition while wiggling the steering wheel.

i was told the repair for these isses is an upgrade to software and/or entire steering column replacement. this can be a very expensive problem if not covered by warranty.

I've seen the yellow warning sign before (which PML say they fixed). In my case it took some 16 hours, a different key fob and the tow truck guy watching me insert my key before I finally heard the steering lock sound engage (allowing me to get to ignition-ready mode). The steering lock failed to engage when i stopped the car yesterday.

Just hope this won't be a common occurrence.

 

[avatar]

Re: Car can't start

The same thing happened to me when my E90 was 2 years old. Like what Kuvesh highlighted, once there is a yellow steering warning, better to get it checked. PML reset the warning the first time round and my car operated normally. However, it came back on after a couple of weeks. I ignored it for a further 2 weeks and the warning eventually turned to red. Guess what...the car refused to start. After the car was towed to PML, they replaced the entire steering column. I have not had a recurrence ever since.

 

[cyrus271]

Re: Car can't start

The same thing happened to me when my E90 was 2 years old. Like what Kuvesh highlighted, once there is a yellow steering warning, better to get it checked. PML reset the warning the first time round and my car operated normally. However, it came back on after a couple of weeks. I ignored it for a further 2 weeks and the warning eventually turned to red. Guess what...the car refused to start. After the car was towed to PML, they replaced the entire steering column. I have not had a recurrence ever since.

sure hope they have since found a way to repair rather than replace.... not good news when one is out of warranty, and especially since we're going to have to hold on to our cars for longer now!

 

[armValkyrie]

Re: Car can't start

Hi Val,

I have this alarm once in a while. Are you able to share roughly how much it costed to change that lock?

Thanks~!

hi all,

wow, it seems this is a pretty common fault...

yup, my yellow steering lock warning keep coming now and then but its ok if i am driving in Singapore, im not worried.. BIG hassel if up north

sorry guys, the steering lock component was replaced under warranty so unsure of the cost
I have bought extended warranty with Kar Eng just in case for such failures of a 3+ year E90...

next failure to expect : air cond

hi kuvesh, how are you getting on?

cheers

 

[chewbaka]

Re: Car can't start

Seems like I'm also facing the same problem, car can't start but dun think it's the steering wheel problem. Can turn into ignition but can't seem to crank the car. No sound whatsoever. No warning lights about flat battery too. The only warning light I have is for the tail lights. One of my brake light fused.

Got my dad down to jumpstart the car earlier but din seem to work. No choice gotta leave the car at my office there first. Worse still, my car in a multi-storey carpark.

Current ride is a 2004 e46. Any suggestions from the bros here?

Initially wanted to tow to r2d but my office all the way in the east. So guess wait till tom morning might be a better idea.

Thanks in advance.

 

[chewbaka]

Re: Car can't start

Towing the vehicle to ah wee. But they opening only next Monday. Sian.

Just discovered another problem of leaking engine oil.

 

[cyrus271]

Re: Car can't start

Seems like I'm also facing the same problem, car can't start but dun think it's the steering wheel problem. Can turn into ignition but can't seem to crank the car. No sound whatsoever. No warning lights about flat battery too. The only warning light I have is for the tail lights. One of my brake light fused.

Got my dad down to jumpstart the car earlier but din seem to work. No choice gotta leave the car at my office there first. Worse still, my car in a multi-storey carpark.

Current ride is a 2004 e46. Any suggestions from the bros here?

Initially wanted to tow to r2d but my office all the way in the east. So guess wait till tom morning might be a better idea.

Thanks in advance.

Could it be the starter motor? that's what the BMW 24 hrs emergency assist thought when they took a look at it. Might want to call them and see what they say (if not already towed)?

 

[chewbaka]

Re: Car can't start

Just gave them a call and waiting for them to come down. Hopefully problem is not that serious. *cross my fingers*

 

[chewbaka]

Re: Car can't start

Could it be the starter motor? that's what the BMW 24 hrs emergency assist thought when they took a look at it. Might want to call them and see what they say (if not already towed)?

got the bmw mobile service down. not the problem with the starter, battery or solenoid. after a long while of trying, just when the service guy was about to give up. tried to start the car again, and amazingly the car came to life! haha

but he said likely to be the problem of the key sensor, either the ignition switch there or key reader. now thinking which workshop to send to, since BVO only open on monday. dont want to face another similar situation again.

any recommendations?