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I pressed ignition start button and the engine just started to turn over and then the entire electrical system went dead. (no instrument panel lights, no dome/no radio, etc).

I put the battery on charger hoping this was simple battery issue, but not. Battery is fully charged and still no signs of electrical life.

Thought I'd check with the experts on this forum before I started to debug.

Does it sound like Fuses? Ignition switch?

What perplexes me is that all electrical components seem to be dead - apparently not receiving current.

ty in advance

Had the car been sitting a long time?

Are ALL circuits affected, or just those that are energized by the ignition switch? Is your dome light working? Horn?

If it's literally everything, I'd first suspect the hot and ground cables coming off of the battery. Are they old and fried?

If your dome light is working, I'd check the ignition switch. Since you have a start button, I suspect the ignition switch has caused trouble in the past.

Remove, clean and reinstall the battery cables. I don't care what they look like, just do it. 95% chance of it being the problem. By clean, I mean get them down to fresh clean metal. Both them and the battery terminals.

Thanks for the direction guys. OK, Mike W taught me a battery lesson: "don't judge the battery connection with your eyes, just clean the damn terminals". So Mike, I cleaned the terminals, charged the battery with charger directly attached to the battery positive terminal and viola --- I'm now getting dash lights and electrical power now seems to be restored. Many thanks to you.

I now have a secondary issue. When I turn the ignition key I hear a fast clicking behind the dash. (Note - this is before I press the Start button). I wonder if this is a sign that battery is not fully charged? After removing the panel beneath the dashboard to expose the wiring I discovered the prior owner had used Scotch Tape to connect some of the wiring. No, this isn't clear electrical tape, it's scotch type tape.

1) Any ideas what is causing this fast clicking when I turn ignition switch to on?

2) There are 2 Red wires connected to the Start Button both with male terminal connectors at their the other end of the wires. One of the wires is not connected to anything. I'm assuming I may have pulled that wire free when I removed the dashboard kickboard? I cannot find a female end for this red Start Button wire to connect to. Any ideas - or pictures?

ty again in advance guys.

Mike W. wrote:Remove, clean and reinstall the battery cables. I don't care what they look like, just do it. 95% chance of it being the problem. By clean, I mean get them down to fresh clean metal. Both them and the battery terminals.

Looks like I missed something. Push the start button? What color wires go where? What is or isn't connected to the igniton switch? And why?

Ignition and dash lights come on now. However when I turn ignition to the ON position, there is a fast clicking sound. I didn't think it wise to press the Start button, fearing I have a short somewhere.

I dropped the cover below the dash so I could check the connections and wiring. There are two red wires connected to the back of the Start button. Both wires have male connectors at their other ends. One of the Start Button wires isn't connected to anything at the other end and is just hanging loose. I can't find any Female connectors that are empty and can't figure out what this loose wire connects to.

I was hoping someone knew what the two wires attached to the Start Button were supposed to connect to - or maybe have picture of the wiring ?

Sorry if my explanation is confusing.

Mike W. wrote:Looks like I missed something. Push the start button? What color wires go where? What is or isn't connected to the igniton switch? And why?

These cars did not come with a start button. Starter engagement is supposed to be accomplished with the ignition switch.

The fact that your car has had a start button installed indicates that the ignition switch has caused problems for the PO, so he wired in that start button. My first guess would be that both of the red wires were once connected to the back side of the ignition switch, one to the hot wire and the other to the wire that serves the starter/solenoid.

Unfortunately, this is a "custom wiring" condition, so we can't provide pictures of how it should be wired.

Guys, I'm embarassed. I bought this car a few months ago and assumed the start button was stock (I have a start button on my other BMW). Kudo's to the PO for installing the button with such a stock appearance, although I don't applaud the use of scotch tape to connect the wires.

Now that I know this is not stock I can tackle the problem from another angle.

ty guys.

socalfiver wrote:These cars did not come with a start button. Starter engagement is supposed to be accomplished with the ignition switch.

The fact that your car has had a start button installed indicates that the ignition switch has caused problems for the PO, so he wired in that start button. My first guess would be that both of the red wires were once connected to the back side of the ignition switch, one to the hot wire and the other to the wire that serves the starter/solenoid.

Unfortunately, this is a "custom wiring" condition, so we can't provide pictures of how it should be wired.

Don't ever be embarrassed here for not knowing something! We're all here for one reason: to learn from and share knowledge with each other. We're a team, and our mission is to make these cars keep running and looking good.

Good luck on tracing your mystery click. It could possibly be the starter/solenoid if there isn't enough juice in your battery. Get it fully charged.

Since you cleaned up the battery ends of your cables with much success, it wouldn't be a bad idea to clean up the other ends as well, where they meet the alternator and the starter. I got much faster starting after I did it.

thanks for the words of encouragement. When I turn the ignition to "ON" position I get a fast click. The component that is making the clicking sound is located under dash just to the right of the hood release. Do you know what this component/module is and why it's clicking? Please see pics here:

socalfiver wrote:Don't ever be embarrassed here for not knowing something! We're all here for one reason: to learn from and share knowledge with each other. We're a team, and our mission is to make these cars keep running and looking good.

Good luck on tracing your mystery click. It could possibly be the starter/solenoid if there isn't enough juice in your battery. Get it fully charged.

Since you cleaned up the battery ends of your cables with much success, it wouldn't be a bad idea to clean up the other ends as well, where they meet the alternator and the starter. I got much faster starting after I did it.

Is your door open? It could be the door "buzzer".

No, door is closed. Only happens with Ignition to "ON" position.

I'm wondering if clicking could be caused by weak battery? I've charged this battery over night but maybe battery needs replacement.

socalfiver wrote:Is your door open? It could be the door "buzzer".

It's a relay of some sort. It's either not getting a good connection or it's almost shot. Wiggle its' connector to make sure it's fully plugged in.

I'd think that your first step should be to pull that ignition switch and see if you can rebuild it or replace it. If it gave the PO problems in the start position, it could be developing problems in the other positions as well. Usually, all that's needed is a thorough cleaning and reassembly.

On second inspection, i realized it could also be a flasher. Do you have a turn signal on? Signal on and a burnt out bulb would cause a fast click.

SoCalfiver; I totally agree with you about the team that we are! I've learned sooo much since hangin' out here.
I'm also so sorry about the blue carpet! I ground on the E-brake plate & had to cut some away to do it. If I had only known I would've been more gentle with it. Real sorry!