Car problem question

[Rain Man]

Hi there,

Long time listener, first time caller.

I have a 2000 BMW Z3. I took it into the dealer a couple of days ago because a turn signal light was out and apparently they have to order this particular light bulb from some remote village in Bavaria.

So they replace the light bulb, and as I'm getting back into the car I remember this weird intermittent problem with my door handle. Sometimes when you try to open the door it's as if the door handle is locked. The door won't open, though you can hear a slight clunk that you don't hear when it's locked. When it happens, you just try again and it almost always opens the second time.

So they tell me that they'll have to open up the door to check it out and I have to leave the car for a day. They look and can't figure out what's wrong with it, which doesn't overly surprise me since it's intermittent. They tell me they can replace the entire assembly for $650, but I take a pass on that. I'll keep the $650 and have the intermittent door problem.

My wife went to pick the car up, and their practice is to drive the car from the service area to the customer area, and she gets it from there. So she never started the car and just drove straight home.

Now it's the next morning, and the car won't start. It seems like it might be a dead battery. It makes a series of clicks, and while they don't sound like the clicks I've heard in other dead batteries, maybe it's just a BMW thing.

So my questions are:

1. Is it possible that my wife is cheating on me with the BMW service guy?

2. Would you disconnect the electrical power and/or battery to open up the door to check the handle, and would there be anything associated with that (or the light bulb) that could cause a bad connection or an improperly reattached connection? I find it odd that that battery dies immediately after they service it and am wondering if it's not really dead.

3. Should we sign Peyton Manning or trade up for RGIII?

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Battery is dead because the tech left the key on while screwing around with the door locks. It might just need a charge but replace it if you can afford it.

Secondly, the door locks operate on a rod/pulley system and are connected to a motor. Likely the small plastic rod connectors are worn out and have some slop so they don't function correctly 100% of the time.
Either that or the swivel points need to be lubricated with white grease or graphite lube. Sauto would be a good guy to hit up for some pointers on this as well.
Posted via Mobile Device

Dang. I might fly you out to give me and estimate and fix it. It'd still probably be cheaper than the BMW dealership.

Wife is still at the dealership with the car. I'm really hoping they don't talk her into replacing that dingle arm that radar chief was referencing.

Sounds like it might be a good idea to replace the battery based on what I'm hearing. I didn't really know how long they were supposed to last and we've never had trouble, so it's good to learn these things.

[Rain Man]

Thanks to everyone. You'll find a little something extra in your rep paycheck this month.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Dang. I might fly you out to give me and estimate and fix it. It'd still probably be cheaper than the BMW dealership.

Wife is still at the dealership with the car. I'm really hoping they don't talk her into replacing that dingle arm that radar chief was referencing.

Sounds like it might be a good idea to replace the battery based on what I'm hearing. I didn't really know how long they were supposed to last and we've never had trouble, so it's good to learn these things.

Seems anymore that I'm lucky to get 3 years out of one. I know you don't drive very much but the battery is one of those things that goes bad over time regardless of how much it is used.

[Saul Good]

Haave you tried painting it a feminine color with a fruity name like tangerine or apricot?

[ClevelandBronco]

I have about 150 Car Talk podcasts but no way to sort them by problem addressed. Let me know where to send them.

And it wouldn't matter if you traded up for Jim Thorpe if Romeo Crennel is your head coach.