Busted BMW (No Crank, No Comm)

Uh oh...This 2011 BMW X5 Twin Turbo decided to not start in the owner's driveway.
Lots of codes set, and the Engine Computer is MIA. LOTS OF CODES!!
What is the most logical diagnostic approach? Will this be an expensive fix?
LAUNCH DIAGUN:
www.amazon.com...
Enjoy!
Ivan

[@nv1493]

Dealer: we'll need 8 hrs and $6k in parts to fix. Ivan: hold my jumper cable.

[@baxrok2.]

Haha, hell yeah!

[@SmittySmithsonite]

That's about the size of it ...

[@LuisFlores-vl3xz]

Sound's about, right

[@baxrok2.]

Hell yeah, crank no start, codes galore, test light, jumper cables, and Russian. This one had it all. Thanks Ivan!

[@ronaldoquintos1675]

Everyone thinks it’s simple. Kudos to the guy who figured it out and posted this video let’s appreciate him because it is only simple because he showed you. If you were the ones diagnosing this problem y’all would have been pulling your own hair. So thank him I for one can’t thank this guy enough for sharing such video. Anyone can turn a wrench but there is only a handful like this guy.

[@johnmwangi6291]

I had already pulled my wiring diagram and a note book to take some notes.. 🤣🤣

[@Agent-nw3it]

Scotty: "BMWs are endless money pits, look at how many codes it has!" Ivan: "It has one bad wire."

[@bwdz75]

LMAO yeah Scotty "all these computers are junk", Ivan "you just haven't a clue what you're doing and probably never did"

[@jimpie231]

By the way.......my 2009 Honda CR-V had a similar problem and all it was, was a loose negative battery cable. The computer did find it......but that was too easy. In final desperation I tried to turn the cable, and it turned. I put on a new flat washer, a star washer and a new locking nut. Cleared all codes.....all problems went away! The computer went crazy with this untightened ground. Thanks....Jim

[@jimpie231]

PS......This was last year at 115,000 miles....Jim

[@ReCkLeSsErr0r]

Still though, one bad wire to cause all those modules to not function? I have no issue with BMW myself, but their engineers really should have gone further with the engine ground.

[@jimpie231]

@@ReCkLeSsErr0r you would have thought that they would have used an insulated ground like most vehicles....Jim

[@dogsplantscarsneatstuff176]

Ivan you should ask BMW to put a test light module in since they have so few computers in their cars: with more computer modules comes more reliability! You must have 30M causes you are thinking about when looking at these cars.

[@mikeaho4143]

Awesome. Almost no parts required. Great quick diagnosis. Thanks for sharing Ivan !

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Another great diag Ivan! Great to have a photo at the end for added proof of what the problem was! It is amazing the issues that can come from on small little ground strap!

[@sinegra30]

Amazing diagnostic! Right to to the point! (that naked ground cable is kind of exposed to the elements I thinl the customer should buy a regular rubber covered ground cable)

[@PhillipBailey]

Stick with the basics first I always say but sometimes we get intimidated by all the messages and codes. Great job!

[@kevinmartin9432]

Some things never change; in the 60's, if the earth strap failed on a mini it melted the choke cable!

[@henryhenry3832]

This is why I am subscribed to you’re channel, you are good with software and you have really great common sense when looking at a problem.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

I had a gut feeling that it was going to be a simple problem on this complex machine ;)

[@henryhenry3832]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics yes they sure have enough going on under the hood and dash lol, great job I really enjoy your videos.

[@hollywoodlive6559]

I am experiencing this issue, i drove my x6 all yesterday no issues, i came home parked it and went outside to crank it no crank no start all dashlights on getting ibs codes and all kinda codes a559 a556 5f56 and i cant do nothing do u think same issue?

[@roxanneabbott8424]

I'm going after my grounds now on my ram 1500! Wish me luck! Great Mind Ivan, you prove it over and over again!

[@warriorsf911]

Excellent video! Solved my problem! Never would have thought. This was als9 preventing alternator from charging battery properly.

[@mohammadhayatca3244]

I have no crank. No start. All Christmas tree. 2011 E70 , 162 k Kms. I will definitely check k the ground strap. It is definitely 12 years old and crusty rusted. Probably that is why no crank. It drove fine the day before and I parked it . Tried to start back up. No crank or start. Asked tow guy to boost the car. We tried to boost it from the engine bay. No lick. It started. After we boosted it from the battery. But the voltage 11.2 while the engine is running. That threw me off. Before I throw any part at it. The battery is brand new. I will check the ground strap. That could be the culprit. Thank u.

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

I was thinking rodent damage to a ground before watching the video.

[@tonymonastiere8510]

For a moment, I thought this BMW is related to that AURA. Here we go, 12 days of BMW!!! Good training vid.

[@gbeairsto]

Nice to see your father and brother ! (Not Ivan's Dad! My mistake.)

[@Adam-bw4lw]

5:28

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

That was my brother, but not my Dad. My dad is too smart to buy a BMW...has a Honda and a Lexus ;)

[@gbeairsto]

@@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics Good point !

[@TheCrazy243]

Brilliant!! Test light is awesome 👏🏼!!!

[@billziegmond4943]

Nothing beats experience.

[@jeremyah78]

Had that exact same problem on a 2012 Bmw. I think it was a 528xi if I recall (it was back in may 2021). It was the first time I had a bad main ground problem like that so it took me a while to figure it out. (4 or 5 hours I think). I carry jumper cables In my diagnostic tool bag ever since for just that reason now. Lol! I remember what was frustrating about it at the time was that all data had no wiring diagrams for the car, or any decent service information for the one code it had in the DME. In fact, the snap on scan tool I was using had a useless code description too, and identifix had nothing to offer for the code. I remember thinking how I’m diagnosing a pretty complex car with a no start and more than a fee peculiar symptoms, but I was diagnosing it straight old school. I’ll always remember that one and how thrilled I was when I figured it out. Ground strap was even in the exact same condition and I pulled on it and it broke away!👍

[@chasingcapsaicin]

Dozen times, first thing to check in the salt belt.

[@AP9311]

Ready to busy out some parts cannon. But you got it licked by 2 minutes of diagnosis! Boom it works lol. Too easy of a job. You need really really tough job to keep you challenged!!! Haha

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

That was after 1 hour of banging my head against the wall xD

[@earlwitherall894]

Great job. You are so good with your diag, you make it look so easy.

[@curtcriswell2293]

It worked on my 2010 X5 e70 as well…. Jumper cable worked Thanks… you are a lifesaver😎

[@ppeterson9359]

I always look forward to the bonus footage. :)

[@rp5029]

Short video with amazing content! Thanks yet again Mr. Ivan!

[@tonyedwin9042]

Common problem with BMWs and Chevrolet Express vans...Braided exposed ground strap in the rust belts...what a brilliant idea !!

[@hendersonjp]

You the man , I have had this before , normally make up a new earth cable and attached it some where easy to get to, near the alternator. Nissan's in the UK if battery 🔋 is very low will give many many ghost codes And general new battery will sort it .

[@WilliamMulligan]

I was wrong! I guessed water in the DME.

[@gregorystrakovsky5193]

Love Your comments in Russian. YOUR EXPERIENCES AND DIAGNSICS APROCH ARE AWESOME. May be refreshing of ground connections should be a part of annual maintanace?

[@john7017]

Great Video! I can only imagine what BMW charged him for the ground strap...

[@cdawg2467]

$80 for that ground strap at my bmw dealer 😆😆😆😆😆 I just bought a AC Delco ground strap on Amazon for $12 same length perfect fit and no more electrical issues on my 08 528xi.

[@vkatson1]

Ваня, привет from midwest, your videos just as always amazing, electronics 101 - Russian power lol. My dad is not a Auto mechanic but electronics engineer. He always is saying no matter what check the ground first and then p supply... it is amazing to me how much ground issues could cause. One time, I heard from old mechanic that bad ground could cause for antifreeze to brake down and cause gassing in expencion tank that looks like blown head gasket.

[@neilmurphy845]

It's always no power or ground if you have tons and tons of no com codes or worst case scenario a can bus issue

[@trainwreck5973]

2011 X5 35i. Same exact symptoms. Used a test light on same points. But getting a strong light. Tried jumper cables in same spot. Mine bolt on the oil cooler is a bit rusty. But got some signs of life now. Tried to start. Got a click. Still no start. Battery is brand new. Looked at ground strap. See all the same greenys. Must be the ground! Going to replace it anyway. I think they’re like $8!

[@MitzvosGolem1]

I travel on Interstate s NY to Florida every month for 10 years. These are the cars I see stuck on hwy: 1:Jeeps/ Chrysler 2: BMW 3:Audi vw 4: Benz 5: Various American brands that outnumber Euro trash by 10x nationally. Usually GM Ford older models is a fuel pump or belt pulley high miles cheap to fix . Get a Skoda over here

[@blockbertus]

Skoda and Seat are both also VAG (VW) just a different design.

[@MitzvosGolem1]

@@blockbertus oh ..I meant old CZ cars made well like Swedish Volvo's.

[@blockbertus]

@@MitzvosGolem1 Oh, I see. Yeah, that's true. Or just get a real Volvo. ;-) My opinion: The newer the car (regardless the manufacturer), the more problems there are. And the harder it gets for the DIYer to do stuff on their own.

[@scientist100]

Having this information and knowing what is bad, next time carry parts and sell them at a premium price on the road 😅

[@MitzvosGolem1]

@@blockbertus most American cars cheap to fix compared to Euro.Mid 2000s GM easy cheap to fix used parts all over. I have a bunch of GM trucks gas powered all over 200k miles not many issues. I have the 3 million mile Volvo near me on Long island NY. I liked the old 240 4cylinder manual transmission from 70s best.. Now a cult car especially Volvo wagons.. Soon all will be electric cars and batteries will be the issue . Shalom

[@fmbfla]

good find. I have resorted to that test first, any time a vehicle comes in with a NCNS Wranglers are notorious!

[@kennedysgarage3281]

Well done Ivan, that could have led you up the garden path. 👍👍👍

[@mike_svt93]

Best part about this, nobody else prior had their hands on it, throwing parts at it. Owner made a smart decision on who gets first stab at it. I'll assume that anyway. All's well that ends well.

[@mohammadhayatca3244]

Well done Ivan.

[@throttlebottle5906]

I wouldn't have trusted cranking and running it with jumper cables to random location on the engine to body, for fear of it spiking with big back emf pulse or other surge and blow something up. the relays clicking and things going live would have been plenty enough to go and fix grounds back properly.

[@mohammadhayatca3244]

Thank you for the excellent diagnosis. when my 2011 X5 N55 no crank and no start. e what. As the suv was running fine until one day. I came across your video and decided to look for poor ground.,? Yes that was exactly the issue with me suv. Thank you . Took out the rusted and bad ground cable. Do you self this favour change this part$48 that can leave you stranded. For sure all owners should make this to be a maintenance item. Pls check it. Thank you 😊 bless you . Merry Xmas and a happy prosperous new year.

[@scottmagoch5367]

Hey Ivan,happy New Year,heard ''sat for awhile'',thought green ground,ya nailed it,as you do, cheers,best to you and Amanda in the new year,take care!

[@darioandrijasevic2804]

Diagnose Dan had a similar issue with a 3-series. Turned out to be a wire shorting to ground via the exhaust, courtesy of a torn wiring harness.

[@Paolo0902]

If you have so many codes on BMW, that usually means battery problems (low voltage). That the start. Sort out battery and then chase the faults. In this case ground, but the starter sounded like was struggling a little on the beginning.

[@soptea]

Flawless victory !

[@arsinoeivlostprincess4228]

My first inclination was rodent damage. Cars like to be indoors. I remember the Lexus from a few years ago. Lady went away...left car out. ....I think chewed wires to the trans.

[@adotintheshark4848]

Sometimes the smartest fixes are the simplest ones. No parts cannon here, just a pop gun.

[@amazoidal]

Hoovie bought one of these. It needed 4 new cats. Just drove it to the junkyard. Car Wizard -car to avoid. Scotty Kilmer: "Endless Money Pit".

[@paulgilliland2992]

First thing to check on BMW , power and ground.

[@yoube449]

Yeah I found out my starter cable runs all the way in the back trunk connecting to the Terminal Distribution Fuse Junction Plate and that's why my suv wouldn't start. I tested all the positive cables and found out one wasn't hot which was the starter cable.

[@gregreitan3634]

Rodents nested for a few weeks while owner was away.

[@maxwellness7693]

Shifter was communicating via Morse code. Neeeeeeed Input Stephanie.

[@michaelkane732]

might no be a bad idea to put 2 of them on

[@luxurycaddy8861]

bad ass mechanic love this guy !!!

[@thromboid]

Nice - there's a reason they say to start with the simple checks! So, how to prevent this sort of thing? The braid looked completely unprotected - I would think plastic sheathing over the strap and dielectric grease on the connections (only on the outside) would be a good idea.

[@thebaldmechanichardatheari1124]

If didn't hook the scan tool. You could of fixed with a test light. 😂 good fix

[@jimo2983]

Wouldn't a shielded cable be better than an unshielded strap?

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

I would think so, especially close to the wheel and road salt!!!

[@AllThingsG7]

THANK YOU!!!!!!! You fix it!!!(2014 X6)

[@serge4856]

Very common BMW problem.

[@r.t.1942]

I had same problem on 530i ground straps were bad and other grounds were grounded to plastic that was funny lol

[@mixedboi]

Русская мощ. Awesome intuition. Молодец, привет всем.

[@madmike214]

Just had this same issue with a 03 Benz clk320...i learned something valuable with no crank no starts...always always always jump block to chassis first lol. I spent about an hour too. Case was broken down at a Lowe's big box store, I get there and the battery was dead so I hooked it up to my service vehicle to charge it... It's an older model that requires the Benz adapter to the Benz diag port so I had to dick around with trying to find the adapter since I rarely use it with obd2 lol. Then I read codes to find no codes except under voltage codes, then I had to find the starter relay location and tested there...didn't have what I needed and couldn't jump it through my uactivate relay tester...still no beans...then...i tested the ground and boom! There it was! I wasted so much time! I skipped the damn basics! Won't do that again lol. That's going to be my starting point from now on with a no crank lol.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Those are the ones you never forget :)

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Don't feel bad. I shotgunned a couple o2 sensors at a '07 Suburban today thinking I'd get this turd out of here quicker. Bit me right in the ass! No power on the heater circuit - the ONE vehicle I don't test!!

[@mowmanjones3353]

why do the old ground straps last forever,Ive seen cars that are 50 yrs old and the ground's are still good

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Back in those days auto manufacturer's sole focus was CUSTOMER SATISFACTION - a foreign concept in the 21st Century. These days it's all about how much money they can save. The strap, and pretty much EVERY other part of the vehicle, regardless of brand, uses subpar materials compared to what was used 50 years ago. There hasn't been any high quality steel, aluminum, or copper used in any automobile in 25+ years.

[@mowmanjones3353]

@@SmittySmithsonite as a machinst I know that, nothing worse than almost being with a part, turning on a lathe and a chunk of steele come's out

[@NoRogeR]

well that's a quickie

[@mohammadhayatca3244]

Any dealership would have taken the customer to the cleaners. I have no doubt. Even some shady mechanics would jump at this opportunity to make a quick buck.

[@williegillie5712]

So many codes-what was their commonality? a bad engine ground.

[@willemstreutgers1154]

Those ground cables are made of 2 different metals, so after a couple of years they will disintegrate due to "electrolysis". It will bring a lot of Beamers back to the dealership. BMW= Bring Me your Wallet

[@SmittySmithsonite]

And the materials are subpar to start with, which doesn't help ...

[@richardgraham65]

With that heap of shit I would make sure my insurance was up to date and buy a gallon of petrol and a box of matches!

[@steves4639]

with the hundreds of codes, all of a sudden, it just seemed like it should be a ground, or completely failed ECM. More and more I think to look for ground problems first...just seems to be the malady of our times.

[@princenyc9271]

i have a 2005 bmw 645ci with no start no crank issue. ive checked all the fuses and relays and there good. ive changed the ivm also. battery is good. So i finally bought a good bmw foxwell scanner and got this code A0C2/not present. CAS: Output, terminal 50 rs. Would this be the starter?

[@markedwards4987]

Hey I got the x5 50i drive where do you hook the cables on it?

[@alaautotonics4403]

Excellent !!! well done bro

[@HUBBABUBBADOOPYDOOP]

That was cool when your test light made it chime "BLLIINNGG". Surprised it has only ONE ground strap? Work either grease or fluid film into that new web, then heat shrink it.

[@throttlebottle5906]

that was likely coincidence, they do that every so many seconds with key in/on if I recall ( not a big BMW fella, not even if free/new) LOL

[@izukenekuzi]

why would engine computer loose comms with a bad block ground? can't seem to have an answer from the top of my head, that's definitely not what i would've thought in the field either.

[@engeneer_ru5827]

Because the DME receives the negative of the battery through the motor.

[@izukenekuzi]

@@engeneer_ru5827 масса на мозги с блока, серьезно? я ж посмотрю схему на нее

[@engeneer_ru5827]

@@izukenekuzi Ну, вероятно так! Других причин, думаю, быть не может. Если есть схема, интересно узнать так ли это!

[@izukenekuzi]

@@engeneer_ru5827 нет у меня схем больше, лицензия кончилась. в халявных не нашел ничего, вопрос открытый..

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

@@izukenekuzi Ага, блок DME прикручен прямо к движку :)

[@halleffect1]

simple problem, but would be disastrous in the wrong hands, buying/substituting modules, flashing, etc. i read a dismissive post on a forum once, layman speaking of how easy it is to work on cars because the scan tool does all the work.. yeah right, BS.

[@billyr9840]

Nice !

[@llservice3376]

hoo ray an easy one for a change LOL

[@wyattoneable]

That's awesome.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

I'd have left the cable on to save time and money ... 😃

[@wyattoneable]

@@SmittySmithsonite That's funny.

[@richardcranium5839]

i could never figure out why they use those woven grounds with a 50 year bad track record

[@SmittySmithsonite]

CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP is the name of the 21st Century game ... 😔

[@richardcranium5839]

@@SmittySmithsonite we had jamesway stores and that was the joke- what did the bird say when it flew over jamesway- cheap cheap cheap!!! we called it the japanese jungle cuz back then it was japan not china dumping chap products

[@billsimpson604]

Maybe salt is different in Germany.

[@hpelisr]

You wouldn't be the same Russian that Hacked into my computer would you?? Well done Ivan,

[@charlesswart]

Guess- mouse activity

[@anthonydefreitas6006]

Thats not a Russian fix, its a Saddam Hussein fix 😂

[@jamesmcgraw9570]

Quick one

[@HouseCallAutoRepair]

Ivan gets all the bad grounds.... Not fair!

[@alexandertemnykh9745]

Красиво!

[@joeluisramirez]

,,,,NO BONUS FOOTAGE RUSSIAN!!!!!!!! how do you say ,,,,need bonus footage in russian?????

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

At least the owner provided a follow-up picture :)

[@fp8007]

здорово 👍🙂⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@aymenmohamed1134]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🌷

[@gdanskglodek7204]

Replace battery all will be gone I have the same problem

[@aMartianSpy]

bmw lol

[@SmittySmithsonite]

🤣

[@elcheapo5302]

Jumper cables: $14 Figuring out where to put them: Priceless

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Love it haha

[@angelamcmahon]

Now I'd buy one of these with same symptoms only to find no compression!

[@adotintheshark4848]

Can you imagine buying one, immaculate condition except for the bad ground, for 2k?

[@boost351]

Must be the quickest bmw repair I have ever seen. Well done 👍

[@2nickles647]

That will be 600.00 and ten for the strap

[@throttlebottle5906]

it's a BMW, the repairs are never done ;)

[@charleskosyjana1295]

Darn this one was TOO SIMPLE. I was hoping for some critters that had been feasting on those tasty wires since the car sat for a few weeks. Good job as always Ivan !!! 😄😄

[@pontiacsrule8761]

I thought the same thing, a rodent issue.........

[@crazycowboy213]

What kinda of sick fantasy is this :D

[@edwardautrey3671]

Test light for the win

[@zx8401ztv]

i did guess this one right for a change, yes i was prompted by that mad car last time. Ivan I don't think anyone will forget that previous mad car lol. That ground strap reminded me of the braded wire on a vw golf starter motor, green and falls apart in the hand.

[@throttlebottle5906]

not the only starters that used a braided wire from solenoid contacts into starter brush/field lol. seen many failed over the years.

[@opl500]

You know it's a BMW when Ivan starts sighing and never stops

[@carlm2590]

Until you did the bypass ground I was thinking rodent damage to some wires.

[@Mr2004MCSS]

That was my first thought too.

[@ekaftan]

I was expecting a shorted CAN bus, like the one that Eric O traced to a cable under the carpet on a Dodge Van...

[@TreyCook21]

Sat 2 weeks in the frozen north? Definitely mouse damage... what? Maybe a mouse peed on that strap!

[@tracydiller9378]

Great video Ivan, i wonder how many electrical problems on vehicles now days is a simple bad ground.Stay safe everyone.