battery capacity BMW 318i 1996 E36 Workshop Manual

Fig
.1.



Electrical
system
static
current
draw
being
measured
.

To
determine
the
circuit
or
component
causing
the
problem,

remove
one
Puse
at
a
time
until
the
current
drops
to
a
normal
range
.

BATTERY
SERVICE

The
E36
uses
a
six-cell,
12-volt
leadacid
battery
mounted

in
the
luggage
compartment
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

NOTE-

E36
convertible
models
require
a
specialbattery
which
is
designed
for
constant
vibratfon
.
A
battery
not
de-signed
for
this
will
fail
much
earlier
.

Battery
capacity
is
determined
by
the
amount
of
current

needed
tostart
the
vehicle,
and
by
the
amount
of
current
con-
sumed
by
the
electrical
system
.

BMW
batteries
are
rated
by
ampere/hours
(Ah)
and
cold

cranking
amps
(CCA)
rating
.
The
Ah
rating
is
determined
by

the
average
amount
of
current
the
battery
can
deliver
over
time
without
dropping
below
a
specified
voltage
.
The
CCA
is

determined
by
the
battery's
ability
to
deliver
starting
current
at

0°
F
(-18°
C)
without
dropping
below
a
specified
voltage
.

Battery
Testing

noN~A

B9517

Battery
testing
determines
the
state
of
battery
charge
.
On

conventional
or
low-maintenance
batteries
the
most
common

method
of
testing
the
battery
is
that
of
checking
the
specific

gravity
of
the
electrolyte
using
a
hydrometer
.
Before
testing

the
battery,
check
that
the
cables
are
tight
and
free
of
corro-

sion
.
See
Fig
.
2
.

Hydrometer
Testing

The
hydrometer
consists
of
a
glass
cylinder
with
a
freely

moving
float
inside
.
When
electrolyte
is
drawn
into
the
cylin-

der,
the
levelto
which
the
float
sinks
indicates
the
specific

BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR



121-
3

Fig
.
2
.



Battery
in
right
sideof
luggage
compartment
.

gravity
of
the
electrolyte
.
The
more
dense
the
concentration
of
sulfuric
acid
in
the
electrolyte,
the
less
the
float
will
sink,
result-

ing
in
a
higher
reading
and
indicating
a
higher
state
of
charge)
.

NOTE-

Electrolyte
temperature
affects
hydrometer
reading
.
Check
the
electrolyte
temperaturewith
a
thermometer
.
Add
0
.004
to
the
hydrometer
reading
for
every
10°F
(6°C)
that
the
electrolyte
is
above
80°F
(27°C)
.
Sub-
tract
0
.004
from
the
reading
for
every
10°F
(6°C)
that
the
electrolyte
is
below
80°F
(27°C)
.

Before
checking
the
specificgravity
of
a
battery,
load
the
battery
with
15
amperes
for
one
minute
.
lf
the
battery
is
in-

stalled
in
the
vehicle,
this
can
be
done
by
turning
on
the
head-

lights
without
the
engine
running
.
Table
b
lists
the
percentage

of
charge
based
on
specific
gravity
values
.

Table
b
.
Specific
Gravity
of
Battery
Electrolyteat

80
°
F
(27°C)

Specific
gravity



1



Stateof
charge

1
.265



Fully
charged
1
.225



75%
charged
1
.190



50%
charged
1
.155



25%
charged
1
.120



Fully
discharged

The
battery
isin
satisfactory
condition
if
theaverage
specif-

ic
gravity
of
the
six
cells
is
at
least
1
.225
.
If
the
specific
gravity

is
above
this
leve¡,
butthe
battery
lacks
power
for
starting,
de-

termine
the
battery's
senrice
condition
with
a
load
voltage
test,

as
described
below
.
If
the
average
specific
gravity
of
the
six

cells
is
below
1
.225,
remove
the
battery
from
the
luggage

compartment
and
recharge
.
If,
after
recharging,
the
specific
gravity
varies
by
more
than
0
.005
between
any
two
celis,
re-

place
the
battery
.

CHARGING
SYSTEM
TROUBLESHOOTING

160-2



FUEL
TANK
AND
FUEL
PUMP

0011943
1
.
Filler
pipe



10
.
Fuel
compensating
siphon
pump
and
hose
assembly
2
.
Filler
pipe
grounding
tab



(models
built
from
1/95)
3
.
Vent
pipe



11
.
Fueltank
4
.
Threaded
collar



12
.
Tank
support
strap
5
.
Rubber
ring
seal



13
.
Bolt-tighten
to
23
Nm
(17
ft-Ib)
6
.
Fuel
pump



14
.
Fuel
expansion
tank
7
.
Left
side
fuel
leve¡
sender(models
built
from
1/95)



15
.
Fuel
tank
pressure
sensor
(OBD
II)
8
.
Right
side
fuel
leve¡
sender9
.
Left
side
fuel
leve¡
sender
with
fuel
compensating
siphon
pump
(models
built
up
to
1/95)

Fig
.
1
.



E36
fuel
tank
assembly
.

FUEL
TANK
AND
LINES



Fuel
tank,
draining

The
plastic
fuel
tank
is
mounted
beneath
the
center
of
the
car
(beneath
rear
seat)
.
Mounted
in
the
fuel
tank
are
the
fuel
pump
and
fuel
leve¡
sending
units
.
Connecting
lines
for
the
evaporative
emission
control
systemand
expansion
tank
are
also
attached
to
the
tank
.
When
performing
the
procedures
that
follow,
refer
toFig
.
1
.

Fuel
tank
capacity
for
E36
modeis

"All
ex
.
1996
M3
(3
.0
L)
.....
.
..
..
65
liters
(17
.0
gal)

"
1996
M3
(3.0L)
modeis
.
...
.
..
.
.62
liters
(16
.4
gal)

FUEL
TA
NKAND
LINES

The
fuel
tank
should
be
drained
into
an
approved
storage
unit
or
another
car's
fuel
tank
.

WARNING
-
"
Before
removing
the
tank,
be
sure
that
afl
hot
components
such
as
the
exhaust
system,
are
completely
cooled
down
.

"
Fuel
may
be
spilled
.
Do
not
smoke
or
worknear
heaters
or
other
Pire
hazards
.

1
.
Disconnect
negative
(-)
cable
from
battery
.

CAUTION-

Prior
to
disconnectiog
the
battery,
read
the
battery
disconnection
cautions
given
at
the
front
of
this
manual
on
paga
vi¡¡
.