positive terminal BMW 540i 1997 E39 Workshop Manual

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Maintenance
- To remove battery corrosion:
Disconnect battery cables. Disconnect negative (-)cable
first.
* Remove battery from trunk
Clean terminal posts and cable clamps with a wire brush.
Clean main chassis ground terminal next to battery.
Corrosion can be washed away with a
baking soda and
water solution that will neutralize acid.
Reinstall battery and reconnect cable clamps, positive
(+)
cable first.
Lightly coat outside of terminals, hold down screws, and
clamps with petroleum jelly, grease, or a commercial
battery terminal corrosion inhibitor.
WARNING
-
Battery acid is extremely dangerous. Take care to keep it
from contacting eyes, skin, or clothing. Wear eye protection.
Extinguish all
smolihg materials and do not work near any
oaen flames.
CAUTION-
Prior to disconnecting the batteg read the battery discon-
nection cautions given in
001 General Cautions and
Warnings.
NOTE-
The original equipment battery in E39 models is mainte-
nance free. The original electrolyte will normally last the
entire service life of the battery under moderate climate con-
ditions.
Battery electrolyte should be maintained at the correct level
just above the battery plates and theirseparators. The correct
level is approximately
5 mm ('14 in.) above the top of battery
plates or to the top of the indicator
marks (if applicable). The
battery plates and the indicator marks can be seen once the
fillercaps are removed.
if theelectrolyte level is low, replenish
it by adding distilled water only.
4 The original equipment BMW battery is equipped with a
built-in hydrometer "magic eye"
(arrow). Battery condition is
determined by the color of the eye:
Green: Adequate charge
* Black: Inadequate charge, recharge
Yellow: Defective battery, replace
Batteries are rated by ampere hours (Ah), the number of
hours a specific current drain can be sustained before com-
plete discharge, or by cold cranking amps (CCA), the number
of amps available to crank the engine in cold weather
condi-

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.-
-6val and Installation -
< Remove intake manifold mounting hardware (arrows).
NOTE-
M52 TU engine shown. M52 and M54 engines are similar.
Liit up manifold just enough to remove positive cables from
starter motor terminal
50 (arrow).
- Remove intake manifold from cylinder head while carefully
checking for electrical connections, tie wraps, and hoses.
CAUTION-
Stuff clean rags into open intake ports to prevent any parts
from falling into the engine intake.
4 Remove fastener (A) and harness connector (B) from
alternator.

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1 17-24
I Camshaft Timing Chain
4 Remove banjo bolt from VANOS unit oil feed line and install
BMW special tool 11 3 450.
NOTE-
Oil will drain from oil feed line.
- Connect compressed air line (with pressure set to 2-8 bar or
30-1 10 psi.) to air fitting.
4 Measure gap (A) between secondary timing chain tensioner
and
intake camshaft sensor wheel. Make note of distance.
4 Connect cable test (BMW special tool 11 6 410) to VANOS
connector. Connect positive clip to positive battery terminal.
- Connect negative clip to battery negative terminal.
CAUTION-
Reversing terminals on special tool will damage diode on
VANOS solenoid valve.

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1 17-68
Camshaft Timing Chain
4 Remove left and right side ignition coils and spark plugs:
- Remove positive (+) terminal cable from left cylinder head
cover.
- Unbolt lefl and right side cable ducts from fuel rail,
4 Disconnect fuel injector electrical connectors:
Pry corner of wire lock clip to release connector from injec-
tor
(arrow).
Repeat for all injectors.
Lift off wiring ducts.
4 Remove Fasteners (arrow) from lefl and right cylinder head
cover fasteners and remove covers.

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Camshaft Timing Chain LL. .- - - - I
4 Remove left and right side ignition coils and spark plugs:
- Disconnect electrical harness connectors at ignition coils
(A).
Remove left and right side ignition coil mounting fasteners
and coils.
NOTE-
Make note of location of ground strap (arrow).
Remove sparlc plugs.
- Remove positive (+) terminal cable from left cylinder head
cover.
- Unbolt cable ducts from fuel rail at left and right sides.
Disconnect fuel injector electrical connectors from injectors:
Pry corner of wire
loclc clip (arrow) to release connector.
Repeat for remaining injectors.
* Lift off wiring ducts.

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Lnition switch
4 The positive (+) power supply to the ignition coils comes to
the ignition switch via an unloader relay. When the ignition
switch is turned on, the relay closes, to provide voltage to the
ignition coils. The coils are then actuated at the negative side
by the engine control module.
NOTE-
Schematic diagrams shown are for illustrative purposes only.
See ELE Electrical Wiring Diagrams for engine manage-
ment specific wiring information.
WARNING- Do not touch or disconnect any cables from the coils while
the engine is running or being cranked by the starter:
The ignition system produces high voltages that can be
fatal. Avoid contact with exposed terminals. Use ex-
treme caution when
working on a car with the ignition
switched on or the engine running.
* Connect and disconnect the DME system wiring and
test equipment leads only when the ignition is
OFF
Before operating the starter without starting the engine
(for example when
making a compression test), always
disable the ignition.
4 Knock sensors (arrows) monitor the combustion chamber for
engine-damaging knock. Six-cylinder models (shown) use
two sensors with each sensor monitoring three cylinders.
V-
8 models use four sensors, each monitoring two cylinders. If
engine
knock is detected, the ignition point is retarded by the
ECM.
I Ignition advance Ignition timing is electronically mapped and not adjustable.
The ECM uses engine load, engine speed, coolant tempera-
ture, knock detection, and intake air temperature as the basic
inputs for timing control.
A three dimensional map similar to
the one shown is digitally stored in the ECM.
- The initial ignition point is determined by the crankshaft
speed sensor during cranking. Once the engine is running.
timing is continually adjusted based on operating conditions.

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Battery, Starter, ~lternatorl
@ TO fuse & relay panel Battery Safety Terminal
A Battery Safety Terminal (BST) controlled by the Multiple
Restraint System (MRS) control unit was introduced for mod-
el year 1998
vehicles. The system will disconnect electrical
power to the engine compartment
in the event of a significant
impact. The MRS system fires an encapsulated pyrotechnic
device
in the positive (+) battery terminal that disconnects
power to the engine compartment, but maintains power to
the exterior lights and interior of the vehicle.
point
002125~1
Table a. Battery, alternator and starter troubleshooting
1-
/Starter motor or solenoid faulty. l~est starter.
Symptom
Engine does not crank
Engine cranks slowly or
not at all, solenoid
clicits
when starter is operated.
I I
Battery will not stay IShort circuit draining battery. l~est for excessive current drain with everything
Probable cause
Fault
in immobilizer system (EWS)
-Clean Battery cables loose, dirty or corroded.
Battery discharged.
Battery to body ground cable in trunk
loose,
dirty or corroded
Poor connection at starter motor terminal
30.
Corrective action
Try another ignition key. If problem persists, contact
your authorized BMW dealer.
or replace cables. See 020
~aintenance.
Charge battery and test. Replace if necessary.
inspect ground cable. Clean, tighten or replace if
necessary.
Checlc connections, test for voltage at starter. Test for
voltage at neutral safety or clutch
interloclc switch.
charged more than a few
days.
I~atter~ faulty. /Test battery and replace if necessary.
Short driving trips and high electrical drain
on
charging system does not allow battery to
recharge.
. I
I Battery cables loose, dirty or corroded. Iclean or replace cables. See 020 Maintenance.
Evaluate driving
style. Where possible, reduce
electrical
consumption when malting short trips.
Drive
belt@) loose, worn or damaged.
IAlternator or voltage regulator faulty. /Test alternator and voltage regulator.
Inspect
or replace ribbed
belt@). See 020
Maintenance.

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121-8
/Battery, Starter, Alternator
NOTE-
Automatic transmission cars: ambershifier LED willgo out at
consumer cut-off.
4 Attach closed-circuit current measurement adaptor
(BMW special tool
61 2 300):
Connect red clamp (marked A -BATT (+)) to positive bat-
tery terminal.
Connect
black clamp (marked B -CHASSIS) to chassis
ground point.
NOTE-
Green LED will light up to indicate correct installation of
closed-circuit current measurement
adaotor.
< Connect blaclc clamp (marked B - BATT (-)) to negative bat-
tery terminal. Green
LED light will go out.
NOTE-
Any electrical overloading will be indicated at this point by
lighting the red
LED. If the red LED lights up, check the adap-
tor connections.
< Set multimeter (A) to 10 amp measuring range and connect
it to adaptor.
NOTE -
Set multimeter to record average readings.
Ifpossible, turn offpowersaving features of multimeter
which prevent a long term (overnight) test by automatically
powering down
meter.
- Disconnect battery ground strap (B) at chassis mounting
point.
- Measure closed-circuit current using multimeter.
- Typical average closed-circuit current for E39 vehicles is
40 mA. Readings over 50 mA must be further investigated.

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121-9
Battery, Starter, ~lternatorl
Battery charging
Discharged batteries can be recharged using a batterycharg-
er. Remove the battery from the trunk during charging.
Prolonged charging causes electrolyte evaporation to a level
that can damage the battery. It is best to use a low-current
charger
(6 amperes or less) to prevent battery damage
caused by overheating.
WARNING -
Hydrogen gas given off by the battery during charging is ex-
plosive. Do not smoke.
Keep open flames away from the top
ofthe batte~ and prevent electrical sparks by turning off the
battery charger before connecting or disconnecting it.
Battery electrolyte (sulfuric acid) can damage the car. If
electrolyte is spilled, clean the area with a solution
ofbak-
ing soda and water.
Always allow a frozen battery to thaw before attempting
to recharge it.
Always disconnect both battery cables and remove bat-
tery from vehicle during battery charging. Do not ex-
ceed
16.5 charging voltage at the battery
Battery safety terminal, replacing
If the battery safety terminal has been triggered, investigate
and correct the cause prior to replacement.
- Working in right side of luggage compartment, remove bat-
tery trim panel.
- Disconnect negative (-) battery terminal and cover with
insulator.
- Disconnect positive (+) cable from battery.
- Release positive (+) cable from cable brackets on luggage
compartment wall. Lay new repair cable parallel to positive
cable.
- Mark off length of new cable on old cable. Allow 10 cm
(2.5 in) of slack.
- Saw through old cable.
Do not use bolt cutters or similar tools to cut through cable.
A cable end that has been squashed
flat will not fit into the

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121-10
I Battery, Starter, Alternator
- Strip approximately 15 rnm (0.6 in) of insulation from cable
end.
terminal harness
Shrink insulation
Terminal connector
4 Push terminal connector of new cable over stripped end of
old cable. Tighten clamp.
- Slip shrink-fit insulation over positive cable. Attach new safe-
ty harness to end of positive cable. Shrink insulation with hot
air blower.
- Reinstall cable in cable bracket and attach to battery.
- Reattach negative battery cable. Reinstall luggage cornpart-
rnent trim pieces.
- Use BMW scan tool DlSplus or equivalent to read out airbag
control module fault memory. Correct faults, then clear mem-
ory.
1 1 4 Various versions of alternators have been used in E39
vehicles. See Table e.
Table e. Alternator application chart
Model Alternator type
Air cooled, 90 amp or 120 amp
Air cooled, with multi-function control
(MFR), 120 amp or 140 amp
Air cooled with multi-function control
(MFR), 120 amp or 140 amp
540i 1997 Air
cooled. 120
amp or 140amp sazrz~orsl 1998 ~~~ ~ .~ . ...~ ~ ~-~~~~ Air cooled; with integrated mu~ii-
function control (MFR). 120 amp 140
amp 1999-2002 Water
cooled, with integrated multi-
function control (MFR), 90-150 amp
(variable output)