Engine compartment battery point

[Stu Alderson]

Hi,

I have been advised that on the S2, there is battery connection point in the engine compartment, I've had a pretty detailed look for it ... and be blowed if I can find it. So guess the questions are?

a. Have I been mis-informed?
b. If not, where the heck is it?
c. If it is there does anyone have a small pic of its precise location, as I say I have look, and am reasonably confident in what I am looking for (The one on my BMW 8 Series is a doddle to find)

Thanks in anticipation.

Stu

 

[James_G]

It's a new one on me and I've certainly never spotted one, but I agree I found the one on a friend's 540i within seconds. Even the little earthing point on the OS strut tower.

Looking forward to the a definitive answer.

 

[Stu Alderson]

Its a real head scratcher, I'm hoping Oli, what also has a S2 and is much more knoweledgeable than I has a answer.

[8|][8|]

 

[tref]

On my 1990 S2 I seem to recall it is just in front of the Windscreen on the drivers side (rhd) - I think it is a threaded pillar, which may or may not still have a plastic cover over it.

HTH

Tref.

 

[944 man]

Its under the windscreen on the off side. Its years since Ive owned a series two car, but I think that it had a blue cover on and was made of copper.

Simon

 

[Stu Alderson]

WOW!!! Thanks guys .... of to investigate ..... and wash the car, really appreciate the input because access to my garage is a pain, and much easier to get into by reversing, than forwards..... so on the occasions I need to jump it, I will hopefully now be able to do it without having to push the car out ....

Thanks again.

Stu

 

[Neil Haughey]

As Tref and 944man said above, its the location which would normally have a battery (LHD) hence for some odd reason they put a post in that location tapped into power cable, even though the scuttle panel is obviously different as no way deeper enough for a battery. The cable looks a little thin to me but it can be used as a point for connecting a starter booster.

 

[zcacogp]

Stu,

I answered your PM, but here is a photo to go with all that these fine chaps have already said.

Oli.

 

[James_G]

Oh, that's what that is. You learn something new every day. I thought it was a bonnet plunger for the Porsche alarm. [8|]

 

[zcacogp]

Nah - that's in a similar position on the other side. And is smaller and black. (If I remember correctly.)

The dead give-away is that the black one on the other side actually touches the bonnet when it is closed - the one pictured doesn't. []


Oli.

 

[Stu Alderson]

Oli et al,

Thank you so much for the info, on checking and as confirmed by Oli's pic, that is the item I have found "sans" the blue cover, and as stated, the cable look's a little "lightweight" so checked on the '86 '44 to see if there was one on there, alas no, so I presume they are common only to the S2, not all cars with the battery in the boot. It sure is going to make life a lot easier.

(Oli thanks for the PM reply, like the blue cap alas I never received it - am convinced you sent it.)

Thanks again everyone for the input, hopefully it has assisted a few others as well.

Stuart aka happy chappie

 

[zcacogp]

Stu,

That PM may well turn up a few hours (or days) later ... I have had this problem before.

I have used that battery point for both jump-starting the car and for jump-starting other cars from it, without thinking about it. However, as people have said, the wires to it do look a bit lightweight ... maybe I shouldn't do that again!


Oli.

 

[James_G]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Nah - that's in a similar position on the other side. And is smaller and black. (If I remember correctly.)

The dead give-away is that the black one on the other side actually touches the bonnet when it is closed - the one pictured doesn't. []


Oli.

In my defence, the bonnet plunger for an aftermarket alarm that my car has is right next to it []. Fitted in 1995, still going strong.

 

[Stu Alderson]

Oli,

Well on the 8 Series it works fine, though the cables do appear to be quite a bit more substantial, and as it is only a minimum amout of time, I think now I have found it I would be tempted to use it to jump another lesser car.

also OT, the two items by the windscreen you mentioned, checked mine today when look for the jumper point, and they are tight, no play in either the housing or the bolt. Not sure what state they should be in either.

Stu

 

[zcacogp]

James - that's good, for an alarm. Bravo to the fitter, whoever he was.

Stu - I checked those blocks on mine. The 'bolts' aren't bolts - they are ratchets, which move the blocks up and down. I haven't the foggiest idea what their purpose is; they seem to provide an adjustable bottom-stop for the placement of the windscreen, but this is a pretty daft thing to fit to a car.

I've ratcheted mine up so they now touch the bottom of the screen and are no longer loose. But I think they could probably be removed without any ill-effect.


Oli.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Thank you so much for the info, on checking and as confirmed by Oli's pic, that is the item I have found "sans" the blue cover, and as stated, the cable look's a little "lightweight" so checked on the '86 '44 to see if there was one on there, alas no, so I presume they are common only to the S2, not all cars with the battery in the boot. It sure is going to make life a lot easier.

They aren't fitted to the Lux as you can open the boot with the key, unlike an S2, even if the battery is completely drained.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

They aren't fitted to the Lux as you can open the boot with the key, unlike an S2, even if the battery is completely drained.

Ah, now that is interesting. Thanks. The 'official' way of opening an S2 if the battery is flat is therefore to open the passenger door with the key, open the bonnet and connect a 12v supply to the terminal?

If the wiring is designed to carry enough juice to open the boot then I certainly shouldn't use it for jump starting. Starter motors being significantly heftier than boot-opening motors ... []


Oli.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Ah, now that is interesting. Thanks. The 'official' way of opening an S2 if the battery is flat is therefore to open the passenger door with the key, open the bonnet and connect a 12v supply to the terminal?

If the wiring is designed to carry enough juice to open the boot then I certainly shouldn't use it for jump starting. Starter motors being significantly heftier than boot-opening motors ...

No, just that you can't open the boot if the battery is flat to get to the battery, hence the terminal at the front.

I thought it was capable of being used for a jump, but is it only to attach a charger? S2 owners please advise....[8|]

 

[Neil Haughey]

I never bothered, I just attach charger straight onto the battery conditioner and run the cable out by the little gap in the middle of the hatch seal, then gently push the hatch down i.e not shut just sat on catch.

I have had to jump in the car, clamber into the boot and open the boot by hand many many times, really not much of a hardship as you just pull down on the cable as shown in the manual.