Battery Problem Solved
10-30-2006, 11:27 AM
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My previous post regarded the battery on my 550 losing charge and clearing out the clock and date every time I got into my car.
I fully understood that because I didn't drive it all week because I take the train to work now and my son drops me off at the train station in his car on his way to school every day, that the battery was discharging all week until i drove the car on the weekend.
But I was trickle charging the battery from the under the hood contact points as instructed in the manual at 2 amps on slow trickle for two days straight and the battery was still below the charge necessary to power the clock and date.
It turns out that the cars computer will NOT let the battery charge at so slow a charge rate as 2 Ah. According to BMW a regular battery charger will not work at 2 amps unless directly attached to the battery terminals themselves. So all the charging I was doing was fruitless.
My car was charged by the dealer today and supposedly the battery is fine. I will be using the BMW smart charger now to power the battery. This thing does slow charge the battery but at a very slow rate.
I fully understood that because I didn't drive it all week because I take the train to work now and my son drops me off at the train station in his car on his way to school every day, that the battery was discharging all week until i drove the car on the weekend.
But I was trickle charging the battery from the under the hood contact points as instructed in the manual at 2 amps on slow trickle for two days straight and the battery was still below the charge necessary to power the clock and date.
It turns out that the cars computer will NOT let the battery charge at so slow a charge rate as 2 Ah. According to BMW a regular battery charger will not work at 2 amps unless directly attached to the battery terminals themselves. So all the charging I was doing was fruitless.
My car was charged by the dealer today and supposedly the battery is fine. I will be using the BMW smart charger now to power the battery. This thing does slow charge the battery but at a very slow rate.
10-30-2006, 12:33 PM
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My Ride: E61 530d Touring, May 2004
Surely any sane car must be able to retain battery charge for a week, and be fully recharged after a bit of use at the weekend ?
I have flat battery problems with the car left unlocked - but so far has been fine for 2 week holidays.
Was due to be away for 4 weeks at Christmas and had been planning a trickle charger but may now need to rethink
I have flat battery problems with the car left unlocked - but so far has been fine for 2 week holidays.
Was due to be away for 4 weeks at Christmas and had been planning a trickle charger but may now need to rethink
10-30-2006, 12:53 PM
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Originally Posted by new-kid' post='350383' date='Oct 30 2006, 05:33 PM
Surely any sane car must be able to retain battery charge for a week, and be fully recharged after a bit of use at the weekend ?
I have flat battery problems with the car left unlocked - but so far has been fine for 2 week holidays.
Was due to be away for 4 weeks at Christmas and had been planning a trickle charger but may now need to rethink
I have flat battery problems with the car left unlocked - but so far has been fine for 2 week holidays.
Was due to be away for 4 weeks at Christmas and had been planning a trickle charger but may now need to rethink
10-30-2006, 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Veight' post='350387' date='Oct 30 2006, 09:53 PM
Just driving the car a bit on the weekend will not fully charge any car unless you get out on the highway for several hours.
ABC
10-31-2006, 05:36 AM
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Originally Posted by aybeesea' post='350569' date='Oct 31 2006, 03:07 AM
Never had any problem with a "only drive a little at weekends" driving pattern.
ABC
ABC
Well I don't believe the battery was fully charged when the car was delivered to me. So mine never had a chance to fully charge up.
11-01-2006, 08:36 AM
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Originally Posted by drjochen' post='351161' date='Nov 1 2006, 12:23 PM
This still pathetic. I mean, every car should hold charge for a month or so unless there is a problem or a major design flaw.......
Well they load tested the battery and it was fine, and they did a parasitic draw test and none were found.
So it seems my car is ok but I need to keep a charger on it if im not driving it alot.
11-01-2006, 09:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Veight' post='351180' date='Nov 1 2006, 05:36 PM
So it seems my car is ok but I need to keep a charger on it if im not driving it alot.
Never had any problems.
I wouldn't expect any sensible car electrics design to have a problem with this driving pattern.
ABC