Disconnected negative terminal and all hell broke loose
 

This involves a 2006 bmw 525xi with 154,00 miles and an unknown history aside from that it has had repair secondary to front end damage. I have had the car for 6months.

I did as the title states before checking the climate control fuses. I thought i should do that after a scan at autozone showed it was likely a thermostat issue as the cause of no heat. I figured it wise to rule out fuses first before the hassle of replacing the thermostat. I never suspected all the warnings that this would come from such a simple check of the fuses.

The fuses checked out ok. First thing after re-fastening the negative terminal was the windshield wipers would not turn off. So, i took that fuse out. Then i noticed the warnings of "AWD DSC 4X4" and then found my high beams, turn signals, and speakers did not work. I also have a brake notification lighting up on the dash.

There is one thing that happened that i am suspect of causing all of this. When i re-fastened the negative terminal, i was in a hurry as i was on lunch break and instead of using an extension with my small ratchet, i used only the socket and ratchet. That left for little room between the metal bracket next to the battery and the ratchet lever. I ended up bumping iit. Since it was the negative terminal i was working on, that should not have caused all i mentioned, or could it?

Otherwise, what could have happened? I am driving it as little as possible as it is my only mode of transport. I do not have a trusted indy or bmw dealer nearby. I do have the Bentlet manuals but could use all the help i can get in solving this. If i could do it all over i would never have unhooked fhe negatively terminal, at least not until it was absolutely necessary because no heat is better than all this added on. Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

Body is ground, so you did not short anything. Low battery causes many problems. Are you sure that you have a solid connection at the negative terminal?

It is either not a good connection or the battery is weak. Check the connection and or recharge. Maybe need a new battery is recharging doesn't work

Yes, i made sure the negative terminal was tight once refastened. Perhaps the batterry IS the culprit but i wasnt thinking a simple disconnect for 15min make it not recharge as usual. I will get the battery checked. Ty.

I do a simple test by turning in the heat full blast. If it doesn't blow on high I know my battery needs to be charged. When your battery is low on charge you get all kinds of errors. I know the first thing I do is disconnect. Because have the door open hood up trunk up drains the battery quick. So if I disconnect before I start my work it will be good. My battery doesn't get the charge as it should because it's not driven long enough. Short drives only maintains we're it's at. Long drives will get it charged where it needs to be.

agreed. charge up the battery completely

you will always get the 4x4 waring when the battery is disconnected. It will go away.

Its at 95%

How did you determine that it is 95%. And, 95% of what? How old is the battery? So many of the posts here and on other forums are simply due to a low battery.

Thats what the battery charger told me.

Unfortunately, i have had to put several hundred miles on it and the notification is still there...it goes away for a few seconds and comes right back as im driving the car.