Hi 5-ers,

I was hoping if someone could help me identify the IBS cable in the the negative battery cable. Attached are the pictures and I am hoping someone can point which one in the picture it is. People have said its red in color with a blue connector - but I can't seem to figure out which one it is.

I have been having some battery issues and read a bunch of stuff about how the IBS sensor cable might be conked off. The battery seems fine, per the dealer.

Also, is there a easy way to remove the plastic around the negative terminal to get a better look?

 

It's one of those attached to the (-) battery terminal. As for the battery in good health .. .. mine was checked several times over 6 months and each time it came back in good health. When the dealer checked it 4-5 times over the course of 2-3 hours it tested deader than a doornail! Seems an intermittent short INSIDE the battery would act up from time to time - and cause it to throw errors. My dealer replaced both it and the IBS - seems there is NO definitive diagnostic for that device - that seems really odd!!

These cars are full of electrical gremlins and it's not going to improve any time soon

 

Ahh yah it might the case with me too. Before swapping the battery, I wanted to check if the sensor/cable is gone and disconnecting the IBS fixes the issue. Otherwise will go down and get the battery replaced.

Lets see - out of warranty here so can't make the dealer do too much for free.

I am sure someone else has disconnected the IBS cable --

 

How far out of warranty are you? Most dealers have a bit of latitude to help out financially to correct issues that should NOT surface on our VERY EXPENSIVE CARS. Give it a shot.

 

it is that whole negative cable

 

Thanks ... The one thats looping to the positive side .. or the one thats coming from the top?
Any tips on disconnecting .. it seemed pretty tight actuallly.

 

Far far out sir. 73K miles.

 

The IBS consists of an electronic module secured to the negative terminal with an integral cable (the thin black one in your pic) which connects to the positive terminal.
See here for the module:-

 

GEE - that sux! Not that you have 73K + miles on your car but that it's gonna cost ya some $$ to get this fixed. That said, No har in asking your dealer SA to help out - at least with some owner loyalty discount on parts / labor. Afterall, no battery / IBS is the same as no car.