Trickle Charger
01-02-2009, 08:47 AM
#21
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[quote name='luigi524td' date='Jan 2 2009, 01:00 AM' post='757535']
Very good point since hydrogen gas is created when a conventional battery is under charge. However, the batteries on BMW have vent tubes that exit the body.
I have not found it necessary to open the trunk for ventilation.
Your post prompted me to look at my battery. Found the drain ... it is smaller than it looks on the line drawing.
Can you tell me anything about the three indicator dots on the battery? One black, one green and one yellow? Close by is a port (looks like a transparent top). Is that where you view for the indicator dots? Mine was black, which signals low charge.
Any information on this?
Very good point since hydrogen gas is created when a conventional battery is under charge. However, the batteries on BMW have vent tubes that exit the body.
I have not found it necessary to open the trunk for ventilation.
Your post prompted me to look at my battery. Found the drain ... it is smaller than it looks on the line drawing.
Can you tell me anything about the three indicator dots on the battery? One black, one green and one yellow? Close by is a port (looks like a transparent top). Is that where you view for the indicator dots? Mine was black, which signals low charge.
Any information on this?
01-02-2009, 09:10 AM
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Originally Posted by sixcard' post='757775' date='Jan 2 2009, 12:47 PM
Very good point since hydrogen gas is created when a conventional battery is under charge. However, the batteries on BMW have vent tubes that exit the body.
I have not found it necessary to open the trunk for ventilation.
Your post prompted me to look at my battery. Found the drain ... it is smaller than it looks on the line drawing.
Can you tell me anything about the three indicator dots on the battery? One black, one green and one yellow? Close by is a port (looks like a transparent top). Is that where you view for the indicator dots? Mine was black, which signals low charge.
Any information on this?
I have not found it necessary to open the trunk for ventilation.
Your post prompted me to look at my battery. Found the drain ... it is smaller than it looks on the line drawing.
Can you tell me anything about the three indicator dots on the battery? One black, one green and one yellow? Close by is a port (looks like a transparent top). Is that where you view for the indicator dots? Mine was black, which signals low charge.
Any information on this?
Beyond those basic checks, because BMW charging circuits are very complex, it's bring it to a dealer to plug in an investigate. There is no point in replacing a battery (IMHO) if the cause of its dead state hasn't been corrected. In many cases it's a problem of loose or corroded terminals - that's the first and the easiest place I'd start to look!
Oh ... and don't forget, BMW will expect you to drive your car according to some "real world standard" to ensure the battery level can be maintained. I say, the battery and charging capacities need to be re-engineered to ensure both are capable of maintaining battery charge during usual driving conditions [say like those under BMW's standard lease = 10K miles /year equivalent to 27.3 miles per day).
01-03-2009, 04:27 PM
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FYI.....I have had my 545 stored in a Canadian garage in below 0 temps since November 28. I read this thread last night and was a bit nervous but it fired up today with not even a hesitation.
01-03-2009, 05:08 PM
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Originally Posted by simmer' post='758720' date='Jan 3 2009, 08:27 PM
FYI.....I have had my 545 stored in a Canadian garage in below 0 temps since November 28. I read this thread last night and was a bit nervous but it fired up today with not even a hesitation.
01-03-2009, 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by luigi524td' post='758753' date='Jan 3 2009, 08:08 PM
I'd call you LUCKY!
01-04-2009, 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by CWS530' post='757482' date='Jan 1 2009, 11:36 PM
Mine attaches to the terminals under the hood with clips. BTW: Don't get the kind that plugs into the cigarette lighter--they aren't compatible with the 5 series.
Hey guys, are you attaching the leads from the tenders direct to the jumper posts under the hood?
01-04-2009, 11:36 PM
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This problem is sort of a two edged sword. We rely so much on the electronics of the car to do so many things, and the down side is all of those sensors, meters, etc need a small amount of current to store information. With all cars, there is a benchmark in which the engineers design around. The assumptions made is that the car will be driven a certain amount over a given time. If you fall below that, you get the dreaded unfavorable driving mode. My friend Bruce drives a manual 550 from his house to work and back. He was having the same problem with the battery and the service department till they found out he was a lawyer. Then they ponied up for the trickle charger. I swear by the battery tenders, I have them in both Porsches, the Rover, the boat, and the 210. Although the 993 will go for months on a charge, the 964 lasts two weeks and it is dead as disco.
01-05-2009, 01:39 AM
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Originally Posted by simmer' post='759371' date='Jan 4 2009, 08:27 PM
Hey guys, are you attaching the leads from the tenders direct to the jumper posts under the hood?
So I hard wired to the battery.
Will attach some pics in a few days.
sixcard
01-05-2009, 04:44 AM
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Originally Posted by sixcard' post='759655' date='Jan 5 2009, 05:39 AM
I may be wrong, but I VOMed the + post (and a close by ground) under the hood and found no voltage with the igniton fob out.
So I hard wired to the battery.
Will attach some pics in a few days.
sixcard
So I hard wired to the battery.
Will attach some pics in a few days.
sixcardOf course you may need to use a suitable extension cord to attach the battery tender to reach a 120v outlet.
01-05-2009, 06:37 AM
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Originally Posted by sixcard' post='753018' date='Dec 26 2008, 10:16 AM
There have been several incidents where on starting, I would get an ?initialize? active steering (AS) warning accompanied by much of the instrument cluster (clock, date, accumulated mpg and mph) being zeroed. The AS activates in a few minutes of driving.
Early in 2008 the dealer said the problem was fixed via a software update.
When it began again in the last few weeks I took it back to the dealer. Now they tell me the only fix is to use a trickle charger.
Seems that I drive too many short trips and the battery cannot recover the charge. In a sense, the battery charge just gradually fades until it cannot crank the engine without stealing from other needs.
Actually, I guess this could make sense. So BMW should come equipped like a golf cart. Built in trickle charger with a plug in receptacle (next to a Roundel) so I can plug it in when I garage the car, right? For $72K that seems reasonable. I had to get near profanity to get them to buy the charger for me.
I am not an electrical engineer, but I know a bit about volts, amp, watts, their relationship and DC power. How about a larger capacity battery and/or alternator? No dealer rep suggested a new battery.
BMWs are top of the line in my book. But they just can?t seem to build a car for an old fart that just drives to the grocery store and liquor store once a week, and burns the cobs out once a month.
Besides empathy, can anyone shed more light on this issue?
Can I find an official BMW document that discusses this issue?
Thanks sixcard
Early in 2008 the dealer said the problem was fixed via a software update.
When it began again in the last few weeks I took it back to the dealer. Now they tell me the only fix is to use a trickle charger.
Seems that I drive too many short trips and the battery cannot recover the charge. In a sense, the battery charge just gradually fades until it cannot crank the engine without stealing from other needs.
Actually, I guess this could make sense. So BMW should come equipped like a golf cart. Built in trickle charger with a plug in receptacle (next to a Roundel) so I can plug it in when I garage the car, right? For $72K that seems reasonable. I had to get near profanity to get them to buy the charger for me.
I am not an electrical engineer, but I know a bit about volts, amp, watts, their relationship and DC power. How about a larger capacity battery and/or alternator? No dealer rep suggested a new battery.
BMWs are top of the line in my book. But they just can?t seem to build a car for an old fart that just drives to the grocery store and liquor store once a week, and burns the cobs out once a month.
Besides empathy, can anyone shed more light on this issue?
Can I find an official BMW document that discusses this issue?
Thanks
sixcardI called the SA. He told me I'm probably not driving enough, and need a trickle charger. He said I certainly cannot leave the car for two weeks and expect it to start.
Interesting. I typically leave my car at the airport for up to a week or more. I'm not going to be too happy if it doesn't start. I can understand if the cars require sufficient driving to charge the battery. But it's not acceptable if the car draws that much current when it's parked that it will drain the battery in a week or two.
Very frustrating.