Battery drain solved
12-16-2009, 05:21 AM
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Last week I picked up, from the dealer, my wife's 08 X-3. For a year the dealer said the constant dead battery was "driver fault" for not driving more than 45 minutes each day.
After putting the electrical diagnosis machine on it for 5 days it was recorded that the Telecommunications Module woke up at about midnight and spent the rest of the night searching for a cell phone to communicate with.
Module replaced - no more dead battery.
After putting the electrical diagnosis machine on it for 5 days it was recorded that the Telecommunications Module woke up at about midnight and spent the rest of the night searching for a cell phone to communicate with.
Module replaced - no more dead battery.
12-16-2009, 06:27 AM
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glad you got it resolved, wonder if that problem can be found in other BMW models (e60) 
12-16-2009, 06:31 AM
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Thanks for the update Greg. 
I wonder why they can't perform that troubleshooting procedure on more cars that have similar issues? It's unbelievable to me that everyone seems to be buying into the whole "car not driven enough" or "unfavorable driving profile" excuse these days.
My car can sit for weeks and it starts right up every time. No battery charger, no nothing. Clearly, to me, when there are persistent low battery conditions (and the battery isn't shot), something is waking up or keeping the car from sleeping. BMW needs to do a better job at diagnosing the various modules that may be faulty and causing these symptoms...
I wonder why they can't perform that troubleshooting procedure on more cars that have similar issues? It's unbelievable to me that everyone seems to be buying into the whole "car not driven enough" or "unfavorable driving profile" excuse these days.
My car can sit for weeks and it starts right up every time. No battery charger, no nothing. Clearly, to me, when there are persistent low battery conditions (and the battery isn't shot), something is waking up or keeping the car from sleeping. BMW needs to do a better job at diagnosing the various modules that may be faulty and causing these symptoms...
12-16-2009, 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudy' post='1074620' date='Dec 16 2009, 10:31 AM
Thanks for the update Greg.
+1 ... [sixcard]
I wonder why they can't perform that troubleshooting procedure on more cars that have similar issues? It's unbelievable to me that everyone seems to be buying into the whole "car not driven enough" or "unfavorable driving profile" excuse these days.
My car can sit for weeks and it starts right up every time. No battery charger, no nothing. Clearly, to me, when there are persistent low battery conditions (and the battery isn't shot), something is waking up or keeping the car from sleeping. BMW needs to do a better job at diagnosing the various modules that may be faulty and causing these symptoms...
+1 ... [sixcard]
I wonder why they can't perform that troubleshooting procedure on more cars that have similar issues? It's unbelievable to me that everyone seems to be buying into the whole "car not driven enough" or "unfavorable driving profile" excuse these days.
My car can sit for weeks and it starts right up every time. No battery charger, no nothing. Clearly, to me, when there are persistent low battery conditions (and the battery isn't shot), something is waking up or keeping the car from sleeping. BMW needs to do a better job at diagnosing the various modules that may be faulty and causing these symptoms...
True. I bought into it because my float charger seemed to "fix" the problem. This thread suggests I only crutched the problem.
chump?
12-16-2009, 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by GregBrand' post='1074573' date='Dec 16 2009, 09:21 AM
After putting the electrical diagnosis machine on it for 5 days it was recorded that the Telecommunications Module woke up at about midnight and spent the rest of the night searching for a cell phone to communicate with.
Module replaced - no more dead battery.
Module replaced - no more dead battery.
But I'm surprised they required 5 days of diagnostics to determine that a module was waking up nightly at midnight and remaining active ... and that 8 hours of searching killed the battery.
That said, with dead batteries such a common problem on these cars, has a service bulletin been issued by BMW? I wonder how many owners replaced batteries at their own expense or under BMW Warranty when this or a similar fault was the real cause
12-16-2009, 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by luigi524td' post='1074993' date='Dec 16 2009, 11:01 PM
Good deal!
But I'm surprised they required 5 days of diagnostics to determine that a module was waking up nightly at midnight and remaining active ... and that 8 hours of searching killed the battery.
That said, with dead batteries such a common problem on these cars, has a service bulletin been issued by BMW? I wonder how many owners replaced batteries at their own expense or under BMW Warranty when this or a similar fault was the real cause
But I'm surprised they required 5 days of diagnostics to determine that a module was waking up nightly at midnight and remaining active ... and that 8 hours of searching killed the battery.
That said, with dead batteries such a common problem on these cars, has a service bulletin been issued by BMW? I wonder how many owners replaced batteries at their own expense or under BMW Warranty when this or a similar fault was the real cause
True it would not seem just 8 hours of "searching" would kill a battery. But 8 hours, every 5th or 6th night, cummulatively over a month, could. There are many possible rogue modules, awakening after vehicle is shut off and key is removed such as sensor for trunk lid closure; rain sensor; door closed; road 37 degrees or colder; and the list goes on.
12-16-2009, 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by luigi524td' post='1074993' date='Dec 16 2009, 10:01 PM
I wonder how many owners replaced batteries at their own expense or under BMW Warranty when this or a similar fault was the real cause
The thread may be a good clue, but it also raises more questions, IMO.
sixcard
12-16-2009, 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by sixcard' post='1075040' date='Dec 16 2009, 11:18 PM
If one replaced a battery to fix this issue and the cause was not the battery (perhaps some module, as in Greg's case), then would not the new battery's charge also expire???
The thread may be a good clue, but it also raises more questions, IMO.
sixcard
The thread may be a good clue, but it also raises more questions, IMO.
sixcard
02-22-2010, 11:09 AM
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I have a 2007 530xi. Getting recurrent "High Battery Drain Warning" in the moring after it sat in the garage all night.
They have updated the software, replaced the battery, replaced a communication part in the sterring column that had to do with the sleep mode, and it still gives me the warning.
Anybody have any thoughts out there?
They have updated the software, replaced the battery, replaced a communication part in the sterring column that had to do with the sleep mode, and it still gives me the warning.
Anybody have any thoughts out there?
02-24-2010, 08:39 AM
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It's amazing how I having the same problem recently. I admit I first noticed it after returning from a business trip. Prior to the trip I didn't drive the car much. Since I've returned from the trip I didn't drive the car much each day. Only very short trips. Well, I'm out on another trip now, so I presume I'll have the "high battery drainage" again. It's crazy how you need to drive your car like crazy and put a lot of miles on it to avoid this. Lucikly, my car continues to start up with no problem.