Battery Drain on X5 4.4 2001

[turquise1]

This has been going on for a couple of years now. Everything is ok during summer when the weather is hot (in Chicago) but when weather gets colder, the battery is drained and dead in a couple of days or so. I killed 2 batteries so far and I am not sure Interstate will honour another warranty claim.

I already did the drain test and could not find the source. I have been reading about the GM3 not working properly because of its old capacitors especially when it is cold but replacing them did not seem to help either.

Right now, my X5 seems to go to sleep around 32 mins as shift light and IHKA fan turning off but the battery is almost dead again the next day as the car hardly starts.

Obviously, the alternator is checked and working fine.

I will do more drain testing but meanwhile I would appreciate any advise I can get..

Thanks for your help in advance..

Ozzie..

[upallnight]

Since I don't drive the X5 that much, I use a solar powered charger that I have connected to the accessory plug by the passenger footwell. I can go for months and the X always starts.

[turquise1]

It does not solve the problem but its a good advice anyway. Could you recommend a product?

I park my car on the street and that could be a solution until I fix the problem.

Thanks,

Ozzie

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by turquise1

It does not solve the problem but its a good advice anyway. Could you recommend a product?

I park my car on the street and that could be a solution until I fix the problem.

Thanks,

Ozzie

The wife got me one for my birthday from Harbor Freight.

https://www.harborfreight.com/15-wat...ger-68692.html

[omodos]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Since I don't drive the X5 that much, I use a solar powered charger that I have connected to the accessory plug by the passenger footwell. I can go for months and the X always starts.

Sorry to hijack post but do you connect disconnect it from accessory pluy every time you start vehicle or leave it connected constantly even whilst driving?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by omodos

Sorry to hijack post but do you connect disconnect it from accessory pluy every time you start vehicle or leave it connected constantly even whilst driving?

I just leave it on constantly.

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by turquise1

This has been going on for a couple of years now. Everything is ok during summer when the weather is hot (in Chicago) but when weather gets colder, the battery is drained and dead in a couple of days or so. I killed 2 batteries so far and I am not sure Interstate will honour another warranty claim.

I already did the drain test and could not find the source. I have been reading about the GM3 not working properly because of its old capacitors especially when it is cold but replacing them did not seem to help either.

Right now, my X5 seems to go to sleep around 32 mins as shift light and IHKA fan turning off but the battery is almost dead again the next day as the car hardly starts.

Obviously, the alternator is checked and working fine.

I will do more drain testing but meanwhile I would appreciate any advise I can get..

Thanks for your help in advance..

Ozzie..

Draining in the winter but not the summer is kind of normal. Cold lowers a batteries ability to function. A car battery looses about 1/2 its amp hours of storage at 40 degrees and lower. So basically any drain on the battery has twice the effect at those temperatures as it does when warmer. So a small drain might not be noticed in the summer but is deadly to the battery in the winter.

A solar panel can offset that like mentioned but solar puts out less in the winter too so a small solar panel might not be enough to solve your problem.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by turquise1

This has been going on for a couple of years now. Everything is ok during summer when the weather is hot (in Chicago) but when weather gets colder, the battery is drained and dead in a couple of days or so. I killed 2 batteries so far and I am not sure Interstate will honour another warranty claim.

I already did the drain test and could not find the source. I have been reading about the GM3 not working properly because of its old capacitors especially when it is cold but replacing them did not seem to help either.

Right now, my X5 seems to go to sleep around 32 mins as shift light and IHKA fan turning off but the battery is almost dead again the next day as the car hardly starts.

Obviously, the alternator is checked and working fine.

I will do more drain testing but meanwhile I would appreciate any advise I can get..

Thanks for your help in advance..

Ozzie..

So how many amp/milliamp is draining? Do you have nav with your X? The nav changer in the trunk is a know source for draining the battery. Any after market electronic in the car like a stereo or alarm system?

[turquise1]

Almost everything that can drain the system is off. So, no navigation, no phone etc.

The drain is as bad to kill the battery overnight during winter so it is really NOT normal. I did the drain test several times and although the car goes to sleep eventually, it takes a lot longer than 16 mins and it seems to get longer when it is colder. When it goes to sleep the number is at .04 amps so its normal, but it takes a lot longer to get there (system seems to keep resetting itself around 15 mins and restart the sleep process by going to .95 amps first for a minute, then .5 amps for another 15 mins).

I will start pulling fuses next to see if it helps although I did try some without success during last winter.

Thanks for all the help..

Ozzie

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by turquise1

Almost everything that can drain the system is off. So, no navigation, no phone etc.

The drain is as bad to kill the battery overnight during winter so it is really NOT normal. I did the drain test several times and although the car goes to sleep eventually, it takes a lot longer than 16 mins and it seems to get longer when it is colder. When it goes to sleep the number is at .04 amps so its normal, but it takes a lot longer to get there (system seems to keep resetting itself around 15 mins and restart the sleep process by going to .95 amps first for a minute, then .5 amps for another 15 mins).

I will start pulling fuses next to see if it helps although I did try some without success during last winter.

Thanks for all the help..

Ozzie

I didn't mean it was normal it should go dead just normal that the drain problem you have not killing it in the summer but does in the winter being kind of normal.

The Bluetooth module is a very common culprit in bmw's when it comes to battery drain. As for the nav and such being "off" unless its disabled by being unplugged or the fuse pulled turning it off doesn't effect it draining the battery when the key is off.

Another possible problem is it may be waking up during the night and draining the battery. Those are a nightmare to track down.