Battery Drain?

[Purplecty]

Originally Posted by 80stech

No, you need one that will measure DC current and preferably in milliamps, ---or big old school voltmeter with low internal resistance that you are familiar with. ---or use that voltmeter with an external shunt.

Any links to a decent one I can purchase to use specifically for testing the X5? Also, does anyone have the fuse diagram that shows which fuse is used for the rear air suspension that has already been deleted?

[80stech]

I'm not sure how to post a link but type in Neoteck 9999 in Amazon. That one looks pretty good, has some nice clamp type test leads and even does temperature. Way more than you need but I would say a good value. I'm sure Home Depot or Auto parts store would have something as well. You are looking for something that will measure milliamps and if it has 10 or 20 amp capability even better. It would probably be best if you measured and verified the draw at the battery before you go to individual circuits though. Maybe some of the guys who have a battery switch installed could chime in with what they get for measurements since the battery switch makes it super easy and we would have a good reference point.

[Purplecty]

Originally Posted by 80stech

I'm not sure how to post a link but type in Neoteck 9999 in Amazon. That one looks pretty good, has some nice clamp type test leads and even does temperature. Way more than you need but I would say a good value. I'm sure Home Depot or Auto parts store would have something as well. You are looking for something that will measure milliamps and if it has 10 or 20 amp capability even better. It would probably be best if you measured and verified the draw at the battery before you go to individual circuits though. Maybe some of the guys who have a battery switch installed could chime in with what they get for measurements since the battery switch makes it super easy and we would have a good reference point.

Yeah definitely plan to test for a draw first. Stepehen mentioned if it has 25-50 milliamps when the car is asleep, then it definitely is drawing too much power and will require testing each circuit individually until the draw is in an acceptable range. Is this the multimeter you are referring to?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B3DZVZM..._DaO6FbZ7PCHPC

[80stech]

Yep that is the one that I would get. That's a lot of meter for the money. The weak spot will be the quality of the test leads, they will oxidize after a while and give poor readings if you don't keep them clean but good test leads are worth more than that by themselves.

[Purplecty]

How long would it normally take a completely dead 1000CA battery to charge at 10amps? Im going on 19 hours and the charger has not gotten to the "charged" status yet.

[Bones]

Hello, New to the forum but I thought I would mention that I had a battery drain about 2 years ago. It turned out to be the radio module under the spare wheel in the boot (trunk), under the plastic cover. Water gets in the lower tailgate over time and goes down the wires in to the boot floor (trunk) area. The holes in the lower tailgate get blocked with dirt and water follows the wires. Worth a look even if you have an after market radio as the module maybe still down there.

[Purplecty]

Originally Posted by Bones

Hello, New to the forum but I thought I would mention that I had a battery drain about 2 years ago. It turned out to be the radio module under the spare wheel in the boot (trunk), under the plastic cover. Water gets in the lower tailgate over time and goes down the wires in to the boot floor (trunk) area. The holes in the lower tailgate get blocked with dirt and water follows the wires. Worth a look even if you have an after market radio as the module maybe still down there.

I removed the radio that was already disconnected yesterday along with the rear air suspension module that has been converted to coil sprongs. I also did not see any evidence of water. Everything was nice and dry back there.
I have been charging the battery with it removed from the X5. I disconnected the charger at 9am and let the battery sit out of the car until now (3 hours later) and the voltage on battery is at 12.72 so I think its fully charged even though the charger did not indicate it was in the "charged status"?

[Bones]

Originally Posted by Purplecty

I removed the radio that was already disconnected yesterday along with the rear air suspension module that has been converted to coil sprongs. I also did not see any evidence of water. Everything was nice and dry back there.
I have been charging the battery with it removed from the X5. I disconnected the charger at 9am and let the battery sit out of the car until now (3 hours later) and the voltage on battery is at 12.72 so I think its fully charged even though the charger did not indicate it was in the "charged status"?

Oh well at least you have had a look. Apparently it is a common fault for the radio module to get water in.

[Purplecty]

I put the charger on the 2-6amp mode and after a little while the green light came on and the status is now "charged/maintaining"

[Purplecty]

Found 2 good videos that may help others as I am a visual learner.

Battery Drain test
https://youtu.be/xBVmbYBxMyo

Alternator drain test
https://youtu.be/r9J0-C8ZgiI