7.75 years, battery replaced, now blower fan stuck on?

haigha · #1 06-10-2011, 03:52 PM

So my 7 3/4 year battery decided to give up the ghost today. I got the replacement Bosch which was matched at my local auto parts store:

Activant Cover-to-Cover

Installation went smoothly but as soon as I connected the positive lead the blower fan came on stayed on. Even after I started the car and then stopped the engine and removed the key and shut all the doors, it continued to blow.

I already replaced the FSR about two years ago.

I tried disconnecting the HVAC control module to see if it would stop. I was able to disconnect the blue and black connectors in the middle but the thick leads on the right side and the small connector on the left are proving troublesome to remove.

1. Any ideas what the problem is?

2. Can I disconnect the positive lead in the engine bay to stop the battery draining?

Thanks.

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haigha · #2 06-10-2011, 04:40 PM

Fixed. Removed and re-inserted fuse 64 (furthest right large 50A one in glove box).

haigha · #3 06-11-2011, 05:46 PM

I spoke too soon. The battery was dead this morning. I had it hooked up to my trickle charger overnight to top it off but something was draining it faster than the trickle charger could charge it.

When I hooked it up to my slow charger (2A) this morning, it read the battery at 3.4V and wouldn't charge more than 20%. I removed fuse 64 (Blower, 50A), again, and then it read 12.1V charged to 61% and got no further after several hours. However, the car started fine and I put the blower fuse back in and the AC worked. I drove it around for a while and when I got back the charge was up to 100% so the alternator seems to be working fine.

Any ideas? Is the FSR the first thing to check/replace? I already replaced the FSR once a few years ago. Or is the battery a likely culprit?

I removed the blower fuse and I'm going to check on the charge this evening.

haigha · #4 06-11-2011, 09:21 PM

More info:

I should have said in my first post E53, 4.4, '04, 28k miles. Well, I guess the first is implied by the forum

I left the blower fuse out for a few hours and when I inserted it, before starting the X5, the blower fan didn't turn on. I checked the voltage and charge with my slow charger before cranking the engine and the values were 12.7V and 95% respectively. I don't know how accurate the device is but it was 12.7V and 100% a few hours before (immediately after I stopped the engine). IIRC, my OEM battery used to read 13.5V on this device.

After I started the car it didn't turn on until I turned on the AC and fan from the console.

While the engine is on, if I turn the console fan control totally off (screen goes black), no air comes out of the vents but the blower fan still blows loudly (this fan noise is coming from a different location than the vent fans, it sounds like from the right of the engine bay).

When I shut the engine off, the blower steps down a little but is still very noticeably on (the noise appears to be coming from the passenger side under the hood). However, no air is coming out of the vents. I left the fuse in while I went into a store for about 10-15 minutes and it was still on when I returned. When I got home, I removed the fuse so the blower wouldn't continue to run.

mywidebody02 · #5 06-11-2011, 11:31 PM

did you try disconnecting the fsr to see if it stops?

haigha · #6 06-12-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mywidebody02

did you try disconnecting the fsr to see if it stops?

I hadn't thought of that but removing the FSR will break the circuit just like removing fuse #64, won't it?

I was able to start the X5 this morning after letting it sit overnight with fuse #64 disconnected.

mywidebody02 · #7 06-12-2011, 08:28 PM

im sure fuse 64 is for more than the resistor. this will eliminate the fsr and only the fsr. there is also a test to check it. if u search some thing about leaving the heat or def on full blast when the vehicle is hot and running with the temp up for 15 min then shut it all off and see what happens.

haigha · #8 06-13-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mywidebody02

im sure fuse 64 is for more than the resistor. this will eliminate the fsr and only the fsr. there is also a test to check it. if u search some thing about leaving the heat or def on full blast when the vehicle is hot and running with the temp up for 15 min then shut it all off and see what happens.

Good point, thanks. I will have my indy check it out when I get a chance. My knee is hurting right now and I don't want to twist it the wrong way wrestling out the FSR.

BTW, I started the X5 again this morning after having it sit for about 24 hours and it was fine (fuse #64 still removed).

Weasel · #9 06-14-2011, 07:42 PM

From the sound of it the sound under the hood is unrelated to the ac, and likely unrelated to the draw. Could be the engine fan? The FSR may well have failed again, it isn't common, but does happen.

haigha · #10 06-14-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel

From the sound of it the sound under the hood is unrelated to the ac, and likely unrelated to the draw. Could be the engine fan? The FSR may well have failed again, it isn't common, but does happen.

Thanks for the input, Weasel. Fuse #64--which when I remove it, stops the noise-- is labeled as Blower on the fuse panel. Would removing that fuse also stop the engine fan?

The FSR I replaced a few years ago is the new type with a smaller heatsink. (I think the brand was Behr).

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