What did you do to / for your E53 today??

[andrewwynn]

I'm guessing broken dhc so handle not working, explain why doors don't open from outside.

If you have a trailer hitch, factory hitch power has an always live pin that will work to back feed power.

Often when battery completely dead your key remote will lose pairing so you still might not be able to get in.

Getting the hood open method is documented you usually have to cut a hole in the panel surrounding the radiator.

Odds are good key fob wont be working even if you get power to the battery you will need to use traditional method to locksmith your way in.

Bend the door with an air wedge and a stiff rod to push the central lock button to undo the double lock then a very long rod with hook to pull the door handle from the other side to open the door.

If passenger door dhc ok you only have to pull once to unlock which is easier that second pull to unlatch is a lot of force not easy with a rod.

If you don't have factory hitch you might have a harness with power you can with any luck find the power pin with DMM there should be a few volts at the least.

[bradb]

Thanks so much Andrew.

Yes the dhc's are broken.

The lock cylinder works so if I can power up just a little I can lower the windows by turning lock cylinder to unlock and roll down the windows.

No trailer hitch but I like your thinking.

Maybe if I can backfeed 12v from the starter motor I will have something?

Thanks again,

Brad

[X5chemist]

A quick 12V supply should work. I opened two rear hatches at a junkyard. I put a jumper pack at the engine bay terminals. Pushing the console button opened the rear upper hatch both times.

[Henn28]

I spent some time today marveling at my X5's ability to read minds, as I was reading its codes and checking fuses. A few days ago I was reading some posts about the Trifecta, and thought that I had been quite lucky so far in not having to deal with this PITA. Two days later as I'm driving my wife to pick up her Jeep from the shop...you guessed it, the Trifecta appeared.

DSC, ABS and Red Brake lights, dead cluster with the addition of the temp guage maxed out (hot), and an intermittant Transmission Failsafe message. The car is clearly locked in 3rd, or 4th, but otherwise running and able to get to the shop to get my wifes car, and get me home. An assortment of codes that all seem to point to a failed DSC/ABS module. In fact it wasn't even communicating on the bus at the time.

Today it kept popping a "brief power interruption" code in that module and the other usual suspects (wheel speed sensors and steering angle sensor) that seem to go along with a red brake light (from my reading on this forum), all test fine. The pumps tested OK too via my foxwell.

[workingonit]

Originally Posted by bradb

Well, its happened.

I didn't take the time to put the 2004 X5 on the battery tender like I always do when traveling during the winter.

I came home after three months to a dead and locked X5.

Wouldn't be too bad except I cannot open the front doors from the outside.

What BDBH would do something like this?....

I also keep my 2001 X5 (and my other cars, and one camping trailer) on a battery maintainer at home, and carry a 5-10-50 amp charger in the trunk, as well, if I need to charge up away from home. But, if I can't get inside, what good will a charger do me?

Others have shown what to do if the battery fails (and so does the manual entry key); since I have flakey keys, and my battery is several years old, I fear getting locked out away from home. So, I rigged a jumper solution soon after I got the X5, just in case.

I've posted this in another thread, but it can't hurt to share it again. I hooked it up when I was spending a lot of time underhood, while installing a hi-powered electric fan, and also had the hood latch cable come loose (now fixed). I figured a small jumper cable (just intended to power the remote door locks, not to actually get the engine started) would suffice to enable entry, without a locksmith's help. I haven't needed it (yet) but it's ready.

[bradb]

Thanks for the reply.

I wish I could access the engine bay terminals. I could then charge the battery.

Since I cannot access the interior I cannot open the hood.

Thanks again,

Brad

[aureliusmax]

Originally Posted by bradb

Thanks for the reply.

I wish I could access the engine bay terminals. I could then charge the battery.

Since I cannot access the interior I cannot open the hood.

Thanks again,

Brad

just crawl under the car and attach positive alligator clip to the starter +B and the engine block for negative from your trickle charger, wait a day and come back.

[jsoto]

Just topped off another 14 oz from the last previous drive. When this jug runs out, this may be the last jug I buy.....and off she goes

[wildduck]

Just did brakes on all 4 corners on a new to me '04 4.8is.

and based on what I've read here, I've started shopping for door handle carriers and window regulators.....

[Homerlovesbeer]

Originally Posted by jsoto

Just topped off another 14 oz from the last previous drive. When this jug runs out, this may be the last jug I buy.....and off she goes

Why?