Dead 2004 X5 4.8is...

Roadhouse · #1 10-21-2012, 04:00 AM

Hey all,

Got an annoying issue with my ride - she's dead as a doornail... It's a 2004 4.8is, in otherwise immaculate condition.

First happened a few days ago - unlocked the car, jumped in and went to crank it over and it died. Zero lights inside, but had 1 headlight on!

Anyway wouldn't crank at all so called the roadside service company and they connected up their battery jumpstarter and started perfectly. He tested the battery and it had 92% charge after about a minute of running. Also did a load test and passed fine. Had him baffled...

Anyway, no issues for the past 5 days since, then same thing happened today - dead as a doornail.

Any suggestions? Could it be the battery, even though it tested fine, or could it be an electrical gremlin lurking somewhere? Seems strange to be fine one minute, dead the next, then fine again (for a while) the next...

Had anyone had a similar issue and if so, what was the fix?? What other areas other than the battery should I be looking at?

Many thanks
Simon

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Naz24 · #2 10-21-2012, 08:21 AM

Have you ever had the final stage resistor changed ?

SlickGT1 · #3 10-21-2012, 10:14 AM

See link in my sig to unlock obc. Go there, do that, and monitor your voltage. You will see if the alternator is charging or not. Do this after you boost it. And just leave it on while driving. If you are constantly below 13v, or above 14.1v, you have issues. So post back and let us know.

Roadhouse · #4 10-21-2012, 05:11 PM

Naz - I have only had the car 1 month so no idea of final stage resistor has been changed by previous owner(s).

Slick - will check it out and see what we come up with.

Firstly though, going to get the roadside assistance lads out again today and see if they can shed any light.

If (when!) I get a resolution will post here for all to see...

Roadhouse · #5 10-21-2012, 05:18 PM

Oh and a another thing that has been happening is the intermittant radio issue which a few others have experienced.

One minute radio is working fine, then next time I get in the car and start up, the radio wouldn't come on. Nav screen working fine, but no sound for nav or radio. Little orange light above radio volume knob wouldn't be lit up. Pressing it on/off didn't make any difference. Then magically after a few minutes (or 20 or 30mins sometimes), the radio would just pop on. No dampness or moisture in the spare wheel well, so doesn't seem to be that cause.

And one time on start up the nav screen would be scrolling like an old analogue TV with crappy reception!

Anyway, seems like some sort of gremlin is in there.

electricalserv x5 · #6 10-21-2012, 07:14 PM

that resistor is for a fan ,if it fails the fan will run all the time,I had it on my 4.6is 03................

electricalserv x5 · #7 10-21-2012, 07:18 PM

that orange light is for the fan ,don,nt set it ,if the light is on the fan will run and lower the battery voltage and hurt other devices....................

electricalserv x5 · #8 10-21-2012, 07:22 PM

that fan is for when it is summer or just hot outside and You set the fan to come on and blow the hot air out of the interior.............when the resistor fails the fans runs all the time[listen to the dash ] and drains the battery...............

SlickGT1 · #9 10-21-2012, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electricalserv x5

that orange light is for the fan ,don,nt set it ,if the light is on the fan will run and lower the battery voltage and hurt other devices....................

Had a drink there maybe? Lol. The orange light is for the radio power. Not the fan.

SlickGT1 · #10 10-21-2012, 07:48 PM

Roadhouse, do the obc check I suggested. It is free and part of your car. You other symptoms suggest dead battery.

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