Weird elec problem

[navyflyer]

Hello,
Here’s a head scratcher. Came home from airport to dead battery. Replaced it. 3YO. I noticed that when I shut car off and remove key fob, interior lights keep flickering, DRL remains illuminated. Car locks fine, but DRLs stay illuminated and won’t shut off. Jump back in, car turns over but is rough when it does. Disconnected battery, figured I’d reset things. Worked fine for a week or two, but symptoms come back intermittently. (Think that’s how I killed my battery, DRLs stayed on after I walked away.)

It appears that a relay of some kind is staying energized or sticking. 2013 X50i.

Any ideas?

[ard]

FRM? Foot rest module. Google it, see if symptoms match. A lot of electrical things are controlled by the FRM, and it can become corrupted (or fail).... can manifest in a range of issues, which makes diagnosis difficult. Having said that, the unique spectrum of issues the FRM can impact can be diagnostic in itself.... just a wag

[navyflyer]

Hmm. Thanks. Very likely. Gonna send it in to get re-coded first. Try that.

[getty150]

Did you have any concerns for the battery before. BMWs don't like to sit idle, if so,,,when sitting use a trickle charger.

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[ard]

^ I have a suspicion that low battery voltages can cause the FRM to scramble.


Classic is battery runs down, have to jump the car, hilarity ensues

[navyflyer]

Originally Posted by getty150

Did you have any concerns for the battery before. BMWs don't like to sit idle, if so,,,when sitting use a trickle charger.

Sent from my TMAF035G using Tapatalk

I did notice the lights were flickering and DRLs staying on as first symptom. Thought nothing of it. I had DRLs set for pathway lighting upon car exit, so didn’t think anything of it when I left car. Was inside my house and looked outside and saw them still on one day. Then came home to dead battery and pit 2 n 2 together.

So, I don’t know if dying batt caused footwell mod failure or other way around?

Chicken or the egg?

Either way, I got a new batt and sent the footwell into be reprogrammed for $45. I’ll post my results.

Y’all be safe out there.