Ghost in the X5 Machine

rufusdedog · #1 07-10-2007, 04:11 PM

Started the X5 this morning and get a picture of the truck up on a lift in the middle of the dashboard monitor. Checked the cause of the fault in the iDrive and it says "High Battery Drain". Nothing was left on in the truck, all doors were closed, nothing in the cig lighter outlets (wouldn't matter anyway they deactivate when the key is removed). Cleared the fault and that was that. This is not the first time I've noticed this. Anyone else with this issue and any idea why this fault hits?

atl_lex77 · #2 07-10-2007, 09:20 PM

about a week ago. same deal..didn't leave any lights on or doors ajar. i cleared it and it hasn't returned - YET.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rufusdedog

Started the X5 this morning and get a picture of the truck up on a lift in the middle of the dashboard monitor. Checked the cause of the fault in the iDrive and it says "High Battery Drain". Nothing was left on in the truck, all doors were closed, nothing in the cig lighter outlets (wouldn't matter anyway they deactivate when the key is removed). Cleared the fault and that was that. This is not the first time I've noticed this. Anyone else with this issue and any idea why this fault hits?

mbs999 · #3 07-10-2007, 09:29 PM

I also had this happen to me once. I read on this site that some think it's because the navigation disc, when left in the I-drive unit, may keep playing when the X5 is not being driven. Since then I no longer leave the navigation disc in the I-drive, and I've yet to have that warning light go on again.

MD11F · #4 07-12-2007, 04:58 AM

I wouldn't worry too much about stuff like that. I come from a aviation background and our airplanes were very automated in ways that are just now becoming normal in cars.. We have what is known as "Glass Cockpit" airplanes with various fault monitoring systems (EICAS, or EAD) and all kinds of strange and quirky faults would come up and then you'd shut down and "reboot" the airplane and they'd be gone.. I think it just goes with the turf when you get massive systems integration and lots of electronics and lines of software code..

jamesboags · #5 07-12-2007, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD11F

I wouldn't worry too much about stuff like that. I come from a aviation background and our airplanes were very automated in ways that are just now becoming normal in cars.. We have what is known as "Glass Cockpit" airplanes with various fault monitoring systems (EICAS, or EAD) and all kinds of strange and quirky faults would come up and then you'd shut down and "reboot" the airplane and they'd be gone.. I think it just goes with the turf when you get massive systems integration and lots of electronics and lines of software code..

Hopefully these weren't 747's or commercial passenger jets !!!

MD11F · #6 07-12-2007, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesboags

Hopefully these weren't 747's or commercial passenger jets !!!

though I'm sure the 747-400 has similar issues, I'm specifically talking about my own experience with small and large airplanes I've flow.. Citation X, ATR-72 and MD-11 (almost as big as a 747).

Electronics systems when they're integrated together and patched thru various data busses and central fault detection units always come up with false positives.. Or so it is the case on $120M jets!

Ferguson · #7 11-16-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD11F

Electronics systems when they're integrated together and patched thru various data busses and central fault detection units always come up with false positives.. Or so it is the case on $120M jets!

Scenario: A bunch of CIO's are at a conference, and the speaker challanges them all...

"Let's consider this. You are about to get on an airplane, which was constructed entirely by your Information Technology staff. The plan is to fly out across the atlantic. Please raise your hand if you would be nervous".

Everyone in the audiance raises their hands, except one guy in the back.

The speaker says "You, sir -- in the back. You would not be nervous that you staff put the plane together? That's really terrific, you must have a great staff, and great confidence in them."

The gentleman smiles a bit and says "you don't understand -- if my staff of programmers put the plane together, I would have nothing at all to worry about -- it would never start, much less fly".

rufusdedog · #8 07-12-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD11F

I wouldn't worry too much about stuff like that. I come from a aviation background and our airplanes were very automated in ways that are just now becoming normal in cars.. We have what is known as "Glass Cockpit" airplanes with various fault monitoring systems (EICAS, or EAD) and all kinds of strange and quirky faults would come up and then you'd shut down and "reboot" the airplane and they'd be gone.. I think it just goes with the turf when you get massive systems integration and lots of electronics and lines of software code..

You're probably right, a simple computer glitch. First thing I think about when I see a warning light or message on one of my cars is being stranded on the side of the road with the hood up. I can't imagine what it would be like seeing an image of your airplane up on a lift in the middle of the dashboard when you're at 30K feet!