Cause of Battery Drain - Interior Lights/Washer Wiper System
 

Hi All

Following on from my battery problems, I took the car to my local specialist after replacing the battery with a lovely Bosch Silver S5 and in sleep mode the car was drawing about 0.6A so way over the recommended 40mA. The source of the drain after removing various fuses was Fuse 27 (Washer System, Trunk Lighting,Glove Box Light).

Now does anyone have any idea where to start finding what is causing this presumable short circuit? I have been thinking about disconnecting the screenwash pump and checking for a clean earth.

Also there is a LCM in footwell which may also need checking for signs of water damage.

Thanks in Advance for the suggestions and I finally feel like I am getting somewhere. It's either find the root cause or drive around with no interior lights or wash wipers!!!!!! HELP! :wow:


http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...-fuseboard.jpg

I would suspect the glove box light, trunk lighting and then washer pump in that order.
The lighting items are operated by a switch when you open their respective doors. Switches fail. I had a glove box switch fail in Sable belonging to my mother-in-law and it was not noticeable until you would go out at night. She stopped driving at night when she hit 90 and I only discovered it by accident when I went out to her garage after dark to check something else. We had actually changed out her battery thinking it was failing due to age. I pulled the bulb and never had any more problems.

What about the Glove Box Torch? I see that the Torch sits in a connector and preumably charges, what if this is charging all the time or has a bad connection and is drawing more current than the torch really needs?

Thanks for the ideas!

With the flashlight, you could remove that and see if the still draws....I'm sure there is a way to remove the light bulb as well and see if it draws yet. That would hit at Zulu's thoughts.

My gb flashlight has been on charge for 6 years or so and never caused a problem but there is always a first time. My biggest problems ever were forgetting to unplug the V1 or the problem I had with the radio not shutting off.

Could also be your air compressor. Mine has a small leak somewhere and has to pump itself back up when it gets low enough for the levelers to kick in. You'd never hear it unless you were sitting in the vehicle with everything off.

Food for thought guys! Thanks alot.

OK update.

The LCM was examined and there was rust and moisture on the contacts, LCM was cleaned and the vehicle is now in sleep mode measuring only 20mA draw!!!1 So with the fuse back in it looks like the Battery drain source is now fixed.

Thank the lord!

Great news Phil! Glad its sorted and thanks for updating us with the root cause. :thumbup:

No probs and thanks for the tips and motivation you all gave me.

I gave the keys to the Mrs this morning to do the school run and watcher her leave as I need to build her trust back up in the X5 as it's left her stranded a couple of times. It fired right up with the first crank and she smiled at me when she came home saying it was like a completely different vehicle! I'm in the good books for now at least :D