2006 530i - High Battery Drain
 

"persist" > wrote in message
...
>I picked up the car from the port and the battery was dead.
>
> The dealer replaced the battery.
>
> Recently, it displays a warning: High Battery Drain. Car still starts
> but I'm guessing the battery is living on borrowed time.
>
> I have an appointment next week to get it repaired and I intend to ask
> for another new battery after they've diagnsed and repaired the source
> of the problem.
>
> Any ideas or experience as to what this problem could be?
>
> Have a problem with the universal garage door opener. When I initially
> programed it, it worked fine. Now it's opening and closing my other
> garage door.
>
> Appreciate any advice.
>
> --
> persist
It is most unlikely that two batteries would fail. It is much more likely
that there is a short somewhere that is causing excessive battery drain.

The old fashioned way to check would be to disconnect the battery. If there
is a spark on reconnection, there must be a short somewhere. You can also
measure the current with a VOM. The current with every thing off (you
cannot actually cut every thing off) should lie in the milliamp range.

On a new car, it is the dealership's job to find it. Wish them luck; these
things can be hard to locate.

Jim

2006 530i - High Battery Drain
 

Jim wrote:
> "persist" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I picked up the car from the port and the battery was dead.
> >
> > The dealer replaced the battery.
> >
> > Recently, it displays a warning: High Battery Drain. Car still starts
> > but I'm guessing the battery is living on borrowed time.
> >
> > I have an appointment next week to get it repaired and I intend to ask
> > for another new battery after they've diagnsed and repaired the source
> > of the problem.
> >
> > Any ideas or experience as to what this problem could be?
> >
> > Have a problem with the universal garage door opener. When I initially
> > programed it, it worked fine. Now it's opening and closing my other
> > garage door.
> >
> > Appreciate any advice.
> >
> > --
> > persist
> It is most unlikely that two batteries would fail. It is much more likely
> that there is a short somewhere that is causing excessive battery drain.
>
> The old fashioned way to check would be to disconnect the battery. If there
> is a spark on reconnection, there must be a short somewhere. You can also
> measure the current with a VOM. The current with every thing off (you
> cannot actually cut every thing off) should lie in the milliamp range.
>
> On a new car, it is the dealership's job to find it. Wish them luck; these
> things can be hard to locate.
>
Good points. Further, you don't say where you're located, but if your
state has "lemon laws," you may want to remind the dealer about it....

2006 530i - High Battery Drain
 

In article >,
Jim > wrote:
> The old fashioned way to check would be to disconnect the battery. If
> there is a spark on reconnection, there must be a short somewhere.

Not necessarily - some electronics could have a high initial current.

> You can also measure the current with a VOM. The current with every
> thing off (you cannot actually cut every thing off) should lie in the
> milliamp range.

That's the reliable way. However, allow some time for things to settle
down - perhaps 20 minutes or so, as certain devices remain powered for
some time after switch off.

--
*I must always remember that I'm unique, just like everyone else. *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

2006 530i - High Battery Drain
 

Had this same problem...it's possible your stereo or another accessory
was wired directly to your battery, and thus drains it while the car is
not running.


Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article >,
> Jim > wrote:
> > The old fashioned way to check would be to disconnect the battery. If
> > there is a spark on reconnection, there must be a short somewhere.
>
> Not necessarily - some electronics could have a high initial current.
>
> > You can also measure the current with a VOM. The current with every
> > thing off (you cannot actually cut every thing off) should lie in the
> > milliamp range.
>
> That's the reliable way. However, allow some time for things to settle
> down - perhaps 20 minutes or so, as certain devices remain powered for
> some time after switch off.
>
> --
> *I must always remember that I'm unique, just like everyone else. *
>
> Dave Plowman London SW
> To e-mail, change noise into sound.

2006 530i - High Battery Drain
 

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Had this same problem...it's possible your stereo or another accessory
> was wired directly to your battery, and thus drains it while the car is
> not running.
>
If that is the way that whomever connected this equipment to your car, you
really ought to complain loudly about their workmanship.
Jim
>
> Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
>> In article >,
>> Jim > wrote:
>> > The old fashioned way to check would be to disconnect the battery. If
>> > there is a spark on reconnection, there must be a short somewhere.
>>
>> Not necessarily - some electronics could have a high initial current.
>>
>> > You can also measure the current with a VOM. The current with every
>> > thing off (you cannot actually cut every thing off) should lie in the
>> > milliamp range.
>>
>> That's the reliable way. However, allow some time for things to settle
>> down - perhaps 20 minutes or so, as certain devices remain powered for
>> some time after switch off.
>>
>> --
>> *I must always remember that I'm unique, just like everyone else. *
>>
>> Dave Plowman London SW
>> To e-mail, change noise into sound.
>

2006 530i - High Battery Drain
 

In article >,
Jim > wrote:
> > Had this same problem...it's possible your stereo or another accessory
> > was wired directly to your battery, and thus drains it while the car
> > is not running.
> >
> If that is the way that whomever connected this equipment to your car,
> you really ought to complain loudly about their workmanship.

It's quite common for external power amps to be connected 'direct' to the
battery - but go into standby mode when no signal is present. Of course
all these few milliamps here and milliamps there add up. I think I
remember reading somewhere that about 2 weeks is the maximum a modern car
can be left without running the engine before the battery goes flat.

--
*Filthy stinking rich -- well, two out of three ain't bad

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.