XSeries-forum

Interesting issue.... and suggestion / comment from Cotswold BMW....

I had spurious dash warnings & stuff happen due to low voltage battery...
And one of these was.... on low bean + front fogs.... then using Main beam...
The fogs went out, all the lights momentarilly quit (1 second) and then main come on...
And the fogs stay off unless switched on again... then suspension warnings in cluster displayed..

I had a 1000 CrankAmp battery fitted... and expected these issues to quit...
BUT.....
I understand from Cotswolds that the drop out of the lighting was to ensure the computer was not starved of power or essential systems etc, so unnecessary loads would be dumped ie fog lamps...

The car learns it has a sick battery & therefore ensures it can keep critical systems alive...

I now have to some how tell it that it has a new battery....
Wonderng how that is done ?

On ftting the NEW battery, i kwpt the systems allive by using a second battery hookwd to the JumpStart connectors under the bonnet... and wondering if I either need some diagnostc skills plugged into the OBD port or simply disconnect the battery totally for 20 mins & maybe the car will learn it has a new cell fitted ?

Any ideas on ths one ?

The E53 has no system to tell it that a new battery has been fitted.  That only came in with the E70 onwards, which require the battery change coded to the car as the on board systems monitor the actual battery charge acceptance condition.  The way to reset the car is simply disconnect the battery completely for 20-30 mins or so and then reconnect it.  It's a standard BMW trick used as the simplest way of clearing odd issues like yours.

Leaving power on the car can be done by plugging a source into one of the cigar lighter points, or (as you and I do) by connecting a 12V source to the jumper points under the bonnet.

If the car needs resetting then you will have to let it go dead so no external 12V source.  I would also recommend that you disconnect both battery leads and touch them together.  This won't damage anything and will neutralise any stray charges on the modules.

One note of caution is that you should know there is an explosive charge in the large +ve lead (cuts the main power if the airbags are triggered) so avoid accidental static charges when dealing with that end.  Usually you will have absolutely no problem at all, just be aware it is there.

Richard

Hi Richard & co...
Did a few jobs on the E53 this weekend...
New calliper pistons & seals.... fabbo..

New Crank Vent Vortex thingy-bob... more fabbo...

Did a battery disconnect & short out connectors for 2 hrrs while doing jobs...
And hoped it would eliminate the lighting issue & reset a few things..

Not a soddin chance...  still got the lighting dump issue and need to sort this urgently..

Suggestions any one ??

Regards
Grant

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Hi Richard & co...
Did a few jobs on the E53 this weekend...
New calliper pistons & seals.... fabbo..

New Crank Vent Vortex thingy-bob... more fabbo...

Did a battery disconnect & short out connectors for 2 hrrs while doing jobs...
And hoped it would eliminate the lighting issue & reset a few things..

Not a soddin chance...  still got the lighting dump issue and need to sort this urgently..

Suggestions any one ??

Regards
Grant
[/quote]

I had a lighting issue with mine high beam not working,  indicators would work but no warning indicator on the dash , no reversing lights , radio would work but no screen , it was the searing column control relay/module  that was faulty , it took a few hours finding the fault as there was quite a few other things that the diagnostics bloke had to test ( a friend of mine ) .

Interesting...
Will chase up this idea one evening after work & see what I can find.
Thankyou.

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Interesting...
Will chase up this idea one evening after work & see what I can find.
Thankyou.
[/quote]

Oh I forgot the self leveling suspension warning light was on as well , my diagnostics guy started disconnecting the sat nav in the rear then tv module then click changer one by on to eliminate them then he was under the n/S of the dash , I'm not sure what's under there he was using a tester which measured the electrical pulses ( looked like a scene of casualty for cars lol ) all I was seeing was pound signs flashing in front of my eyes.

Tim