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Hi-I have a '94 BMW 525i that keeps dying on me. The car was broken into in October and now if the car is left sitting more than two days, the battery is dead. Before the break-in, I never experienced any problems. The car has been in and out of my mechanics shop since January. He's replaced the battery four times, hooked the car up to every diagnosic machine he has checking for electrical drains, switched out the module that controls the window and power door locks (this is where he thought the draw was coming from) and even installed a "battery buddy" that is supposed to automatically cut off any electrical draw from the battery when the car isn't running. After all this, the car still doesn't start. I'm really frustrated why we can't figure out what's wrong. Any suggestions would be very appreciated!!!
Thats kinda what I was thinking. Most mechanics are terrified of electrical problems because they are difficult and time-consuming to find. He needs to install his amp meter (he does have one right ) at the battery. Pull the positive cable off, insert his amp meter between the positive cable and the positive terminal of the battery. Put the setting on 10A (thats what most have anyways). If it takes a day or two to drain the battery, you may have set it @ 2A. Anyways, you should see some sort of amperage reading. Watch the meter as you start pulling fuses one at a time, replacing it back if nothing changes. When the amperage goes to 0 (or drops considerably), what ever fuse that is in your right hand is the culprit circuit that has the power draw. Then its just a matter of finding out why. Hope this helps...
da_male_cow...
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electrical problems can be a nightmare as da bull stated! You said the car was broken into, did they break anything? start checking around the point of entery also, see if there is anything even simi-suspicious. Good luck and do as da bull said start pulling fuses!
Had a fellow I worked with face the somethings like this, some one buggered around with his driver door lock and afterwards his battery kept draining. Turns out it was the lock heater being on all the time. Just a thought
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) at the battery. Pull the positive cable off, insert his amp meter between the positive cable and the positive terminal of the battery. Put the setting on 10A (thats what most have anyways). If it takes a day or two to drain the battery, you may have set it @ 2A. Anyways, you should see some sort of amperage reading. Watch the meter as you start pulling fuses one at a time, replacing it back if nothing changes. When the amperage goes to 0 (or drops considerably), what ever fuse that is in your right hand is the culprit circuit that has the power draw. Then its just a matter of finding out why. Hope this helps...
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