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      09-25-2016, 10:07 PM   #1
vachss
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Battery Drain Issue with Radio

For some time I've had an issue with the battery in my 07 3.0si running down while the car is off. If I wait more than a couple of days between drives it's dead. The problem isn't the battery, but a quiescent current drain of about 2A from somewhere.

Well I finally got around to pulling all my fuses one by one while checking the battery drain with an ammeter. Sure enough it was the last two I checked: Fuse 49 (Nav, Phone, Screen) accounts for about 0.65A and Fuse 50 (Radio) accounts for another 1.2A.

The question is, now what? Is there some common failure point in the radio system I should check. Barring that I'm tempted to just avoid the problem by wiring the two fuses to a remote switch and flipping it off whenever I leave the car. This isn't the most elegant solution, but I may be stuck with it.

Any ideas welcome.
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      09-25-2016, 10:15 PM   #2
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I had a similar problem with my '06 3.0si. The radio and bluetooth module were hung is a state where they never went into sleep mode and my battery would die in 2-3 days. I disconnected the battery for about 30 minutes to let everything drain down to fully off and reconnected it which forces a cold boot of all the modules. Haven't had the issue again for the last 12 months.
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      09-25-2016, 10:32 PM   #3
vachss
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That's a good idea, but I've tried leaving the battery disconnected for days on end (as a way of making sure I could start the car when I needed) and that didn't seem to fix the problem.
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      09-26-2016, 09:57 AM   #4
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The bluetooth and amplifer modules are somewhat easy to access from the trunk. Why not disconnect each while observing your load.
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      02-27-2017, 01:20 PM   #5
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Had a problem with my 2002 Range Rover, which is all BMW tech basically - my audio would just die and when I turn off the car it apparently doesn't turn off and my battery (110Ah) completely died after only 12-16 hours. It turned out to be the radio module - sent it for repairs, got it back in 2 days and never had this problem again.

Yes, disconnecting the battery and connecting it again helps....until the module hangs up again. Sometimes after 20 days, sometimes after 2, sometimes after just one hour.
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      06-30-2017, 12:25 AM   #6
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I'm having the same problem in my 2006 Z4M. Battery keeps dying and was just told today that my NAVI unit is fried. Apparently it stays on at times even when the car is off. However, the screen still pops up and down, and sometimes still displays everything on screen. I was told I have to replace the entire NAVI unit (is the module built in the unit?) but that's $2,500! What if i replace it and I still have the same issue? Any help is appreciated!
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      07-17-2017, 10:37 AM   #7
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Perhaps investigate this place. I just found it on the web, no experience with them.

http://www.hitechserv.com/electronic...nger-repair/67

If you engage them, PLEASE report back with your experience. Thanks.
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      07-19-2017, 04:13 PM   #8
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lock your car- the bluetooth keeps sending out a signal!
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      07-20-2017, 10:26 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garz747 View Post
lock your car- the bluetooth keeps sending out a signal!
What do you mean by this? Are you saying that under normal operating conditions if the car isn't locked the bluetooth module never goes to sleep?
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      07-20-2017, 12:23 PM   #10
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My bluetooth cuts off as soon as I turn the ignition key to off.
Maybe if it doesn't, that's a bad sign that it's gonna kill your battery.
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      08-03-2017, 04:10 PM   #11
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Yes. From what i could find out until u lock your Z the bluetooth is searching for your phone!
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      08-14-2017, 10:10 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garz747 View Post
Yes. From what i could find out until u lock your Z the bluetooth is searching for your phone!
I'm not doubting you, but could you share some of the information that you found on this. My car is driven roughly four times a week (more in the warmer months ). At least once a year when we're away for a week it sits in the garage with the doors unlocked. Never came home to a drained battery. Still, would be nice to know. Thanks.
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      08-18-2017, 05:13 PM   #13
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One way to test this theory claimed by garz747 is to sit inside, car turned on, hook up your phone with your Bluetooth and make a phone call. While on the phone call, turn your car off and remove key from ignition (I've done this before and my phone call continues through my car speakers) as Bluetooth is still apparently connected. Try locking your car with your remote (while still inside and while still on that phone call) and if the Bluetooth disconnects, then obviously you'll need to lock your car from now on.
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      05-04-2019, 10:46 AM   #14
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I want to revive this thread as I am now experiencing this after my battery went bad and had to be replaced.

After the replacement, I noticed that while in the house my phone would connect to the Bluetooth connector attached to the iPhone cable. The stereo/amp doesn't seem to be turning off when the car is turned off.

I have tried to turn off the car then lock the doors; this turns off all the lights but does not turn off the Bluetooth. It used to before the battery died.

Where is the relay that turns off the stereo system?
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      05-10-2019, 06:42 AM   #15
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I posted this in the General forum. The indie shop found that my TCU is waking up, pulling ~.5 amps then going back to sleep. The shop is working to determine if we can simply unplug the TCU. I do not use the car's Bluetooth as it is too old and it is rather irrelevant in a convertible.

I will post an update.

For others with a parasitic battery drain, check our TCU.
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      06-04-2019, 08:29 PM   #16
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I'm having the same issue with my 2007 3.0si coupe. It didn't start until I replaced the original (dead) navi system.
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