The batteries you find installed in your BMW X5 does have a lifespan. Most models usually last between three to five years. Unfortunately, the period may be shortened by many factors. Among the many factors that reduce the lifespan include a parasitic drain.
So, what are the BMW X5 drain solutions? When it comes to dealing with a parasitic drain within your BMW X5, you first need to test the origin of the drain and then proceed to prevent it from sucking the juice from your car’s battery.
First of All, What Is Parasitic Drain?
Before you go ahead to conclude how you can deal with a parasitic drain, it would be best if you understood what’s a parasitic drain in the first place. By understanding the term, it will be much easy to address the issue whenever it occurs in your BMW X5. Once you switch off your BMW, for instance, after a tiring day at work, the battery is expected to hold the same amount of power it had before turning the engine off.
However, that’s not always the case. Some drivers wake up to a flat battery. The funny thing is that they find it hard to explain where the charge in the battery went. Well, that unexplained loss of charge is what we can simply define as a parasitic drain.
The BMW X5 models comes fitted with computers, radio, clocks, security alarm systems, and power mirrors, among other advanced features. These features are what contribute to the draining of your battery when the ignition is turned. To some extent, the drain is termed as usual. However, there are some instances when the drain may surpass expectations.
If you find yourself waking up to a flat battery, it means that something needs to be done about the waste. If ignored, the continuous drains can ruin your battery’s performance, as well as the lifespan.
How Can You Diagnose a BMW X5 Battery Drain?
As said earlier, the first step towards treating a parasitic drain in your BMW X5 batteries is pointing out where the charge is slipping through. It’s your radio or is the charge of getting lost from a short circuit in your electrical system. You can only confirm the drain by performing a drain test.
Long ago, people used to rely on a test light to check out the parasitic drains in their vehicles. Thanks to technological advancements, today, there is the multi-meter, a device you can use to test for a parasitic drain in your battery effectively. When checking for the waste, you should ensure that the car is switched off completely. The keys should also be out of the ignition.
With the ignition switch turned off and the keys are withdrawn, you should go ahead and set your multi-meter to the highest amp level. Configuring the device to this level prevents it from experiencing any damages during the test. With the multi-meter ready, you should go ahead and withdraw the negative cable from your battery. The negative cable, in this case, is usually black.
When disconnecting the negative cable, you should ensure that it doesn’t touch any metal part within the engine area. Attach the multi-meter to your car’s battery terminal cables. If you notice that there is no reading showing, go ahead and reduce the DC setting until some reading is detected.
What Readings Should You Expect to Take in the Multi-meter?
When dealing with the battery in your BMW, the multi-meter should pick a reading of between 50 and 85 mA. If the reading gets higher than the standard figure, it means that there is a parasitic drain that requires some rectification.
So, How Can You Test for the Source of the Drain?
The sad bit is that you can’t tell where your battery’s charge is draining with your bare eyes. You are needed to dig deeper into the fuses to pin point the source of your drain. There are usually two fuse boxes, on in the engine area and the other one under the dashboard.
You can start by working on the fuse box in the engine area as it holds the circuit to the most significant electrical components. For this procedure, you are needed to remove the fuses, one at a time, while observing the multi-meter fluctuations.
Whenever you withdraw the fuse associated with the component that’s draining your battery, the reading should drop to the standard figure. Therefore, you should carry on with removing and replacing the fuses until you arrive at your target fuse.
Once you identify the faulty fuse, you can go ahead and confirm the component it’s associated with the fuse. The cover on your fuse box can help you with differentiating the fuses. Also, you can confirm from your car’s user manual to avoid making any mistakes.
If the problem seems complex, it’s recommended that you contact your mechanic for assistance. Mechanics are well informed when it comes to finding a parasitic drain. Therefore, by involving your mechanic, it means that the parasitic drain will be gone for good.
How Can You Prevent Parasitic Drain in Your BMW X 5 Batteries?
Pointing out the source of the drain in your BMW X5 is one thing while preventing it is another. There are various ways you can effectively prevent waste from happening in the first place. One thing that you should know is that the drains don’t only result from the electrical components. It can occur due to external and environmental factors.
Therefore, when working on preventing unnecessary drains, you should begin by avoiding the short trips in the best way possible. Short trips limit the time needed by the alternator to top up the battery. Also, you should ensure that the battery cables are tightly held on the battery terminals. A loose battery cable can create a loop to drain your battery overnight.
Also, you must ensure that the cell is clean. The dirt around your battery terminals could be the reason why you are experiencing a flat battery now and then. Lastly, you should consider hiring a professional to deal with the parasitic drain while it emerges. Ignoring the problem can see your battery reduce its performance and lifespan.
