Battery drain......

l3ggy

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The M44 Massive
Scottish Zeds
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Dec 30, 2015
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....I've noted that if left, my Z's battery drains down after 2/3 days. Haven't really spent time to try and find the fault as I've got a spare battery on trickle charge.

Out for a drive to football on Thursday night, lovely drive. Really enjoy driving the Z when I had a light bulb moment.........no really, the interior light just came on....all by its self!!! Doors definitely still closed....so I think that must be where the drain is coming from.

I'll find out on Monday as the car will have sat from Thursday night.
 

miller1098

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British Zeds
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Mar 1, 2013
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196
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Carno,Welsh Wales
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M
....I've noted that if left, my Z's battery drains down after 2/3 days. Haven't really spent time to try and find the fault as I've got a spare battery on trickle charge.

Out for a drive to football on Thursday night, lovely drive. Really enjoy driving the Z when I had a light bulb moment.........no really, the interior light just came on....all by its self!!! Doors definitely still closed....so I think that must be where the drain is coming from.

I'll find out on Monday as the car will have sat from Thursday night.
I know it's simple but you don't leave your parking lights on ?
 

l3ggy

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The M44 Massive
Scottish Zeds
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Dec 30, 2015
Points
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I know it's simple but you don't leave your parking lights on ?
Parking light?!! Indicator left in an on position, then engine off? As its a BMW I don't use the indicators :whistle:
 

GazHyde

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Dec 2, 2011
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Berkshire
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Z4 MR
The other common cause is the boot light staying on. Stick your camera phone recording video in the boot and close it to see if it's staying on.
 

l3ggy

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The M44 Massive
Scottish Zeds
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Dec 30, 2015
Points
32
The other common cause is the boot light staying on. Stick your camera phone recording video in the boot and close it to see if it's staying on.
Yeah, tried that. All fine with boot light. Without much research I think by complete chance I've found the issue. :)
 

pgunter

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British Zeds
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Just turn it off by the rocker switch and see if that helps.
 

l3ggy

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The M44 Massive
Scottish Zeds
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Just turn it off by the rocker switch and see if that helps.
Yeah I have turned it off and if battery still has charge on Monday night then it may be the cause
 

pgunter

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Just check that the door switches are working and give them a squirt of cleaning fluid like wd40. Fingers crossed its a simple fix.
 

Lee

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With it being cold at the moment it could be the battery dying. how old is it?
 

l3ggy

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The M44 Massive
Scottish Zeds
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With it being cold at the moment it could be the battery dying. how old is it?
Two different batteries, one that came with car and a brand new one.
 

peteslag

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Dec 7, 2011
Points
75
Location
Shifnal, Shropshire
Model of Z
Z4M
Take the bulb out of the interior light. If the battery keeps it's charge then that will at least tell you which circuit is causing the problem. If you suspect a door switch, gently push each one in and out and monitor the interior light. If it flickers then that is the culprit. Failing that disconnect each door switch in turn and monitor the battery, that will round it down even further. If all of these things fail get hold of a digital mutlimeter and I'll explain how to isolate the fault using that.
 
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