Dead battery, fan above cup holder running.....

[tvlodek]

About a month ago, my blower motor was running with the ignition off, I replaced the FSR and was back in business. Now, I have had my battery drained over the last few days, I hear a barely audible whirling from the dash by where the "cup holder" is (the small ventilation orifice on the right, passenger side). Anyone have any idea what's wrong this time? Thanks.

Tom V.
'99 540i-6

[JimLev]

That small fan will run for 16 min after you shut the car off and close the door. If you open the door after 16 min it will start.
You could sit in the car and see if it stops. You could have a module not going to sleep and draining your battery, or is your battery old and on it's way south?

[Filehorse]

from the dealer when you replaced it? Others have reported that there are some El Cheapo FSU's out there that have a half-life measured in days.


Filehorse
Knoxville, TN
BMWCCA #407627

2002 525i Steptronic Sport/Premium | Build Date: 05/02
81,000 Ultimate Driving miles
Xenons
Style 81s | Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS
Titanium Gray | Gray Leather
35% LLumar ATR LLumaStar tint
Valentine 1 | Hardwired
Steering wheel position memory w/Alzheimers
"Lifetime" ATF replaced at 40,000; Switched to Valvoline MaxLife @ the 80,000 mile service
"LIfetime" Final Drive gear oil replaced at 81,000; Redline 75W-90 GL-5
StopTech SportStop slotted rotors w/Axxis Deluxe Advanced pads
StopTech SS Braided Brake Lines

2001 E46 325i (Jet Black) Forced Retirement 6/28/09

2001 E46 325i (Orient Blue) Forced Retirement 10/09

1989 E30 325i (Alpine White) Retired

[TVlodek]

I will check to see if it goes off first thing in the morning.

[TVlodek]

No, I replaced it with a cheap FSU I bought on ebay. I don't have a problem with the blower motor any longer but the air sampler fan is still running. JimLev says that's normal for about 15 minutes, I haven't gotten a chance to see if it shuts off shortly after that. I'll check in the morning.

[TVlodek]

I don't think it's the battery, as it's only 2-3 years old. I'm going to check to see if it goes into sleep mode later this evening or in the morning.

[AussieBob]

you can remove the little round black fan from inside the climate control unit.

I removed mine a few years ago and the car is silent. The heater and air con still work fine, the thermistor inside still works.

[Vin M]

you're looking for, because the moment you open the door, the air sampler fan turns back on...so it will seem like it's been running all night.

You have to sit in the car (with it off) for 16 minutes to see if it shuts down when the car goes to sleep.

Vin

[Filehorse]

You need to remove the positive terminal from the battery; connect a digital DC ammeter between the battery cable and the positive terminal on the battery; and wait. You can leave the trunk lid up since that light should shut down within the 16-minute period. The rest of the car should be as though you were through with it for the day: all lights off and doors closed. If everything is in order, the current drain should ultimately drop to less than 20ma (<0.020 amps) in approximately 16 minutes. The current draw will decrease in increments as various systems are shut down. The current draw on my car ultimately falls to 0.17ma. You need a digital DC amp meter with a range of up to 10 amps. This is a standard feature of most digital multi-meters.


Filehorse
Knoxville, TN
BMWCCA #407627

2002 525i Steptronic Sport/Premium | Build Date: 05/02
81,000 Ultimate Driving miles
Xenons
Style 81s | Bridgestone Potenza RE960 AS
Titanium Gray | Gray Leather
35% LLumar ATR LLumaStar tint
Valentine 1 | Hardwired
Steering wheel position memory w/Alzheimers
"Lifetime" ATF replaced at 40,000; Switched to Valvoline MaxLife @ the 80,000 mile service
"LIfetime" Final Drive gear oil replaced at 81,000; Redline 75W-90 GL-5
StopTech SportStop slotted rotors w/Axxis Deluxe Advanced pads
StopTech SS Braided Brake Lines

2001 E46 325i (Jet Black) Forced Retirement 6/28/09

2001 E46 325i (Orient Blue) Forced Retirement 10/09

1989 E30 325i (Alpine White) Retired

[JYGy2k5285spCT]

Jay Gans 2000 528 MT Non-sport.Titanium Silver, Grey Leather. Premium Package, Cold Weather, Fold down seats. Oct 99 production.ash try mod so not bone stock. CD changer. Garmin C510 Nav..Honda CH150D scooter

[AussieBob]

[JimCash]

Yes that small sampling fan shuts down when the cabin control module (General Module) goes into sleep mode.

If you had an automatic transmission you can monitor that by the shifter light - but with a manual car the best way is to leave a door open with at least one of the interior lights on (even the glove box lamp if you want).

They should go out at the 16 minute mark - as long as you have not performed any interaction with the car in the mean time (that is whey you leave the door open so you can get in without waking the car.

Cheers
Jim Cash

[Dolby]

THe 3 pin power plug is hard to pull out....any trick?

[AussieBob]

Most automotive electrical connectors have pretty good mechanically designed locking mechanisms to with stand vibration and bumps. There is nothing special with the BMW connectors apart from them using some of the best designs, probably due to their 250km/h speeds on the Autobahns.

Just keep trying. The multi-pin data connectors from memory have a swinging arm locking mechanism, the power one was just a very well locked mechanical design. It does come out.

[Dolby]

Yeah.....HK$20 for 3 in 1 lubrication and the noise gone.