Re: Battery Problem (archive)

I'm still having battery problems. Several days ago, after my 1988 735iL sat for several days, the battery was dead. I charged it overnight and it started. I had the dreaded PPPP on the OBC for two days and then that cleared up. Here's the weird thing. My cruise control has not worked for several months, yet it started working also at the same time the PPPP went away. Then, the next day, it quit again. I still have "Check Control" on my dash and the OBC functions do not display on the dash. Could all this be related to the battery? Each time I have had the battery checked, it has been fine. Help! TIA.

I've been having intermittent "Check Control" message & no Tach, & Speedo needle displaying about 1/2 what it should be. Goes away later in the day when restarted. I'm thinking it's the SI batteries or instrument cluster needs the "capacitor fix"? Do '92's still have SI batteries? Also, battery went dead last week & lot's of repetative solenoid noises coming from trunk (latch, gas flap door lock, CD player?) when unlocking & locking. When unlocking a door when the battery is low, it's as if it's making a last ditch attempt to repeatedly open the latches & gets stuck in that mode until there's not enough juice to continue.

Re-charged the battery & had it load tested, checked out ok. Hooked up again & fiddled with the relay modules & fuses under the back seat, & solenoids settled down. Battery has stayed up for a week now after sitting, but tach & speedo still funny. They usually act up on Monday morning after sitting for the weekend.

Funny thing, since having the battery disconnected overnight & then reconnecting with a full charge, I can finally get the "Check Engine" to flash the codes properly. It would never do that before.

I'm afraid I haven't given you much to go on, but I suspect there's a relay or control module somewhere that won't return to its default position after the engine has been shut off. Burnt points on a relay? Debris in a door switch? I'd suggest reseating as many relays, control modules & fuses as you can find & maybe it will settle down. Cold solder joint on a relay or module?

gale
92 735i

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