My wife has a 2003 MC with appr 55k miles on it. She went to start it yesterday morning and all she got was a "click". So I check voltage at the battery (the original from MINI) and it was below 9 volts. Tried charging the battery and restarting but the battery was done, so I replaced it with a Duralast H5-DLG. I did notice that there were some sparks when I attached the negative terminal. Took it for a quick test drive to make sure everything was functioning properly, and measured voltage at idle when I got back and it was around 14.5-14.6 volts. So I shut off the car and disconnect the negative terminal. I hook up a test light between the battery and clamp and I have a pretty good draw. I double check to make sure all doors are closed, lights are off, etc and it looks like I still have a draw. So I start pulling fuses and the only way I can get the test light to go off is with both F4 and F21 fuses removed from fuse panel 2 in the left kick panel. F4 is for the General Module (BC1) and F21 is for the instruments.

Any ideas on what the problem could be? Is there any way to diagnose the BC1?

I did hook up a scan tool and didn't have any codes but I suppose that could be because the battery was disconnected.

Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks, Bruce

 

Wait about 5 or 10 minutes after shutting off the car before measuring the
current draw. Don't open any doors or turn anything on during this period.
If there's still a significant draw after it goes into "sleep mode", then you have a problem.

 

Thanks Cristo - I figured you'd have to let it sit so I waited when I checked it before. I just checked it with an ammeter and got .44 amps on my DVOM set on the 0-20 amp setting. That can't be good??

Two other things that happen with the key off. When I plug in fuse F21 the speedo makes noise for a couple of seconds, and the needle moves and then stops. When I plug in fuse F4 the heater/AC blower relay clicks/engages. Don't know if that helps....

 

I am not saying that you don't have a problem, but an original battery from 03 would be all I personally needed to just wait and see. Then again, it is easy for me to jump the car and I am always optimistic.

 

Parasitic drain is usually less than 50 ma (.05 amps). Here's a reference link that may be helpful in a general way.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/battery_runs_down.htm