R1200GS 80mA when bike is "off"

[ropp]

Hello,
this is my problem :
When the ignition is off (and alarm is not activated), there still flows a current of 80mA out of the battery. After a few days the battery is empty.
I disconnected the alarm module: no effect.
I know about the problem some bikes had that when you switch on/off too fast (checks not ended), the electronics remain active. This ain't it the problem.
I had the software updated to the very last version; also no effect.
When I disconnect the ZFE module, the current becomes zero .
So it seems, it has to do zith the ZFE.
I then disconnected all in/outs of the ZFE one by one, no effect.
So, the problems seems to be intern the ZFE . Processor which remains active ? Why ?
I hear some noise from the ZFE ; like a DCDC convertor that "sings" which agian could indicate that the ZFE internals are not at rest.

Has anyone had this problem ?
Rob.

R1200GS, 9/2004

PS : what is strange also : the light in the red emergybutton goes of as I switch of the ignition. Normally it should remain lit for a minute or 2 .

 

[Bando]

Hi All
This is my first post even though I've been a member for some time.
I had exactly this problem a couple of years ago on 2005 gs. Dealer replaced
battery three times although it was obvious to me that the chances of three
duff batteries was remote.
So I connected a meter and monitered current drop all night with the alarm off. Noticed a constant drop of 90 ma. When I went to dealer with evidence
they replaced ZF unit and accessory socket and problem has not reoccured.
I wonder how common this problem actually is and how many people are replacing batteries or keeping bikes on Optimates or similar and masking the problem.

 

[Panzer]

On another bike

Hi i had this on another bike the battery was pulled down over a few days although this was on a KLX 650 it was a case of the starter rely having wet dirt in its water resistant cover and was causing it to track out. As the starter and solonoid assembly seem to be low down pop off the cover and see if it has corrsion or crap built up around it , it may just need a clean and grease up this might be the case and save more agro.

 

[ropp]

For those interested (and german speaking) :

I posted the same theme on

http://www.boxer-forum.de/

search for "ruhestrom"
(it is in forum '4-ventil technik'; I can't give a direct link)
Also there, at least one person is having the same problem currently.

Bando,
Any idea what you paid for a new ZFE ?

thx.

 

[Bando]

No idea sorry, new ZFE was warranty job

 

[karnevil]

There was a battery drain problem that my BMW Assistance guy told me about something like if the ignition was turned on then off again but bike not started it caused a drain.There was/is a soft ware update I understand.Ask your/a local dealer.

 

[ropp]

Karnevil
thanks for the reply but I knew about that one already; that's not the cause.

I just found out that the 12V aux. connector is dead too; no 12V when ignition is on.
So my current theory : maybe some misuse of the auxiliary plug has blown the output stage in the ZFE for that connector , causing the output stage to continuously draining some current. This makes the controller think that the
12V is being used by some external device (like a GPS) and therefore doesn't go into sleep mode. (in older models, the 12V was cut after 15min; since some SW updates, this has changed and now the ZFE only switches the plug off when it doesn't see any user when the ignition is switched off; and when the ZFE keeps the plug alive, it will also keep running itself).

Maybe I'm completely wrong but as long as it doesn't hurt ...

rob

 

[davieboy]

Battery Problems

I have the same problem and only after reading this I realise it must be the ZFE unit I bought my 2005 gs last year and i hve replaced the battery 3 times it drains completely flat within three or four days so I have to keep it on an optimiser to keep it topped up all the time does anyone knoe how much a ZFE unit will cost and is it easy to fit.

any into would be appreciated

David

 

[trebor]

......(in older models, the 12V was cut after 15min; since some SW updates, this has changed and now the ZFE only switches the plug off when it doesn't see any user when the ignition is switched off; and when the ZFE keeps the plug alive, it will also keep running itself).

I don't think this is the case (unless I've totally misunderstood what you are saying). I have a new 2008 model and my accessories, namely GPS, do switch off after a couple of minutes of switching the ignition off.

Bob

 

[strollingGS]

ZFE unit price

does anyone knoe how much a ZFE unit will cost and is it easy to fit.

any into would be appreciated

David

Hello David,
price (as of today) will be 331 euro incl tax for replacement only.
The old unit will be shipped back to BMW afaik .
Fitment is not that easy as you have to get the system run with sw and new programm key for this new black box.

hope that helps a little,
regards, Frank

 

[ropp]

Problem is found and solved

Hello,
Today I solved the ZFE issue.
I first figured out the cost of replacement (332 for ZFE, 50 for some BMW-release code, some work hours at the dealers' 100, all togheter : 400..500€) .

So I opened up my ZFE myself and found out that, as I expected, the end-stage of the 12V accesory plug was killed. The component (some kind of solid state relay with build in current limiter) drained current at the output.
I didn't have component replacement, so I just "disconnected" the devices solder leads . After that, the ZFE works back as it should : ignition off => battery current at ZERO.

Now my 12V plug is not usable anymore but that is no issue.

The problem is probably caused by trying to connect a non-suited battery loader to the 12V plug (I'm not the first owner).

If somebody knows how to put pictures in here, I'll give more detail on the failing component.
Warning : opening the ZFE is not difficult but getting the PBA out of the plastic housing is; you need to de-solder the +/-60 pins of the ZFE connector first .

regards,
Rob.

 

[ropp]

DIY

For those interested :

http://pendersr.googlepages.com/home

wfg,
Rob

 

[shugie]

Brave man, I used to do circuit board rework, and I'd not fancy trying to get that connector off without a proper desoldering station.