11/2/2020

61 13 05_Discharged Battery: Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed

SIB 61 13 05
Discharged Battery: Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed

2020-10-22

This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 2) replaces SI B61 13 05 dated February 2016.
What’s New (Specific text highlighted):
• Procedure updated
• Warranty information

MODEL
All vehicles produced from 3/2004 (except I-Bus vehicles)

SITUATION
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few
years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information
for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.
In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic
test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration.
Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be
identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.

CAUSE
A discharged battery can have various causes, most of which do not concern the battery itself. A failed battery is
often the symptom and not the cause. A fully serviceable battery fails when an electrical component causes the
battery to discharge; the battery becomes internally damaged and must be replaced.
For more information, refer to https://batteryuniversity.com/ For this reason, replacing the battery is not usually a
permanent repair. The cause of the discharged battery must be analyzed in order to guarantee a proper repair.

PROCEDURE
Before starting diagnosis, refer to the attached flowchart, which will guide you through this procedure and can be
used as a reference guide for all E-Series and F01/F02 vehicles produced up to 9/2010.
All vehicles, starting with the F01/F02 produced from 9/2010, are equipped with advanced onboard battery
diagnostics. This advanced battery diagnosis is now part of the energy diagnosis test plan with the introduction of
ISTA 3.41.

For vehicles with auxiliary battery faults, perform the applicable test plan and proceed with the test
plan recommendations
For all models with other battery faults (specifically the 12 V battery), the “Energy Diagnosis” is to
be performed for all discharged battery complaints
1. Fault analysis (Energy Diagnosis)
Complete the energy diagnosis test plan on every vehicle with a discharged battery.
There are currently two paths to access the energy diagnosis test plan:
If a power management fault is stored, ISTA will select the energy diagnosis test plan automatically
The test plan can also be selected manually: “Function structure>Body>Power supply>Energy Diagnosis”
2. Once the test plan is run, the number [1] “Most Likely Cause” is automatically displayed if any faults are found by
the test plan. Complete the test plan by processing all the “Most Likely Causes.” Start from [1], where the most
recent cause of a discharged battery is listed. If no “Most Likely Causes” are found, the results screen will display:
“Most Likely Cause (0),” is undetermined.
3. The following is a list of reasons for a discharged battery, indicated by the results of the test plan.

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61 13 05_Discharged Battery: Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed

A. Examples of vehicle faults
Battery fault (aged battery – only on IBS-equipped vehicles)
Alternator fault
Vehicle is not entering sleep mode (sleep mode prevented)
Vehicle is constantly woken from sleep mode
Closed-circuit current is too high
Closed-circuit current infringement
Exhaustive battery charge (for information only)
Terminal 30g-f shutdown due to start capability limit (for information only)
Terminal 30F shutdown due to start capability limit (for information only)
Terminal 30B electric fan or coolant pump after-run (for information only)
Undetermined
Lights/hazard warning lights left on for too long
“Lights left on” is only considered a vehicle fault and can only be claimed under warranty if the following
conditions exist:

1. If other “Most Likely causes” are listed that indicate the battery was already heavily discharged (listed as for
information only above).

2. If the State of Charge readings for the last 5 days indicate a heavily discharged battery (typically below 40%).
B. Examples of operating faults
Lights/hazard warning lights left on for too long
Terminal R or terminal 15 left on for too long (this fault may also be set when the vehicle is in the workshop –
if the mileage the fault set is the same as the current mileage of the vehicle)
Vehicle parked for too long
Vehicle used when stationary
C. General Information
General information is available in the energy diagnosis test plan and can be accessed at any time. With the
introduction of ISTA 3.49.10, additional information is available for the technician for assistance with diagnosis of
power management and battery issues.
Results of the last closed-circuit monitoring sessions (only for vehicles equipped with an IBS)
Battery (displays the current and last five days’ values for the SOC and start capability limit)
Battery test (for the charge acceptance and start voltage dips added to general information. This makes
extended evaluation of the battery possible, allowing potential damage to the battery to be detected). Refer to
the attachment for more information about the battery test.
State of charge histogram (displays the amount of time in each SOC range by hours and minutes)
Average journey overview (journeys from the last five weeks, and the average number of kilometers per
journey driven in the last five weeks are displayed)
Immobilization period (the number of days that the vehicle was parked and not driven)
History of most recent changes in the test module (displays the changes in this test module with this ISTA
version).
If a new battery is installed, the “Energy Diagnosis” test plan should be completed prior to registering the new
battery. When the battery is registered, the stored energy history is deleted. This may cause the vehicle to return if
the root cause of the discharged battery is not determined.

WARRANTY INFORMATION
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61 13 05_Discharged Battery: Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed

To claim an eligible faulty battery either under the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars
and Light Trucks or the BMW Original Parts Warranty (eligible In-center workshop repairs), the Energy
Diagnosis test plan must be performed to completion.
Exception: Energy diagnosis is not necessary for vehicles with auxiliary battery faults, where the applicable
test plan recommends auxiliary battery replacement.

When required, a Midtronics Battery Test procedure must also be performed. The Midtronic battery tester
printout(s) must be retained with the repair order.
To assist you in determining the warranty coverage on a battery, please refer to the following guidelines:
Covered under warranty when the results of the Energy Diagnosis test plan are:
A vehicle fault;
An undetermined fault; or
An operating fault such as unfavorable driving profile (e.g., driven extremely short distances) and the
Midtronics battery tester or Energy Diagnosis results indicate the battery needs to be replaced.
A “Stand-alone” faulty battery is claimed using the battery defect code listed in AIR.
Other Repairs
If it is determined that some other covered vehicle fault and repair caused the battery to fail, the failed
battery is to be claimed under the AIR defect code that applies to the failed (causal) component or repair
(e.g., alternator, permanent failure).
Not covered under warranty when the results of the Energy Diagnosis test plan are:
An operating fault such as the vehicle being parked too long (vehicle parked for extended periods
without proper battery maintenance), battery not maintained, etc.
As applicable to your center, please refer to SI B01 01 20 or B01 07 20 for claiming your diagnosis work
time, job/repair work time (WT), WT and the repair-related explanation procedures.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS BULLETIN
Technical Inquiries
Warranty Inquiries
Parts Inquiries

Submit feedback at the top of this bulletin
Submit an IDS ticket to the Warranty Department or use
the chat available in the Warranty Documentation Portal
Submit an IDS ticket to the Parts Department

Supporting Materials
picture_as_pdf Attchment_B611305_BN2000_Battery_Diagnosis.pdf

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Attachment to SIB 61 13 05

October 2020

Diagnosis of Battery complaints on BN2000 vehicles (all E-Series and F01/F02 prior to 9/2010) Revised May 2013

ISTA

Possible complaints: Slow/no crank, time and date reset, CC message “High battery drain”, reduction or shutdown of individual consumer
Connect to ISTA
and perform
Energy Diagnosis
to identify why
battery is
discharged

Is “Aged Battery”
listed as a “most
likely cause”

YES

Replace and
register new
battery

Note: Follow SI
B61 13 05
May 2013:
(1) Always print out the battery tester results
(2) The EXP-1000 (new battery tester) can be used to test
all batteries (including AGM). The old Midtronics should
only be used for Non-AGM batteries

Diagnose and repair the
Most Likely causes listed for a
discharged battery in the
Energy Diagnosis results

(3) Always remove the surface charge from the vehicle
after charging in order to achieve valid test results
(4) Always ensure that the battery is fully charged, the
SoC is checked and no CC messages exist prior to
handing the vehicle back to the customer
(5) Except for “Aged Battery”

Battery test
results

Test the battery using the
BMW battery tester. What are
the initial results? Print results
(1)(2)

“Good Battery”

Vehicle
functional
check

Battery Test

Energy
Diagnosis

NO

Not a battery
issue.
Re check energy
diagnosis and any
voltage supply
related faults and
test plans.

“Replace Battery”
Replace and
register new battery

Note: Follow SI
B61 11 09

“Good - Recharge”
Recharge battery and retest. If retest shows
“Good – Recharge” again, print ticket and charge
for 2 hours.
If “Good - Recharge” is still displayed after 2
hours replace battery. (3)

Register the battery the
replacement battery. Check
functionality of vehicle. (4)

“Charge & Retest”
Battery has less than
8 volts and should be
replaced after
charging.

Note: Follow SI
B61 11 09

Do not send diagnosis feedback because
Energy Diagnosis doesn’t say replace
battery. BN2000 vehicles do not have this
capability (5)