3rd time it's done it

car freaked out this time, when I tried to start it, the lights flashed on/off

then the alarm goes off the next time I try

any suggestions where to look to find what's draining the battery at night?


At least once, the heater controls stopped for my wife, but she blew it off and did not tell me, would a final stage resistor cause this problem?

It looks like the park light never turns off, so the car never enters sleep mode

did you check the charging system voltage? could be the altenator, they usually like to go on the v8 from what I gathered when I worked on x5

alternator is fine

the shift light never goes out, so the computer is not entering sleep mode

pretty sure it's the final stage resistor

a final stage will do this, to be sure, make sure your battery is fully charged. a bad battery, will not allow a vehicle to go to sleep. hook a meter in series for amperage draw. open the passenger door, and take the key out of the igniton. wait 16 minutes for the car to go to sleep.(when the trans LED light goes out) check the amperage draw. then unplug the FSU connector, and then check the amperage draw again, dropped below 50ma, then u have a shorted FSU.

I replaced the final stage, the led still never goes out

the battery must be healthy for the vehicle to go to sleep. charge the battery. also you must not disturb the vehicle. make sure all the doors and latches are locked.

yeah, brand new battery, we replaced it when it did it the first time

the car never enters sleep, but sense I replaced the final resistor, it no longer drains the battery, so I'm not messing with it anymore

I think I have an exact same problem with my 01 X5.
MegaDeTH,
can you tell me how you replaced the final stage if you did by yourself?