What the heck is this wire?

BOOSTLEE · 11-20-2012, 11:34 PM

Two weeks ago during heavy rain fall my car would not start. I checked the battery and it was good. looking around don't see any thing out of the ordinary, out of curiosity, I unplugged this wire then my car started, plug it back in, car won't start, so I left it unplugged.
anyone know where this wire goes to or what it does?

it looks like it goes into the inside of the rear bumper, I don't have PDC.

mashimarho · 11-20-2012, 11:38 PM

I just want to know what made you unplug that wire in the first place.

klaysta · 11-20-2012, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mashimarho

I just want to know what made you unplug that wire in the first place.

+1

BOOSTLEE · 11-20-2012, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mashimarho

I just want to know what made you unplug that wire in the first place.

I was in the process of removing the battery and it was in my way.

bsamoul · 11-21-2012, 01:04 AM

I believe that wire is supposed to be plugged in during shipping from the factory, and unplugged when the car gets "unpacked"

BOOSTLEE · 11-21-2012, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsamoul

I believe that wire is supposed to be plugged in during shipping from the factory, and unplugged when the car gets "unpacked"

hmmm, interesting.
I had this car since Dec 2007 and the only driver, I'm pretty sure it was plugged in all those years and my car has always started. I hope it's not harming anything, my car runs normal, I just don't get why it has to be unplugged now to get my car to start.
anyone else have this wire unplugged?

16M4 · 11-21-2012, 07:17 AM

Mine is unplugged...I never unplugged it..

upstatedoc · 11-21-2012, 07:37 AM

mxchris727 · 11-21-2012, 08:29 AM

It's a shipping wire. The dealer normally plugs their computer into the car and disables "transit" mode; but I guess they can also just unplug that wire. Mine is connected.

Turb0Surge · 11-21-2012, 09:59 AM

mine's unplugged...

AndreyT · 11-21-2012, 10:05 AM

This has been asked and answered a million times already. Everybody has an unplugged wire in the battery compartment. In some cars it might be "tucked in" into the connector, but it doesn't change much anyway.

crashoverride · 11-21-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndreyT

This has been asked and answered a million times already. Everybody has an unplugged wire in the battery compartment. In some cars it might be "tucked in" into the connector, but it doesn't change much anyway.

I thought this was the same million times asked question. But I've never seen a picture that ended with a blue plug (always black) and it never has something to plug into and is just loose... plus maybe it's the photo but this looks heavier duty.

So I looked at my car I have the same cable and it's plugged in. I also still have the shipping cable which is much smaller flopping around. Personally I'm confused as to why there are so many cables going this way and that around the battery making changing the battery a complete bitch.

So now I'm curious??

954Stealth · 11-21-2012, 01:47 PM

Did you try plugging it in?

iBoost · 11-21-2012, 01:48 PM

Mine has always been unplugged as well

BOOSTLEE · 11-21-2012, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndreyT

This has been asked and answered a million times already. Everybody has an unplugged wire in the battery compartment. In some cars it might be "tucked in" into the connector, but it doesn't change much anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashoverride

I thought this was the same million times asked question. But I've never seen a picture that ended with a blue plug (always black) and it never has something to plug into and is just loose... plus maybe it's the photo but this looks heavier duty.

So I looked at my car I have the same cable and it's plugged in. I also still have the shipping cable which is much smaller flopping around. Personally I'm confused as to why there are so many cables going this way and that around the battery making changing the battery a complete bitch.

So now I'm curious??

this is not the black wire from the battery that connects to nothing. it's a blue connector plug in a black wire harness and doesn't even go to the battery. I just want to making sure it's not a sensor wire to deploy the airbags when you get rear ended, looks like that's where the cable is going, into the bumper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

Did you try plugging it in?

yes, my car will not start with it plugged it, tried just now

jwzimm · 11-21-2012, 05:47 PM

I wonder if there are any ill effects. This seems like it would be a great hidden kill switch if you are parking for a while or just want the extra security.

SpeedBuggy · 11-21-2012, 06:57 PM

Check Page #8 of the attached, IBS Intelligent Battery Sensor.

Both of ours are connected...................

crashoverride · 11-21-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedBuggy

Check Page #8 of the attached, IBS Intelligent Battery Sensor.

Both of ours are connected...................

Nice looks like it's well worth having connected.... and for the OP to have fixed

BOOSTLEE · 11-21-2012, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedBuggy

Check Page #8 of the attached, IBS Intelligent Battery Sensor.

Both of ours are connected...................

thank you sir,

took a closer look again and that's exactly what it is, wire #3. so there must be a malfunction with my battery but I'm not getting any fault codes though.

jacobsed · 11-21-2012, 07:54 PM

You probably ruined your IBS by installing a new battery ( I assume that is why you removed your battery.) It is super fragile and happened to me. There were no error codes but my car wouldn't start with the IBS hooked up after I put in a new battery. An indy diagnosed my problem as a faulty IBS and had to put a new one in and problem solved. If I remember correctly the IBS also has to be coded to the car. The Bentley manual mentions that the IBS is very fragile.

thecadman99 · 11-21-2012, 09:59 PM

IBS?? At this rate the 2015 cars will have have training wheels. How much hand-holding does BMW think we need?

Lankster · 11-21-2012, 10:20 PM

Mine is unplugged

11-20-2012, 11:34 PM	#1
BOOSTLEE Lieutenant 34 Rep 471 Posts Drives: E92 335i, Ducati 996 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NC iTrader: (13)	What the heck is this wire? Two weeks ago during heavy rain fall my car would not start. I checked the battery and it was good. looking around don't see any thing out of the ordinary, out of curiosity, I unplugged this wire then my car started, plug it back in, car won't start, so I left it unplugged. anyone know where this wire goes to or what it does? it looks like it goes into the inside of the rear bumper, I don't have PDC.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-20-2012, 11:38 PM	#2
mashimarho BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2102 Rep 13,875 Posts Drives: E92 M3 & F80 M3 & G82 M4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lynnwood, WA iTrader: (45) Garage List 2021 BMW G82 M4 [0.00] 2011 BMW E92 M3 [0.00] 2015 BMW F80 M3 [0.00] 2012 BMW 335i xDrive [9.78]	I just want to know what made you unplug that wire in the first place. __________________ Mashimarho.com /// Instagram /// Facebook /// Youtube /// sales@mashimarho.com /// (425) 582-7939
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 01:04 AM	#5
bsamoul Major General 165 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California iTrader: (2)	I believe that wire is supposed to be plugged in during shipping from the factory, and unplugged when the car gets "unpacked" __________________ -Brian 2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] \| ZPP \| V1 \| Rear Fogs \| M3 Lip Spoiler \| EAS RemoteKey \| BMS Powerbox \| Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE \| LED plate lights \| OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 07:17 AM	#7
16M4 Colonel 131 Rep 2,978 Posts Drives: 2016 SO M4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Broomfiled, CO iTrader: (5)	Mine is unplugged...I never unplugged it..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 07:37 AM	#8
upstatedoc I'll get back to you 7556 Rep 2,132 Posts Drives: blue streak Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: not downstate iTrader: (2)	__________________ 2018 Stinger GT 2009 E90 N51 /Active Autowerke Stage 2 tune/BMW Performance Exhaust/ Countermeasure enthusiast.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 08:29 AM	#9
mxchris727 Captain 193 Rep 666 Posts Drives: '03 M5, '06 325i, '12 M3 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Westport, CT iTrader: (0)	It's a shipping wire. The dealer normally plugs their computer into the car and disables "transit" mode; but I guess they can also just unplug that wire. Mine is connected. __________________ BMW GT1 (INPA, DIS, WinKFP, ect..), ISTA/P & /D is up and running! PM me if you want to stop by and code your car.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 09:59 AM	#10
Turb0Surge Lieutenant Colonel 90 Rep 1,555 Posts Drives: BLACK e90 335i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lincoln, CA iTrader: (0)	mine's unplugged... __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 10:05 AM	#11
AndreyT Major 57 Rep 1,038 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Sedan, Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	This has been asked and answered a million times already. Everybody has an unplugged wire in the battery compartment. In some cars it might be "tucked in" into the connector, but it doesn't change much anyway.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 01:47 PM	#13
954Stealth Brigadier General 1546 Rep 4,512 Posts Drives: A Car Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Bacon Raton, FL iTrader: (1)	Did you try plugging it in?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 01:48 PM	#14
iBoost Retired e90post Member 135 Rep 3,038 Posts Drives: real slow Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (13)	Mine has always been unplugged as well
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 05:47 PM	#16
jwzimm Colonel 687 Rep 2,770 Posts Drives: '16 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Renton, WA iTrader: (17)	I wonder if there are any ill effects. This seems like it would be a great hidden kill switch if you are parking for a while or just want the extra security.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 07:54 PM	#20
jacobsed Lieutenant 23 Rep 463 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: United States iTrader: (2)	You probably ruined your IBS by installing a new battery ( I assume that is why you removed your battery.) It is super fragile and happened to me. There were no error codes but my car wouldn't start with the IBS hooked up after I put in a new battery. An indy diagnosed my problem as a faulty IBS and had to put a new one in and problem solved. If I remember correctly the IBS also has to be coded to the car. The Bentley manual mentions that the IBS is very fragile.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 09:59 PM	#21
thecadman99 Lieutenant 52 Rep 450 Posts Drives: e90 330i 6mt spt bk/bk Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	IBS?? At this rate the 2015 cars will have have training wheels. How much hand-holding does BMW think we need? __________________ 06 330i 6mt Spt- Eibach Springs, BMW Perf Susp, Supersprint Exhaust, BSW Audio RIP-94 325i 5mt 4d- M3 springs/susp, Z3 wheels, Chipped, Intake, Exhaust= FUN!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-21-2012, 10:20 PM	#22
Lankster Sigma Alpha Epsilon 38 Rep 425 Posts Drives: 2007 335xi Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Encinitas iTrader: (1)	Mine is unplugged __________________ Forum Bible http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting JB4, BMS DCI, Dimisa 4" tips, VMR 710 Matt Black, Plasti-Dip Mod
	Appreciate 0 Quote

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search