Water in trunk area 4x4 ABS DSC Parking Brake Malfuntion

Rob.K · 08-30-2015, 09:51 AM

Hey guys,

I've recently been getting several codes (main ones are 5F39:transfer case internal error & 5F56:CAS-Error: KL-15 Signal invalid) coming up intermittently. 4x4, ABS, DSC, Parking Brake Malfunction, & the odd electrical system malfunction, do not drive blah blah... At first I thought it was a failing battery but voltage readings are good & alternator works fine. So I decided to take a look at the battery to see if I can find anything else.

This is what I came across... water everywhere in the trunk area of my 08 4.8i X5. Looks like it's coming from a bad seal in the right taillight as there is condensation in the plastic housing of the light.

Are there any drain holes in the trunk compartment? Any idea on how to get rid of the water? I've tried soaking it up with towels but can't seem to get all of it. I can hear it sloshing around while driving

Any idea if the Parking Brake Malfunction, ABS, DCS, 4x4 are separate from the Electrical system malfunction codes? Parking Brake seems to engage and disengage normally. Only odd thing is when maneuvering at slow speed sometimes it seems like one wheel isn't turning and skids. (Brake being applied due to confused ABS system?)

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Soaked trunk area

Water on Battery terminals

Water under battery

Right side compartment

Left side compartment

heatmizr · 09-02-2015, 09:27 AM

I have heard of this in 5-series sedans, a known problem, but not in X5's... I would def want to dry that water up ASAP, thoroughly dry all the components, and seal the area it is entering, as this could fry any components in your trunk bay. Not sure how to make sure you get it all though, just keep at it.
Sounds like you have been driving it anyway, I am not sure if that was a good idea or not but its too late now I guess. Sounds like you are going to need some new modules if they don't resume normal operation once all dried out.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

Rob.K · 10-01-2015, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heatmizr

I have heard of this in 5-series sedans, a known problem, but not in X5's... I would def want to dry that water up ASAP, thoroughly dry all the components, and seal the area it is entering, as this could fry any components in your trunk bay. Not sure how to make sure you get it all though, just keep at it.
Sounds like you have been driving it anyway, I am not sure if that was a good idea or not but its too late now I guess. Sounds like you are going to need some new modules if they don't resume normal operation once all dried out.
Sorry I can't be of more help.

I ended up replacing the ATC700 Transfer Case Control Module which made the codes go away

Dried everything up as best as I could as soon as I found the water but just cannot find where it comes into the vehicle. I'm leaning towards the tailights during car washes as there's no real seal around them.

jiggz · 10-01-2015, 09:38 AM

I can't tell you where the water is coming from, but when we were looking at X5's last year I had a PPI done on one - there were several issues found and one of them was water in the battery/rear cargo area. Passed on that X5…

Hopefully you find the source - don't want water inside the X especially back there. Nothing else came up in searches? Surprised nobody else has experienced this.

sergeny1 · 10-01-2015, 11:18 AM

Check tail lights seals.

Rob.K · 10-02-2015, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sergeny1

Check tail lights seals.

Do you happen to have a picture of your tailight seals? On mine it doesn't even look like it's made to seal anything, it just lightly sits against the body?

Da M3nace · 10-18-2015, 02:00 AM

Check out this thread
Water leak in cargo area http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1045838

Norton412 · 11-07-2015, 06:42 PM

Have 2010 X5, water appeared in left side plastic "bucket" located behind left rear quarter panel. About 4" water. Occurred after rubber boot that contained wires at top of hatchback was disturbed when after market rear video cam was installed. Solution was to put electrical putty was around the boot base where it entered the body near top of hatch door. This electrical conduit/rubber boot covering happens to be located in the drainage channel that is made to drain water from the roof slot. No problems for 1 year. [B]Got all error warnings that you got. Water in right wheel well now-need to seal right rubber electrical boot probably because I left rear hatch unlatched during heavy rainstorm.

08-30-2015, 09:51 AM	#1
Rob.K Private First Class 92 Rep 181 Posts Drives: 08 135i, 08 4.8i X5 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Edmonton, AB iTrader: (3)	Water in trunk area 4x4 ABS DSC Parking Brake Malfuntion Hey guys, I've recently been getting several codes (main ones are 5F39:transfer case internal error & 5F56:CAS-Error: KL-15 Signal invalid) coming up intermittently. 4x4, ABS, DSC, Parking Brake Malfunction, & the odd electrical system malfunction, do not drive blah blah... At first I thought it was a failing battery but voltage readings are good & alternator works fine. So I decided to take a look at the battery to see if I can find anything else. This is what I came across... water everywhere in the trunk area of my 08 4.8i X5. Looks like it's coming from a bad seal in the right taillight as there is condensation in the plastic housing of the light. Are there any drain holes in the trunk compartment? Any idea on how to get rid of the water? I've tried soaking it up with towels but can't seem to get all of it. I can hear it sloshing around while driving Any idea if the Parking Brake Malfunction, ABS, DCS, 4x4 are separate from the Electrical system malfunction codes? Parking Brake seems to engage and disengage normally. Only odd thing is when maneuvering at slow speed sometimes it seems like one wheel isn't turning and skids. (Brake being applied due to confused ABS system?) Any help is greatly appreciated! Soaked trunk area Water on Battery terminals Water under battery Right side compartment Left side compartment __________________ 2008 135i 6MT \| - Current 2007 335xi AT \| 12.1@117 - Sold
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09-02-2015, 09:27 AM	#2
heatmizr Captain 153 Rep 709 Posts Drives: E70 X5 50i M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	I have heard of this in 5-series sedans, a known problem, but not in X5's... I would def want to dry that water up ASAP, thoroughly dry all the components, and seal the area it is entering, as this could fry any components in your trunk bay. Not sure how to make sure you get it all though, just keep at it. Sounds like you have been driving it anyway, I am not sure if that was a good idea or not but its too late now I guess. Sounds like you are going to need some new modules if they don't resume normal operation once all dried out. Sorry I can't be of more help. __________________ heatmizr [Todd] g26 i4 e40 - Clean Machine e70 X5 50i M-Sport "The Boss" Loaded e90 328i - sold e36 M3 - Gone to become a track star
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10-01-2015, 09:38 AM	#4
jiggz Brigadier General 2140 Rep 3,647 Posts Drives: E90 M3\|F15 X5 50i Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	I can't tell you where the water is coming from, but when we were looking at X5's last year I had a PPI done on one - there were several issues found and one of them was water in the battery/rear cargo area. Passed on that X5… Hopefully you find the source - don't want water inside the X especially back there. Nothing else came up in searches? Surprised nobody else has experienced this.
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10-01-2015, 11:18 AM	#5
sergeny1 Private First Class 14 Rep 101 Posts Drives: 2021 X4C Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Check tail lights seals.
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10-18-2015, 02:00 AM	#7
Da M3nace Second Lieutenant 25 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 04 M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Check out this thread Water leak in cargo area http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1045838
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11-07-2015, 06:42 PM	#8
Norton412 Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2010 X5 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Norton412 Have 2010 X5, water appeared in left side plastic "bucket" located behind left rear quarter panel. About 4" water. Occurred after rubber boot that contained wires at top of hatchback was disturbed when after market rear video cam was installed. Solution was to put electrical putty was around the boot base where it entered the body near top of hatch door. This electrical conduit/rubber boot covering happens to be located in the drainage channel that is made to drain water from the roof slot. No problems for 1 year. [B]Got all error warnings that you got. Water in right wheel well now-need to seal right rubber electrical boot probably because I left rear hatch unlatched during heavy rainstorm.
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