Battery Load Test Using Remote Terminals?

[Poppyboy]

As the title states, can I accurately load test my battery using the remote terminals under the hood instead of directly connecting to the battery?

[9vapors]

Originally Posted by Poppyboy

As the title states, can I accurately load test my battery using the remote terminals under the hood instead of directly connecting to the battery?

My mechanic at the dealership said no... he said to get a proper reading or to charge, do it from the trunk.

[Poppyboy]

Thank you, sir. It’s been a while since I’ve looked at the battery anyway, so I guess that’s that.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by 9vapors

My mechanic at the dealership said no... he said to get a proper reading or to charge, do it from the trunk.

I wouldn't follow those instruction (from your mechanic) to charge the AGM battery in an e70 that's got an IBS (intelligent battery sensor) from the trunk or directly to the battery. If you have any idea/understanding how the IBS works and the communication that goes on between the battery, alternator, and DME...you wouldn't "charge" directly to the battery (if it is hooked up) because it can create issues...which could cause check control warnings.

The IBS is constantly checking the battery. If it is low, and then all of a sudden there's a change in its specs (due to direct charging that bypasses the IBS)...then it will detect this as an error and can cause the charging of the battery to be incorrect.

The TIS gives more specifics as to why you should charge from the remote terminals in the engine bay vs charging directly to the battery. For instance, if you click this following link about the IBS...scroll down to the paragraph that says "NOTICE! CHARGING AND TRICKLE CHARGING OF THE BATTERY and you'll see it clearly states to charge from the remote engine bay location if the battery is hooked up to the vehicle: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...supply/XlIbeSm

And here's another link to the TIS that explains how to charge the battery when it's still connected: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...der/1VnYofmbZo

See the LAST sentence in the FIRST paragraph at this link in regards to charging the battery when you have an IBS: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...older/1LyvW9MF

[Poppyboy]

It doesn’t appear to specify which location to use for load testing.

[9vapors]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

I wouldn't follow those instruction (from your mechanic) to charge the AGM battery in an e70 that's got an IBS (intelligent battery sensor) from the trunk or directly to the battery. If you have any idea/understanding how the IBS works and the communication that goes on between the battery, alternator, and DME...you wouldn't "charge" directly to the battery (if it is hooked up) because it can create issues...which could cause check control warnings.

The IBS is constantly checking the battery. If it is low, and then all of a sudden there's a change in its specs (due to direct charging that bypasses the IBS)...then it will detect this as an error and can cause the charging of the battery to be incorrect.

The TIS gives more specifics as to why you should charge from the remote terminals in the engine bay vs charging directly to the battery. For instance, if you click this following link about the IBS...scroll down to the paragraph that says "NOTICE! CHARGING AND TRICKLE CHARGING OF THE BATTERY and you'll see it clearly states to charge from the remote engine bay location if the battery is hooked up to the vehicle: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...supply/XlIbeSm

And here's another link to the TIS that explains how to charge the battery when it's still connected: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...der/1VnYofmbZo

See the LAST sentence in the FIRST paragraph at this link in regards to charging the battery when you have an IBS: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...older/1LyvW9MF

Guess the mechanic at the BMW dealership is wrong, scary! I've learned that I can't trust what they say at the dealerships, but believed this one as it was such a simple thing that they should know. He once told me my MAF sensors may need to be cleaned, so I should have known better to do some research on my own, thanks for the links and info!