No power?

Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2015 BMW 320
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 93,000 MILES
Bought it as a repo car. Since I have no way of getting into the trunk I only used the jump box under the hood, when I connect I am only able to press the button on the cluster to see the miles, placing fob by steering does nothing but I see the stop/start button let, the gear shifter flashes on N, since it was towed and was out in neutral. I am not sure how to get it off of neutral and into park as pressing the p button does nothing. And trying to get into the trunk but there was no key hole for it and the fob does nothing. Can you find out if there is a way to get into the trunk?
Wednesday, January 25th, 2023 AT 9:45 AM

14 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,237 POSTS
Connect the jump box and push the trunk button in the driver's side footwell. If the lock has power, it should open. I would also try connecting a charger to the jump point and see if you can get the battery to charge at all. Being a repo it's going to be difficult as you don't know what the previous owner may have done to it. Then you will likely need a locksmith or dealer to program the fob back into the system, if you have the correct one. BMWs do some odd things when they lose power.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, January 25th, 2023 AT 12:33 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2,010 POSTS
I connected an ohm meter to the front positive location and to ground and its 12v. So, it's not the battery, no matter what I do there is nothing. Ordered another fob programmed from BMW same results. The only thing that works is the glove box light, flasher, miles show when I press the button on the cluster, also when I press the on/off start button to start car the back light for the button lights up. Window master switch light for locking windows also on, looked on OBD to see if any wires were connected as a tracker but everything is original. Hit the trunk button nothing, checked glove box for the valet button but its unlocked. So strange. Gear shifter still flashing neutral, cannot find a way to put it in park.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 3rd, 2023 AT 2:33 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2,010 POSTS
I found the area around the FEM module; the carpet is kind of damp. Is that a possibility that the FEM has got issues?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 3rd, 2023 AT 3:00 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,237 POSTS
That is not a good sign water in any of the modules that are network connected can cause a lot of unexpected things to happen. In this case the FEM also controls the rear power module in terms of it powering on properly. Take a test light and see if you are showing power on fuse 11 in the FEM. If not, you might try using the jump box and applying power to the circuit with the fuse out and see if it powers the rear module on enough that you can at least get the trunk to open and maybe if it powers up it will let you shift into park.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 3rd, 2023 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2,010 POSTS
But if the fuse is good?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 3rd, 2023 AT 4:03 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,237 POSTS
If the fuse is good, does it have power? That one should power on with the push to start. The problem is that most of the power circuits for the system are in the rear.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 3rd, 2023 AT 5:14 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2,010 POSTS
Yes it has power on both sides.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, February 4th, 2023 AT 6:32 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,237 POSTS
Okay, then the rear box should be waking up. The rear trunk release under the trim does nothing either. The interior and exterior use slightly different paths to release the latch but then you still have the lift motors to deal with. I don't see any good way to get the trunk released without having full power to the vehicle. I sort of wonder if someone didn't pull a couple fuses in the rear box and then slam the trunk. The neutral lockout it's in should have automatically released as soon as the start button was touched to turn things off. It also should have returned to park as soon as you touched the button when you applied power, but if a fuse was missing so the power to that system was out nothing would respond.
I know on some of the earlier ones you could remove the plate lights and go in though there and release the trunk latch and on some you can drop the center section of the rear seat and crawl in that way to access the emergency release, or use a hook to pull it so you don't need to crawl in. Then you could check the electrical system fully.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, February 4th, 2023 AT 8:46 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2,010 POSTS
None of these apply unfortunately you can't get in trunk. I'll remove FEM and send it for repair. I doubt a fuse or two are going to stop the car from having power or stop everything from working like that.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, February 4th, 2023 AT 9:13 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,237 POSTS
Depends on the fuse, wouldn't take much to lock you out of the trunk and shut down the starting system.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, February 4th, 2023 AT 9:46 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2,010 POSTS
All good finally, had the fem replaced and programmed with the fob, installed it and boom she started. The only thing now is the gear shifter still flashing in neutral, popped trunk and disconnected battery and connected same thing. I am thinking the tow truck must have got it in neutral from underneath. I just don't know what I should be looking for.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 17th, 2023 AT 6:34 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,237 POSTS
Okay, go under it, look on the side of the transmission for a hex bolt in the flange of the case at the pan. That bolt pushes the release and locks out park. Remove the bolt and you should get control back.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 17th, 2023 AT 11:04 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2,010 POSTS
I did, it worked. Thanks a bunch.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 17th, 2023 AT 11:12 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,237 POSTS
You are welcome.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 17th, 2023 AT 3:49 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Low Power Content

Fix an Engine with Low Power!
VIDEO
Fix an Engine with Low Power!
Instructional repair video
Symptoms of Low Engine Power
GUIDE
Symptoms of Low Engine Power
The power your car's engine is producing is important. When you step on the gas you need your car to accelerate, mainly to keep you out of trouble when getting onto the...
VIEW MORE