Shifter park light and vent fan stay on after car is off

[John Galt]

I think I am having a problem with my 2001 3.0 X5. The car has been sitting in my garage now for many hours and it is not hot outside. The vent fan is still running and the park light (park gear selection) is still on. I don't think this is normal. I had to jump start this morning and I suspect that these problems are causing battery drain.

I can tell it is the vent fan and not the cooling fan running, because I can put my hand down in the wheel well and feel the air coming out of the foot well vent (it is not coming out of the dash or upper vents).

I am also having the problem where the vent fan randomly fluxuates in speed while I am driving, so I think I need to replace my final stage resistor, but I am not sure if this is related to my other problems.

Any ideas on my problem? I dont' want to have to jump start again.

[JCL]

Sounds like the final stage resistor. See the X5world home page for instructions on changing it.

The shift light always stays on, and isn't related to battery drain.

[John Galt]

Can I run the car without the final stage resistor until I get a new one just to keep the battery from going dead?

[JCL]

Not sure, but seems to me it might be easier to pull a fuse. There are two fuse blocks; one in the glove box, and another in the right rear of the luggage compartment.

[John Galt]

All of the posts I had read on the final stage resistor just mentioned problems when the car was running, so I did not suspect it was the cause of my fan running when the car was off/battery drain issue. After reading the following post and JCL's post in this thread, I went after the final stage resistor.

http://www.xoutpost.com/285983-post3.html

I noticed that as soon as I had removed the first carpeted panel, the fan stopped right away...the resistor must have known I was coming for it.

As soon as I could see the resistor, I noticed a half inch long burn mark on the back. I've now pulled it out and will go get a new one in the morning.

Which Orange County, CA BMW parts department opens the earliest tomorrow?

Thanks all!

[X5Dawg]

Originally Posted by John Galt

I noticed that as soon as I had removed the first carpeted panel, the fan stopped right away...the resistor must have known I was coming for it.

Now that is funny!!!

And just to confirm, the shifter light is on all of the time.

[rastaFarai]

this isnt the same as the blower motor is it? battery drains suck!

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by rastaFarai

this isnt the same as the blower motor is it? battery drains suck!

Yes, the HVAC blower motor was running all the time, even with the car off. I replaced the final stage resistor and everything is fine now.