so if the 'drivetrain' doesn't turn the generator then there's no charge to the high voltage battery which could lead to a dead car? damm. so I gotta get it fixed. I was hoping that I could bypass the REx and just live off the electric battery.
No. There is no drive train on the REx, all the REx does is run a little generator that pumps extra electricity into the HV battery as a back-up when your HV battery charge is low. You can still charge up the car normally. The REx is just back-up. I have heard of several i3's on the road with 'dead' REx motors. They just run as BEVs - may throw error codes because the REx doesn't run, but the car still works fine.
Awesome! thanks for the clarification. I just gotta adjust my range anxiety. Appreciate it.
gqpixel wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 8:48 am
Also the more I'm researching ... it seems like I can still drive the car just not when the Extender kicks in... if the drivetrain fails because that is failing on the engine part not the electric battery.. or am I mistaken?
I'm a bit confused. Are you saying that the REX doesn't run at all? Or runs but you have the error codes? If the latter, I would try clearing the codes, running the REX, and see if the codes come back.
2014 BMW i3 with Range Extender Engine, Capparis White/Frozen Black, 20" wheels,, Giga World, Tech + Driving Assist, Parking Assist, DC Fast Charging, TurboCord EVSE
I, too, am having peculiar messages and warnings. This morning my car was as dead as a doornail, but did manage to blow its alarm about 10 times. It was definitely trying to tell me something. (2014 REX with 68K miles). I removed the 12V battery, which was very low (9.0V) and charged it to about 80% SOC. After replacing it, all hell broke loose on the instrument panel. Message after message about failures. Hybrid system failure, dangerous to drive, can't be driven at all, etc.
1. I don't know what caused this morning's theatrics, but it seems like something discharged the battery. It had been disconnected from the 110V charger for a couple of days.
2. The 12V battery is suspect, but I can't figure out why it would not allow the car to start after charging. With the battery charger off, it reads about 12.7V which is not far off fully charged.
3. I don't mind replacing the battery but I want to have some confidence that it will solve the problems. I think it's the original battery, so 8 years old. Probably time...
chuckhawley wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 2:28 pm1. I don't know what caused this morning's theatrics, but it seems like something discharged the battery. It had been disconnected from the 110V charger for a couple of days.
An EVSE charges the 12 V battery only when it's actively charging the high-voltage battery pack. On the first day, your high-voltage battery pack became fully-charged. After that, your defective 12 V battery discharged rapidly, probably because its capacity was very low due to its age, usage, etc., or maybe due to an internal partial short-circuit.
chuckhawley wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 2:28 pm2. The 12V battery is suspect, but I can't figure out why it would not allow the car to start after charging. With the battery charger off, it reads about 12.7V which is not far off fully charged.
Maybe the voltage of your 12 V battery sagged too low for your i3 to enter drive readiness state due to the load of booting several electronic modules. I've noticed the voltage of even my new 12 V battery sag considerably when entering drive readiness state, so a weak battery might not be able to maintain a high enough voltage. Or, the low 12 V battery voltage sets many DTC's (diagnostic trouble codes), some of which prevent an i3 from entering drive readiness state until they're cleared.
chuckhawley wrote: ↑Mon Apr 25, 2022 2:28 pm3. I don't mind replacing the battery but I want to have some confidence that it will solve the problems. I think it's the original battery, so 8 years old. Probably time...
The problem is almost certainly your 12 V battery due to its age.
Aloha,
Art
[22-04-25 to now] 2019 BMW i3 Imperial Blue Metallic, Giga World, Tech + Driving Assist, Heat Pump, 428 Wheels
[14-11-05 to 22-06-15] 2014 BMW i3 Arravani Grey, Giga World, Tech + Driving Assist, Parking Assist, DC Fast Charging
JuiceBox EVSE
Charged battery for about three hours on a 6A smart charger. Reinstalled, and the car came back to life as if NOTHING had ever happened. I did have to set the time, but not the date.
However, I am pretty knowledgeable about 12V electrical systems and batteries, having worked at worked at West Marine for 30 years, been a member of marine tech boards, etc. Before I reinstalled the battery, I did a minor "load test" on it to determine if the battery was truly charged or whether it had a bad cell or overall deterioration. I connected a large bilge pump to the off-charge battery for about 30s and monitored the voltage. It dropped quickly to about 12.5V, but stayed there as the bilge pump continued to run, drawing about 7A. I know this isn't a complete capacity test, but a battery with a bad cell would show a pretty decided decline in my opinion. Ideally, I'd put a larger load on it, but it's only a 20Ah battery. I used to have a Reserve Minute test device which was totally cool where you could adjust the load on the battery and the device would turn off automatically at 1.75V per cell.
Bottom line: I think the battery HAS deteriorated enough to cause the car to go whacky when it's not left on the 110V charger, and that a new battery is the correct solution. The only question I have is whether I should also take it to the dealer to have them see if anything else is wrong.
I have a 2015 i3 with Range Extender. I had the same issue with the drivetrain malfunction. I took it to the dealer and it ended up being the condenser. I guess I hit a rock and the fluid was leaking out. Fixed the condenser and it cleared the drivetrain malfunction code.
Hi, my i3 has this issue - drove on Rex fo a few minues then switeched back to electric. Drivetrain error with orange engine light. Has anyone had this fixed, if so what was the issue? My garage can't see me for another week.