Comfort Access Door Handles Leading to Battery Drain/Car Staying Awake - Need Help

[Space Fox]

Long story short I've had an ongoing electrical gremlin/parasitic drain I've been trying to track down for the last year+. I've replaced batteries twice, replaced the alternator, EDC control module, and repaired my faulty footwell module to no avail. I discussed with a dealer friend who suggested the comfort access door handles are a common fault that leads to battery drain and the car staying 'awake'. The staying awake issue is a clear one as my gear indicator, start/stop button, and iDrive controls sporadically illuminate well after the car has been locked. I decided to start pulling fuses related to the doors and see if this solved the sleep problem. Luckily it seems to have done just that. Now the car will go asleep and stay asleep within around 30 minutes. A huge relief as I'm at least on the trail. I've narrowed it down to fuses 79 and 61 on the diagram. Both of which are related to the door locks.

My question pertains to the next steps here. It seems there is an actuator in the door related to the locks that typically fails and can be replaced. Is that what I should be targeting? I should mention that comfort access is working fine on both doors as far as physical functionality is concerned (locking and unlocking). Should I open up the door and see if there is a crimped wire first or something of the like? Is there a way for me to determine which door to start with rather than wasting time taking apart and troubleshooting a door that may be fully functional? (50/50 shot)
I'm in attack mode and just need to know where to aim so any help would be appreciated.

[Space Fox]

Edit: This didn't work. Still hunting..

Old post: Scratch that. I don't know how to delete a thread but it seems like you can remove the door handles from the exterior rather easily. I'm going to do that and unplug the comfort access and see if that solves the problem then I can decide if I want to replace the handle(s) or just live without comfort access.

[Adam M]

I can’t remember but is it possible the trunk comfort access is on the same circuit?

I’ve just replaced two CA door handles because mine had failed.

Easy to take out the handles, but the YouTube videos on how to put them back in are actually wrong, they often mention using a pick tool to make sure you are engaged with the spring by pulling it forwards.

Actually all you need to do is reinsert the handle so that the lock mechanism is engaged - you will feel it by test opening - but the handle doesn’t sit back all the way into the door. At this point, all you need to do is insert the lock barrel or the corresponding blanking piece if it’s the passenger door, and the handle will click into the correct place when you do, then just tighten the Torx bolt back up.

[drwankel]

I remember reading a while back- that the comfort access door handles can fail and prevent the car from going to sleep.

Supposedly when this happens, the handle will remain warm when the car is off. You can verify this with an IR temp gun. Compare the temperature of the handles from the rest of the car, and to the other handles in the car. If one of them is bad- you just need to replace the handle.

[Space Fox]

Sad news, it was not the door handles.. I disconnected both and it still refused to go to sleep. Was really hoping it was something that simple.

I will say that there is a solenoid click that comes from the rear view mirrors that seems to start the 'awake' cycle followed by the Start/Stop ignition button illumination, the 'P' indicator on the dash, and finally the DCT knob lights all illuminating. About 30 seconds later they all turn off one by one, the mirrors click, and it all starts again.

[Adam M]

Have you tried disconnecting the trunk antenna?

[Space Fox]

Originally Posted by Adam M

Have you tried disconnecting the trunk antenna?

I have not. Willing to try anything at this point, I'll look into it. Any pointers?

[DrFerry]

I seem to recall (though I'm getting old now) the IBS can cause a parasitic drain, as well as cause the battery not to charge properly, if it goes bad, or isn't securely connected. I made a post about the IBS in this thread:
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https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...64&postcount=6
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https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1852097

[Space Fox]

I appreciate you sharing this. Will look in to IBS I recall reading about this in my past diagnoses but left it unchecked for whatever reason.