88 535is- Battery drains unless steering column is locked.

[booth99]

The battery drains after I shut off the ignition. I can stop it from draining if I make sure the steering column is locked after the key is removed from the ignition. Any ideas? Thanks.

[thejlevie]

That sounds like it might be the ignition switch not fully reaching position 0, which is the off and steering wheel lock position.

[booth99]

I am in Greece, the car is in Virginia. Makes working on it kind of hard. My father is taking care of the car for me. I think he his going to try some contact cleaner and see what happens. I don't want to tear into the steering column if I don't have to.

[thejlevie]

Don't spray contact cleaner or any other sort of lubricant into a lock. It may provide a brief improvment but it will collect dust and dirt and any oils will turn gummy. At some point the pins in the lock will start sticking and the lock will cease to function. The only sort of lubricate that one ever should use in a lock is graphite powder. Any good locksmith will verify that.

[booth99]

Don't spray contact cleaner or any other sort of lubricant into a lock. It may provide a brief improvment but it will collect dust and dirt and any oils will turn gummy. At some point the pins in the lock will start sticking and the lock will cease to function. The only sort of lubricate that one ever should use in a lock is graphite powder. Any good locksmith will verify that.
Thanks for the info.

[tjn182]

It might also be something in there grounding. You might want to go in there and see if something is extra hot. I know I just found a leak in my other 535i -- the power attenna motor grounded out and drained the battery overnight over and over. When you touched that thing it was HOT! If its a bad switch -- like turn signal switch/lever -- try turning the car off with the switches in one position, see if that ungrounds it. Otherwise I suggest you tear open that steering column and find out whats leaking.