Can a low battery throw DSC error codes?

SuitedPair · 02-19-2016, 09:13 AM

Battery is 5 1/2 years old with mostly short trips throughout its life. Recently the "check engine soon" light came on and "increased emissions" and also the low voltage indicator.
Can a low battery also trigger DSC fault codes in the computer?

I went to the dealership to get everything checked out and they said the only fault codes were DSC ones so they replaced the DSC computer to the tune of $3,200. Then they said the battery was low and replaced that too ($500).
No more "check engine soon" or "increased emissions"..... anyone have experience with how these are all related? Everything left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

warp10 · 02-19-2016, 10:03 AM

sounds suspicious to me. I would not think a low battery would cause the DSC computer to go bad.

elinstylez · 02-19-2016, 10:18 AM

Not sure about DSC but before I purchased my car I did a PPI which revealed several fault codes. After the shop replaced the battery all of the fault codes went away.

Helmsman · 02-19-2016, 11:06 AM

DSC computer, never realized there is a separate for computer for this function. Hmm...hopefully Mike B or some of the experts will chime in here mate.

spiderspider · 02-19-2016, 11:41 AM

went to the dealer and left with a bad taste in your mouth...ya don't say. I wouldn't own a BMW if I didn't have an indie that I could trust.

tony093 · 02-19-2016, 08:25 PM

u should have replaced the battery first before doing anything else

E92Brembo · 02-19-2016, 08:28 PM

Yes...bad battery can throw all sorts of weird codes.

aris21 · 02-19-2016, 10:11 PM

Yes low battery voltage will/can throw a DSC code... not sure to the extent that you're experiencing having to replace stuff but when the battery cable on my car was lose (coming off) it was throwing the DSC error... Just tightened it and never saw the error again.

sirploppy · 02-21-2016, 01:30 AM

This.

My almost dead battery was throwing speed sensor codes. Sensor tested fine. Battery replaced, no codes since.

One thing that tipped them off was the codes were thrown during start up/cranking, when the batt is under most load.

Quote:

Originally Posted by E92Brembo

Yes...bad battery can throw all sorts of weird codes.

02-19-2016, 09:13 AM	#1
SuitedPair Private First Class 20 Rep 157 Posts Drives: GMC 2500hd Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (1)	Can a low battery throw DSC error codes? Battery is 5 1/2 years old with mostly short trips throughout its life. Recently the "check engine soon" light came on and "increased emissions" and also the low voltage indicator. Can a low battery also trigger DSC fault codes in the computer? I went to the dealership to get everything checked out and they said the only fault codes were DSC ones so they replaced the DSC computer to the tune of $3,200. Then they said the battery was low and replaced that too ($500). No more "check engine soon" or "increased emissions"..... anyone have experience with how these are all related? Everything left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
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02-19-2016, 10:03 AM	#2
warp10 Lieutenant Colonel 776 Rep 1,718 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Jet Black:ZCP, ZCV, ZP Join Date: May 2011 Location: Atlanta, Ga iTrader: (7) Garage List 2011 M3 [10.00] 2011 28i X3 [0.00]	sounds suspicious to me. I would not think a low battery would cause the DSC computer to go bad. __________________
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02-19-2016, 10:18 AM	#3
elinstylez Captain 269 Rep 607 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2)	Not sure about DSC but before I purchased my car I did a PPI which revealed several fault codes. After the shop replaced the battery all of the fault codes went away.
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02-19-2016, 11:06 AM	#4
Helmsman Major General 4485 Rep 7,129 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Stockholm, Sweden iTrader: (0)	DSC computer, never realized there is a separate for computer for this function. Hmm...hopefully Mike B or some of the experts will chime in here mate.
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02-19-2016, 11:41 AM	#5
spiderspider Captain 312 Rep 657 Posts Drives: E90 M3 DCT, 991 C4S, E46 330i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Danville, CA iTrader: (0)	went to the dealer and left with a bad taste in your mouth...ya don't say. I wouldn't own a BMW if I didn't have an indie that I could trust.
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02-19-2016, 08:25 PM	#6
tony093 Captain 111 Rep 746 Posts Drives: E92 AW M3 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodbridge, NJ iTrader: (2)	u should have replaced the battery first before doing anything else
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02-19-2016, 08:28 PM	#7
E92Brembo First Lieutenant 55 Rep 380 Posts Drives: '11.5 E92 ZCP DCT Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 ZCP [0.00] 2010 BMW 335i Coupe [0.00]	Yes...bad battery can throw all sorts of weird codes. __________________ 11.5' E92 ZCP DCT 10' E92 335i M-Sport 6MT 03' E46 Dinan S2 SMG
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02-19-2016, 10:11 PM	#8
aris21 Private First Class 36 Rep 176 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 E92 Join Date: May 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (1)	Yes low battery voltage will/can throw a DSC code... not sure to the extent that you're experiencing having to replace stuff but when the battery cable on my car was lose (coming off) it was throwing the DSC error... Just tightened it and never saw the error again.
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