C5 X7 Tourer - putting it ‘to sleep’ for parasitic drain testing

[wurlycorner]

Morning all

Manifesting that the alternator change on my X7 today will go fine and thinking head to a parasitic drain test I want to do after... (This will be done via a current clamp on the positive lead off the battery in the boot and then voltage drop testing across each individual fuse in each of the fuse boxes.)

Does anyone know how to ensure an x7 tourer does go ‘to sleep’ properly, with the doors, boot and bonnet open?

I’m thinking:
- Tape down the bonnet open switch on the drivers side inner wing
- Latch the bonnet latch closed (not sure if needed, because I think on the x7 it using the above instead of a switch incorporated in the latch - but will do anyway)
- Latch all door locks closed
- Lock car using key in drivers door only (not fob)

What I don’t know is about the tailgate (because powered electric). Can I just manually latch the lock closed while the tailgate is open? Will that work, or does the car ‘know’ where the tailgate is through eg the powered mechanism?
Are there switches in both the catch and the lock part, or just in one?

And do I need to switch off the alarm interior motion sensor before locking the car - or is that not necessary, because I am locking it via key not fob?

Anything else I’ve missed?

Thanks!

[wheeler]

Bonnet switch can just be unplugged if its easier, should be no need to latch it.
You can put tape over the interior sensors for alarm.
You could just close the bootlid & fold the rear seats down.
If you dont arm the alarm then you wont get a true reading, it will draw slightly more current with alarm armed, you should have it the way it would be normally parked with alarm armed,

[wurlycorner]

Fair point on the tailgate/seats down - but if it was the case that something in the tailgate was the cause of a parasitic drain (eg wiper motors not properly parking/being sensed as parked etc. can cause such a thing) I’m thinking I’d want to head straight into fault finding it, there and then, so I want full access.

Also fair point on arming the alarm - I guess without arming them I don’t test that either. I hadn’t thought of covering the sensors, does that really work? Interesting if it’s that simple!
Now trying to picture where those are on the x7…