no interior lights

Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:29 pm

hi guys,

well today iv been trying to find out why my rpm and mpg isnt working and i just took the car out and all the interior lights have gone out inlcuding the dash and cluster. the one in the glove box still works. i noticed that as soon as these lights went out the rear brake light also went out along with one of the side lights.

is this just a case of new bulbs or a blown fuse? i will poke my nose round the car tomorrow when there is light but would like a heads up.

thanks

Fri Jan 02, 2009 3:11 am

Its hard to say but its best not to conclude these problems are related, its easy for me to say you have a "bad earth" and it get thrown around a lot in a vague manor. Do you have a Electrical tester or car you borrow one from a friend?

Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:01 pm

just had a look round the car checked the fuses and noticed my rear lights are playing up meaning that some are not working and some are. i checked all the bulbs and there ok so im thinking it could be a grounding/earthing problem. could someone give me a heads up on where to look

thanks

Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:47 am

can someone tell me where the main grounding points are please

Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:58 am

get a haynes manual it will be easyer with the electrical diagrams in the back they are around £18 from wilco/halfords ect ect regard scott

Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:39 am

turbo87 wrote:can someone tell me where the main grounding points are please

Earthing point for everything at the back of the car is towards the LH side of the rear seat pan.
For everything, not engine related, at the front of the car, it's on the inner wing behind the LH headlamp.
For everything engine related, it's on the top of the RH front suspension strut, and for everything inside the cabin, it's behind the middle of the glovebox.
There's also the main engine to body earth strap (position varies), and a minor earth point on the steering column switches.

For wiring diagrams: http://www.autolib.diakom.ru/CAR/BMW/

Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:20 pm

got all my lights working again the wires from the headunit must have shorted so i changed the fuses and sorted out the wiring.

the only problem im having is i think my battery is dead or my clifford alarm wont let me start the car hmm... im going to jump start the car in a bit hope its just the battery

Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:55 pm

just started the car the battery was flat all the lights are working like they should the fuse that kept blowing was number 23 which is the interior fuse.

thanks alot for all the help