Control panel misbehaving

Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:54 pm

For ages now, my control panel has always had the "Washer Fluid" light on, even though the tank is full. However, this doesn't flash up "Check" on the dash. Then, after about 10-15 minutes driving, the "Check" light comes on on the dash, but no new warnings on the control panel - just the washer fluid one that's been there from the time I switched the ignition on.

It's only a minor issue, I agree, but annoying none the less.

Any ideas?

Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:00 pm

new sensor by the sound of it, had the same trouble with my coolant light, a new sensor later and all sorted.

Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:24 pm

I had the same problem, changed the sensor and it still plays up. I gave up.

Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:43 pm

Try turning the washer fluid sensor the other way up! It does seem to like to rotate until it is upside down and then read backwards.

Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 1:59 pm

As Morat says, it's very likely that just turning the sensor the correct way up will cure that part of your problems.
Second part of your problem is a bit more strange. Do all the LEDs light when you push the button on the panel?

Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:31 pm

I've got a spare one you can try for the price of a pint if turning yours round doesnt work

Post Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:51 pm

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll try rotating the sensor to see if that works.

Brian - all the lights come on when I press the check button and it clears the flashing "Check" light on the dash, which doesn't come on again during that journey. Doesn't happen every single time, but most drives it does.

Rob - thanks for the offer - I'll try a few things first then come your way if I decide on a replacement.

Post Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:04 pm

'Check' light should only flash when one or more of the LEDs in the panel lights, the LED should stay on until the ignition is switched off, and the light should remain flashing until either the button is pushed or the ignition switched off.
The usual reason for the 'check' light to flash when no LED is lit is that someone has 'dealt with' the offending LED, rather than repair the fault to which it refers, but, if as you say, all your LEDs light when the button is pushed, this can't be the case. It seems you have a 'one off' slightly faulty panel.

Post Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:34 am

Thanks Brian. The Washer Fluid light is constantly on from the moment I switch on the ignition (haven't tried rotating it yet). The "Check" light flashing after a short distance has started since I've had the car, so it hasn't been tampered with. I can live with it - just a bit annoying and slightly worrying.

Post Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:38 pm

Quick update - turned the washer fluid sensor upside down (to what it was anyway) and the red light on the check panel no longer lights and after one journey, the amber "Check" light on the dash didn't come one. Problem sorted?? Let's hope so!!

Thanks again for your help.

Post Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:34 am

I found this thread in the hope of a cure... unfortunately i'm past this stage with mine!
The check control light for the washer fluid is reporting a low level as it should, however the level sender is working correctly.

Continuity checks show it's switching correctly. It has a 12V feed on one blue/violet wire and when flapped up and down will switch this 12V in the blue/violet wire back into the loom. So somewhere between the engine bay loom and the check control i have a fault... I don't have a spare check control panel here to try. Any ideas?

And does anyone know where i can find a wiring diagram of this circuit?

Post Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:21 am

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... g_Diagrams

Active Check Control?

Post Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:34 am

I had the same problem, But then discovered the Sensor was on the wrong way round, put it in the normal position, No Problems since.

Post Fri Apr 13, 2012 12:50 am

Strange... The wiring doesn't match up with mine, i don't have a brown wire, both are blue/violet.

I guess if the return wire is actually reaching 12V then there must be no earth. The diagram shows an earth at S114, any ideas where that is?

Phil, it's definitely the right way round

Post Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:48 am

Try the circuit diagram here: http://www.autolib.diakom.ru/CAR/BMW/19 ... /fig06.pdf
I find these far easier to understand.

Post Fri Apr 13, 2012 10:24 am

S114 means a Splice Point, which apparently is in the engine compartment just behind the driver's headlights. All the grounds are explained in the Ground Distribution file on the Wiring Diagram page; they all end up at ground point G104. Both G104 and S114 can be seen on this pic, which is on the Loom page:

I do agree that Brian's wiring diagrams are easier to understand, but they lump everything into a few diagrams. I'll add them to the Wiki in due course though.

I've got the BMW diagrams for every year (1983-1992) but I haven't got the energy to split them all up, name them, upload them and link them

Post Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:26 pm

S114 does indeed seem to be where the coolant level sender wiring joins the rest of the loom.
Strangely the wiring does agree with my car apart from the earth - mine does not have the brown wire - they're both blue/violet.

When the horizontal rain has stopped and i get a spare 5 mins i'll try earthing the switch, that seems to be the most likely problem

ta for the help so far gents