help needed abs, alternator, engine warning lights on

[Bally]

hi went to start the car (j reg 325 auto cab) and the above 3 warning lights are on , seems strange all 3 coming on at once any ideas what I should check for Thanks

[Bally]

by engine light I meant ignition light.
thanks

[daimlerman]

Did they go out when the engine started?

[Bally]

hi.

no when the engine is running the lights stay on , they are not going brighter when revved will double check

[Bally]

hi just to clarify.
the lights that are on are

the one with braks shoes and exlamation mark, abs, and the light with the battery.

when revved the lights do not go brighter
Any help would be appreciated

[Bally]

thanks ,
checked belt , it is ok , suspect alternator but would this cause abs light to go on ...
any one else any ideas .
Thanks

[Bally]

just checked earth, disconnected and reconnected battery , took for a 0 minute run today, and also been starting car approx ten times , ran with lights on no dimming or brightening with revs, battery still not flat .
also just noted the handbrake light is staying on (so 4 lights on in total) the handbake light dims slightly when handbrake taken off.

lights come on with ignition , stay on while turning engine and stay on once running , only oil light is going out as it should , seems en electrical issue.

any help appreciated.
thanks

[kam-325i]

ABS light could come on due to an Undervoltage.......

[Bally]

Hi Kam 325i

so if the alternator is not working properly it could cause issues to abs light.
Think I may have to get it to the local bmw specialist to test alternator. any othes suggestions

Thanka

[kam-325i]

yes, i think that if the ABS ECU see's an undervoltage, it will show an error.

EDIT:

Dose the car drive ok ?
Do the other lights on the dash work ok, indicator lights, rear fog light light and so on ?

[Bally]

hi yes everything else is fine car drives fine, thats why i think it is an electrical fault , battery not going flat so may be the alternator is charging but not fully (if that is possible), all other dash lights are ok I have reset service lights and that was ok as well.

[kam-325i]

might be a short-circuit on the printed circuit film on the back of the instrument cluster.......

[Bally]

so remove cluster dust off and look for any short circuit (burn marks)

[kam-325i]

thats where i would start, never overlook the simple things.

[bmw444]

Hi
i just wondered how you were going solving your warning light problem? My 1990 325i has just started having the same symptoms.

[Brianmoooore]

The warning lights referred to in this thread are required to have a 'test' function to check that the bulbs are working.
The electronics in the instrument cluster turns the bulbs on when the ignition is switched on, and off again (if there is no fault) when the voltage on the small (blue) wire from the alternator reaches a certain voltage. If the alternator voltage on the blue wire falls below this critical voltage at any time when the engine is running, such as in a near stall, the lights re enter the test mode.
The most likely cause of this fault is the alternator, although it doesn't necessarily affect it's charging of the battery, and a simple DC voltage check on the blue wire may not show up the fault if a diode has faled.