HID electrical problem/fault

[bigbird76]

Hello all

I fitted some 35w HID lights to the car a few months ago as the standard lights are pretty lame.

So when i pull the light switch out to one or two clicks i get the dipped beam check light fault come up. This has always been the case but its now bugging me and i would like to fix it.

I changed the sidelight bulbs as i thought this might be the problem and this did not cure it so i moved onto the HID setup.

I bought some canbus cancellers and plugged them in but i still have the same fault.

Is there a check i can run on the cancellers to make sure they are not faulty or anything?

Also i did a neat job of the wiring soldered joints with superseal connectors spliced from the original E30 loom (yellow plugs)

Rear lights seem to be working ok.

Any electrical guru on here can point me in some direction on checks please?

Cheers

Leigh

[pianist]

One thing for sure is that e30's don't have can bus so them cancelers are a waste of money in this respect, I have HID's fitted to mine e34 and e30 without any cancelers with no probs. The other thing is you said that there is a foult displayed even after one click of a light switch whitch means it has nothing to do with HID's since they not even switched on at that point so I would say go over a wiring again and try to look maybe you damaged some wires when installing or something in that direction.

Maybe someone with more knowledge than me will be more help here

P.S: My HID kit just pluged in with no need for soldering and stuff so not sure if it is that sort of kit or did you decided to do a permanent job fiting it?

[Brianmoooore]

The other thing is you said that there is a foult displayed even after one click of a light switch whitch means it has nothing to do with HID's since they not even switched on at that point

They are if the car has dim dip driving lights. If you have this circuitry on your E30, it must be disabled (disconnect round rubber plugs and sockets on the LH inner wing) before fitting HIDs.
E30s, E34s and E36s have always given no trouble with the bulb warning circuit. Only the E39 has needed a couple of capacitors to keep it happy.

[bigbird76]

Ok guys points taken

Will have a look at the sidelight curcuits in the next few days.

Brian Yes I have them plugs but they are disconnected anyway as someone on here told me about them ages ago when I was on the rebuild process.

Cheers

Leigh

[bigbird76]

Ok guys

I looked again tonight and I cannot find anything wrong with the front sidelight wiring. I turned the sidelights on and checked the wiring and plugs and it all looks ok. I checked the pins in the bulb holder and get 12 volts on both front bulb holders.

Is there any other checks I can do with the multimeter? or further checks somewhere else?

P.s I also removed the cancellers from the HID setup,

(pianist) I fitted a superseal plug next to the original wiring on the yellow plug to plug into the ballast wiring of the HID's so I can plug n play if required back to standard H1 bulb setup.

Cheers all

Leigh

[Brianmoooore]

when i pull the light switch out to one click i get the dipped beam check light fault come up.

Are you sure this is correct?

[bigbird76]

If I turn the sidelights on with the ignition on the check light for dipped beam comes on by the sunroof. Also the brake check light comes on but that resets as soon as I touch the brake pedal.


The dipped checklight light does not come on when ignition is off but nothing is powered up at this stage.

All sidelights appear to be working.

Leigh

[bigbird76]

Had another quick look today

If I pull out the headlight switch 2 clicks quickly I do not get a warning so it is deffo the sidelights causing the problem. I checked the rear lights connections today and number plate lights but all are working and nothing is loose.

I have tried 2 types of 5w bulb and a set of led bulbs but all throw up that check light and all the bulbs light up ok which is confusing....

Any suggestions please?

Leigh

[BenHar]

The sidelights won't be it.

I would go back and check that the dim dip has been disconnected properly.

Ben

[harry_p]

Yep, still sounds like a problem with the dimdip setup, which you're bypassing by pullin the switch out quickly.

Its certainly quite a common issue on here.

[bigbird76]

I checked them plugs the other night they go to a unit bolted to the inner wing next to the headlight im sure this is what Brian means??




Just a thought but I upgraded my lights to smiley lights and the original M3 lights were bullseye lights. I cannot see this being an issue.

Also are the negative connections from the sidelights linked to the dipped beam negative at all? Reason I ask is that The Negative plug inside the H1 Fitment is disconnected as I used the Negative on the yellow plug to power the HID setup? Bad link to negative or something?

Might be pointless suggestions just trying to cover all bases..

Leigh

[bigbird76]

Just wanted to refresh this as i still get the problem and wanted to update to see if anyone knows anything i have not tried out yet.

Ok

Replaced check unit in the boot with a spare no luck

Replaced check unit display panel above mirror no luck

Tried another light switch no luck

Tried different light clusters on the rear no luck

Ran seperate earth from each sidelight bulb to chassis no luck


Like i said it only happens on the sidelight circuit and not on the low/dipped beam circuit.

Leigh

[Brianmoooore]

The resistor pack, shown in your pic. above, bolted to the front of the inner wing, MUST be disconnected.

[bigbird76]

Yes Brian that was the first thing i did. Both plugs are disconnected.

Leigh

[Grrrmachine]

Just to let you know, I've had exactly the same fault with my touring for two years.

[bigbird76]

Did you ever get to find out what was the problem? It is Only a light but it is annoying not to fix it.

Leigh

[Maxtek]

If I turn the sidelights on with the ignition on the check light for dipped beam comes on by the sunroof. Also the brake check light comes on but that resets as soon as I touch the brake pedal.

I have exactly the same issue, but then I haven't even attempted to fix it as it all seems to be working and I'm scared of my car

[tari]

I've had this on all of my e30s so far after fitting HIDs. I've always found this annoying but just try not to use just my sidelights.
A solution would be great as I've disconnected the resister that Brian mentioned above.