electrical issues

[viz007]

I have a few electrical issues which I suspect may be linked but would appreciate some advice. I found my car has a light delay unit fitted whilst repairing the central locking.

-the interior light stays on even when the doors are closed. I hear a clicking sound from the light delay unit when pressing the door switch on the drivers side but not the passenger side.

-the electric window switches stay lit constantly and the only way I have found to stop this from draining the battery is to remove fuse 28 . Are these controlled by the light delay unit and door switches?

-the cigarette lighter does not work at all (which I believe also uses fuse 28)

Thanks.

[viz007]

That last point should say fuse 28 not 2

[Brianmoooore]

Delay unit, when connected as per BMW design, only works on the driver's door. Passenger door is still standard on when door is open, off when door is shut.
Check your doors in the area where the pin switches contact them. There should be a plastic button in each door which pushes the pin, and these have been known to go AWOL.

[viz007]

Thanks I'll take a look at this. So the delay may be working given that I hear the delay unit clicking when closing the drivers side door. Maybe the fault is with the passenger side. If it is just a case of a missing pin, shouldnt the light not switch off when I press the passenger door switch with my hand whilst the door is open?

[Brianmoooore]

I was basing my answer on the fact that you say the window switches stay illuminated. A missing plastic plug is the usual reason for this, assuming someone hasn't been messing with the wiring.
This, if I'm right, may not be the only problem, of course.
What side of the car do you hear the click coming from? The light delay unit should be on the right (in a UK spec. car), and the windows relay is on the left.

[viz007]

The light delay unit that is clicking is next to the central locking unit in the driver side foot well.

Ah so the window switch lights are controlled by the doors. Hopefully this means the interior light and window switch light issues are being caused by the same thing.

When you said the passenger side just turns the light on and off without delay, I take it this means it has its own circuit and that I shouldn't hear a click from the light delay unit when pressing the switch on the passenger side?

I'll check for a missing plug and play around with this more and try and remove and test the door switches too.

[viz007]

Thanks for your help Brian. It was indeed down to a missing plastic button!

Now to find a replacement!