Warning Lights

General E30 related discussions -
Please put technical questions in E30 Tech Help forum below

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
Mousey
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2019 11:45 am

Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:56 pm

Hello all. I took my car out this morning and three lights came on and stayed on - the battery light, the handbrake light and brake hydraulics light. It’s been raining here so could water have got in? This has never happened before.
User avatar
paultv
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1541
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:00 pm
Location: Auf dem Schnee: Germany

Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:46 pm

Check fuse 10 to start with

Paul :-)
4th May 1990 325i Convertible.

BMW E30 Cabriolet Best Mod Ever:

https://bmwe30cabriolet-wdm.blogspot.com/
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49353
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:56 pm

All those lights, except the battery light, are legally required to have a 'test' function every time the car is started. The test starts when the ignition is turned on and ends when the voltage on the blue wire from the alternator reaches a certain level. The battery light is also controlled by this same blue wire, so it looks likely the alternator is not producing the correct voltage on it.
The cause can be anything from a broken belt, through a poor earth for the alternator to worn out brushes in the regulator pack.
Move the air filter out of the way, unscrew the regulator pack from the back of the alternator, and check the brushes.
User avatar
Satan
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 2489
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2017 11:00 pm
Location: Formally SexyLady and Diable

Thu Dec 12, 2019 4:52 pm

Turn it off then on again.......
Mousey
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2019 11:45 am

Thu Dec 12, 2019 6:46 pm

A snapped alternator belt it is. Thanks all for your help - much appreciated. It gave me a starting place to look.
User avatar
Foe
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 615
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: South Wales

Thu Dec 12, 2019 6:52 pm

Mousey wrote:
Thu Dec 12, 2019 6:46 pm
A snapped alternator belt it is. Thanks all for your help - much appreciated. It gave me a starting place to look.
Thanks for updating, may help someone else in the future :thumb:
Post Reply