Hi , not been on here for ages as my e30 is in storage.
Decided to dig her out and go for MOT today however i have encountered some electrical issues that put a stop to that plan.
If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it!
OK so lots of issues I'll try to be brief
Car starts and runs fine battery showing 13v
No front lights/sidelights/fog lights/high beam
Now for the weird bits
If I flash high beam with light switch off then the 2 front indicators illuminate and front fog light on dash flashes
If I use use indicators on their own everything works OK but if use hazards then only rear and side indicators flash not the front
Check control panel shows numerous faults Inc coolant/eng oil/dipped beam/washer fluid/license plate light
Coolant / washer fluid and oil OK and number plate lights working
Rear lights operating plus fogs and reverse light
The 2 small bulbs at the top of the headlights glow really faint , with a multi meter I'm seeing 2.8 volts at the plug
I've checked all fuses for continuity and had the relays out and sprayed contact cleaner etc
I'm not sure where to start? Seems like something could be common to all this? Or is it lots of different faults
Any help for an electrical idiot would be greatly appreciated
Electrical issues
Moderator: martauto
If you have checked all fuses and had relays out then first port of call is to check earths. However if there is corrosion then cleaner wont be enough and it will need sandpaper/wire brush etc.
What age is the car? Does it have the dim/dip system fitted? They have been known to cause issue and been discussed in the past (try a search)
If it has been in storage have you checked for mouse damage? They love wiring and have been a real problem recently with the warmer winters.
Good luck
What age is the car? Does it have the dim/dip system fitted? They have been known to cause issue and been discussed in the past (try a search)
If it has been in storage have you checked for mouse damage? They love wiring and have been a real problem recently with the warmer winters.
Good luck
Hi car is 1987 325i
Sorry what is the dip/dim system?
No evidence of mice in garage or in the car that I can see
My thinking is leaning towards an earth or something as there's so many issues all at once
For info car is dry stored and comes out once a year for MOT and does about 50 -100 miles
This has happened for the last 10 years or so with no previous issues
Cheers
Sorry what is the dip/dim system?
No evidence of mice in garage or in the car that I can see
My thinking is leaning towards an earth or something as there's so many issues all at once
For info car is dry stored and comes out once a year for MOT and does about 50 -100 miles
This has happened for the last 10 years or so with no previous issues
Cheers
Two of them here
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=279926&p=2967874&hi ... t#p2967874
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=280071&p=2968945&hi ... t#p2968945
There are more, might be better to search for 'headlight' or 'wiring' I will see if I can find them
Dim/Dip was the predecessor to DRLs introduced in mid 80s '87 may have them. It lit the headlights at reduced intensity with engine running. Complete PITA on most cars at the time.
Thankfully one of mine pre-dates it and the other is after it was discontinued
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=226935&p=2486273&hi ... t#p2486273
Do a user search for Brianmoooore then sub search his posts for headlight. He is the E30 wiring guru but not on here much anymore but there is a goldmine of his posts if you search.
Some of the lighting relays are behind the glovebox. Have you checked them too?
Do a user search for Brianmoooore then sub search his posts for headlight. He is the E30 wiring guru but not on here much anymore but there is a goldmine of his posts if you search.
Some of the lighting relays are behind the glovebox. Have you checked them too?
UPDATE
ok, managed to spend some time on this today.
Cleaned all the main ground points that I could find
Took off all headlight plugs and contact cleaner sprayed in
Took apart hazard light switch and fog light switch, again contact cleaner etc
Slowly everything is coming back to life
Basically after engine start everything will work independently but if I try to put everything on at once then I get the same issues as before but if I leave the car running and switch on one thing at a time after about 10 minutes or so then it will all work at the same time?
All I can think is that there is a sticking relay or capacitor or something that is slow to energise or de energise on start up and it causes these problems?
I have left the battery connected and I'm going to take it for a run tomorrow and put some fresh fuel etc in and I'll see what happens tomorrow
For info couldn't find any evidence of the dip dim system
Also the ground points were OK nothing really stood out but they got scotchbrite anyway just to be sure
Thanks for all the replies
ok, managed to spend some time on this today.
Cleaned all the main ground points that I could find
Took off all headlight plugs and contact cleaner sprayed in
Took apart hazard light switch and fog light switch, again contact cleaner etc
Slowly everything is coming back to life
Basically after engine start everything will work independently but if I try to put everything on at once then I get the same issues as before but if I leave the car running and switch on one thing at a time after about 10 minutes or so then it will all work at the same time?
All I can think is that there is a sticking relay or capacitor or something that is slow to energise or de energise on start up and it causes these problems?
I have left the battery connected and I'm going to take it for a run tomorrow and put some fresh fuel etc in and I'll see what happens tomorrow
For info couldn't find any evidence of the dip dim system
Also the ground points were OK nothing really stood out but they got scotchbrite anyway just to be sure
Thanks for all the replies
OK left the battery connected overnight, this morning everything is working fine and I can use all the different systems in conjunction with each other so that's good news!
One fault remains which I thought was a bulb, if I flash high beam then only the left side works, rh side is not working in any configuration?
One fault remains which I thought was a bulb, if I flash high beam then only the left side works, rh side is not working in any configuration?