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Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 57
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tail light problem stumping me
whast up guys? for the past month or so i have been having this problem with my right rear tail light. it doesnt work! even after swapping bulbs and doing elextrical tests. the car is a 1990 so i have the laster style bulb holders. i ame getting 11.8 volts at all the pins in the female connector and even swapped bulbs and got a new holder and still NOTHING! what else to check? i need to get my car inspected because it expired monday and wont pass if i have a tail light out. so please! where else can i check? is there a relay or something? the CHECK light comes on.
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11-03-2005, 03:56 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Reading, PA, USA
Posts: 2
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I have been having the same problem in my E30 since I bought it a month ago. The previous owner left a few new bulbs in the trunk for me too. Funny, the right rear blinker went out on the way to inspection. They replaced the bulb and passed me. The next day the bulb was out again. After reading a few forums I carefully checked the area near the bulbs and discovered a rust spot. Looking more closely it appears that water is getting into the light housing and shorting out bulbs. There is also some corrosion in there too. Next step is to deal with it. Until then I keep the car covered and don't drive it in the rain.
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11-04-2005, 04:10 AM
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well im not worried about water getting in since there isnt any. isnt there a relay or a groud i can check? when i pulled the bulbs out of the other tray and went back to the old one, the tail light felt warm to the touch. what does the indicate?
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11-04-2005, 06:03 AM
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Location: Reading, PA, USA
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Unfortunately I am an automotive n00b. There are a few great e30 forums that I'm sure you could find help on...try E30 Tech to start.
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11-04-2005, 06:13 AM
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Location: Papillion NE
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If you're getting the 12 volts where you are supposed to then the only thing you need is a ground...find out which wire is the ground wire and make sure it is actually connected. Are you seeing 12 volts on both pins in the connector? If so, then you have a problem. You should only see the voltage on one as the other would be the ground. Has anyone screwed around with the wiring back there and possibly mis-connected something?
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11-05-2005, 09:29 PM
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nobody has ever messed with it. it just quit one day and i cant get it to work now. from what i read the bulbs ground through the bulb holder.
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11-06-2005, 06:37 AM
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Location: Papillion NE
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Yep you are correct...I had a brain fart. Is the bulb holder grounded?
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11-06-2005, 02:33 PM
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im not sure. i got another used holder but no avail. perhaps i got another bad one. the one i got is different, you can see the traces inside. the one i had doesnt.
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11-06-2005, 05:18 PM
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Location: Florida
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The S324 wiring harness plug location for the tail lights is located in the left rear of the trunk, The harness ground G300 is under the left side of the rear seat . Left refers to drivers side. The rear lights check relay is next to the power antena. But your tail light assembly has its own ground and it, or the assembly itself is usually the culpret. I usually just swap the bulb holders from side to side and if it doesn't work on the other side it is bad. If works on the other side it probably is the tail light assembly or tail light assembly ground. If it was the relay or the ground under the seat, both lights would be out. The tail light assembly many times will show 12 volts with the bulb holder out but it wont make the proper connection to the bulb.
Try the side to side thing.
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74 911 targa blk on blk, Carrera fend., tires & whls. gone, missed 85 325e bought new, totaled after 20 years & 465K miles, trouble free service. 01 Ford Ranger 4dr stpsd 4wd. I drive,here 88 325i convert. only 98k miles,gone, sold 93 325i.here, 98 Z-3 roadster. gone, 08 128 cabro gone |
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11-06-2005, 06:03 PM
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i tried the side to side thing and YEP the tray from the left works on the right side no problems. so what do u think i should do now? i noticed it doesnt the dail to unplug the tray doesnt screw on as much as the one on the left side. think this has anything to do with it? but yea, think theres something i can put over the pins to make the light work? like tin foil or something?
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11-06-2005, 06:16 PM
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Location: Florida
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Did you take the tail light assembly all the way out of the car and inspect it? What do you mean by tray? Bulb holders?
If it isn't turning as far, that may be your problem. It has to turn all the way to the stop to make proper contact. Take a good look at your tail light assy. with the bulb holders out. Compare it to the other side. I think you are onto something. Also you might test the ground where the bulb holder screws in with an ohm meter to the chasis.
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74 911 targa blk on blk, Carrera fend., tires & whls. gone, missed 85 325e bought new, totaled after 20 years & 465K miles, trouble free service. 01 Ford Ranger 4dr stpsd 4wd. I drive,here 88 325i convert. only 98k miles,gone, sold 93 325i.here, 98 Z-3 roadster. gone, 08 128 cabro gone |
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11-06-2005, 07:27 PM
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the bulb holder that screws into the tray. does anyone have an exta bulb holder from an 88-on car i can have?
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11-07-2005, 02:40 PM
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