Electrical Gremlin--Turn Signal / Parking Lights and Dash Board Lights (All)

[Spaz325ic]

First, sorry about posting in the 101 Project, but have tried multiple times from the e30 section, but when I click on "new post" is opens the 101 projects...

Anyways, I have an 88 325ic. Was driving it and left turn signal went into "hyper" mode, like it had a light burnt out. On Check Panel, both Rear Lights and License Plate LED illuminated. Got home and left front turn signal worked but very dim. Actions taken:

- Swapped bulb from right front and still had issue (left bulb was fine when in right turn signal)
- Since bulbs weren't issue, check all fuses related to lights, all fine

Did a search online and in Bentley manual...seemed to point to ground issue. So, check the following grounds:

- Base of steering column, above the brake pedal. Everything tight.
- Pulled steering wheel and checked ground for the turn-signal/high-beam stalk...tight.
- Pulled panel behind left headlight, ground sound
- Pulled panels in trunk and checked ground near the antenna...tight

So, now I have the following issues:
- For a moment, I had hyper left turn signal, then turn signals all started working fine (no hyper speed, but I'm not convinced the gremlin still isn't lurking)
- When I turn on the parking lights, I have no parking lights on the right side. Initially, while I still had a hyper left turn signal, when I turned on parking lights, the left turn signal indicator on the instrument panel would light dimly. However, this went away once the left turn signal started working properly
- When I turn on headlights, headlights work, but no front right parking light or rear right taillight
- No dash lights AT ALL (instrument panel, A/C panel, defrost or hazards)...dash panel dimmer rheostat does absolutely nothing
- Rear brake lights and Hazards work normally
- Still have the same check panel lights (rear lights / license plate lights)

So, not sure where to go from here...I put everything back together, just to see if anything changed with the steering column back together, but to no avail.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Shawn

[Spaz325ic]

Fixed. So, it turns out somewhere along the lines of troubleshooting the grounds, connections and splices, I blew fuse 23. Since I had already checked all the fuse minutes before, I never considered a blown fuse. After a week (work, kids, etc.) I finally broke out the volt meter looking for power coming into the headlamp switch. Found none, so went back to the fuse box and found fuse 23 was blown, replace and magically everything worked again.

Regarding e30 wiring. The parking lights (incuding tail lights) are divided into two circuits (left and right). Left side is on fuse 22; right on fuse 23. The confusing part was the loss of all dashboard lights, which I couldn't find listed in any wiring diagram in Bentley or on the list of fuses. These lights are also powered through fuse 23.

Anyways, car is back on road and I've learned another nuiance of the e30.

Spaz

[Gene Wilkes]

good work!