What voltage do the license plates light get?

[azndeugene]

So currently my license plate lights don't work. I measured them last night and saw they were getting 0.7V...I get the feeling it should be seeing 12V? Would the wiring be so old that it's providing too much resistance? I'd love to get these working and put some LED bulbs in there :):)

[LJ851]

12v, just like it says on the bulbs.

[Todd Black 88]

You are measureing with a digital volt meter, that's why you read .7volts. You really have nothing.

[azndeugene]

Ok so I understand that much but I'm wondering what would be the cause of this voltage drop

[Todd Black 88]

It's not voltage drop, you have zero voltage there. Voltage drop would show some voltage, and you don't have that.
This means either the wire is damaged/cut, or some other damage that is not allowing the power to get to the lights.

[azndeugene]

It's not voltage drop, you have zero voltage there. Voltage drop would show some voltage, and you don't have that.
This means either the wire is damaged/cut, the brake switch is faulty, or some other damage that is not allowing the power to get to the brake lights? FUSE?

Why do you refer to the brakes? Are the license plate lights tethered to the same wiring as the brakes?

All fuses have been replaced a couple months ago. That's the first place I check.

[mitchlikesbikes]

brake lights and license plate lights run on separate power. unfortunately you might have to trace some wires and continue searching for where the power stops. there is a splice in the wiring that sends power to the plate lights near the middle of the door area on the main driver side harness.

also, look into jumping the power around your active check relay to see if that is causing the issue. the active check relay mounts near the power antenna in the trunk. e30 wiki has wiring diagrams for active check that will tell you which wires are the power in for the plate lights and which ones take the power from the relay to the bulbs. if i remember right there is only one power line in and out and it just splices into two after the relay to supply power to both bulbs

[azndeugene]

brake lights and license plate lights run on separate power. unfortunately you might have to trace some wires and continue searching for where the power stops. there is a splice in the wiring that sends power to the plate lights near the middle of the door area on the main driver side harness.

also, look into jumping the power around your active check relay to see if that is causing the issue. the active check relay mounts near the power antenna in the trunk. e30 wiki has wiring diagrams for active check that will tell you which wires are the power in for the plate lights and which ones take the power from the relay to the bulbs. if i remember right there is only one power line in and out and it just splices into two after the relay to supply power to both bulbs

Thanks mitchlikesbikes! That was most informative. Im hoping to tackle this little problem this weekend and I guess since ill be near the antenna I might as well replace my broken mast too >.>

[Todd Black 88]

Why do you refer to the brakes? Are the license plate lights tethered to the same wiring as the brakes?

All fuses have been replaced a couple months ago. That's the first place I check.

Sorry, brain fart. I had brake lights on my mind.

[DER E30]

Did you check at the wires or at the tabs where the lights click in at? My bulb holder tabs had a bit of a bad connection that I fixed with a soldering iron...

[azndeugene]

Did you check at the wires or at the tabs where the lights click in at? My bulb holder tabs had a bit of a bad connection that I fixed with a soldering iron...

I removed the lighting fixture and measured at the spade connector. They seem to be on their pretty solid.