Complex lighting problem

[G-max]

Hi Everyone,

I have a weird lighting problem that maybe someone can help me with.

I have a 1990 325is that has the following problem:

The light switch as three modes.

Position 1) Pushing it into the dash should turn on the headlight and the interior dash lights.

Position 2) Pulling it out would leave only the turn signal lights on, and the interior dash lights on.

Position 3) Pulling it at the furthest extent, it would turn on the headlights, and the fog lights, and supposedly the interior dash lights.

My current problem is this. Aside from having the switch in position 2, I wouldn't get any interior lights at all.

When it's in position 1, the front right signal lights would turn off, but it would still signal when i use the signal switch.

Concurrently, I have a problem where the rear right brake light would turn off. But sometimes when I start the car up it would be fine.

The license plate lights are consistently dead.

I've looked at the light bulbs, and everything seems to be fine. i.e. no burn outs.

Can anyone figure out what's wrong?

Thanks!

[DaveSmed]

Canadian spec cars with DRLs are very different than most. Given your problems, i'd almost want to say its the switch.

[NC325iC]

im totally lost here

[G-max]

I'm totally lost too. But I have to find some way to figure it out.

Side note: Hey DaveSmed, your Caddy looks wicked. I have a '86 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.

[DaveSmed]

Nice, those '80s Broughams are sweet looking cars for sure. Still have the HT4100? Oh, and if you have any questions about it, have you ever been to any Cadillac forums?


Back to the E30, I would think (really need someone else with a DRL E30 to chime in here) that the signal lights and dash lights would all be extinguished in position 1, leaving just the headlights. I have a question, does this car happen to have an aftermarket alarm system?

[G-max]

Hey DaveSmed, everything in the caddy is original. but there's a crack somewhere so radiator fluids keep on leaking and there's a leak somewhere on the roof, so it started pooling water underneath the moonroof.

Thus my purchase of the E30, but yeah, not too sure what to do about it. Now I have a problem where once in a while when I brake the steering wheel swings either to the left or the right, and i get vibrations on the steering wheel with every brake.

[DaveSmed]

Ah, yea the HT4100 was a bit underwhelming in the reliability dept, but motor swaps are easy in those cars, and there is a huge selection of stuff that bolts in. Is it a factory or aftermarket moonroof? If its the factory Astroroof, its prob just clogged drains, and you have a rare option.

As far as the brakes go on the E30, sounds like your control arm bushings warrant a close look.

[Fidhle007]

The brakes are easy: warped front rotors. Do pads and rotors and check the bushing while you're under there but don't jump to conclusions before you get a chance to squeeze everything. :)

As for the lights, clean the contacts on everything and see where that leaves you. I'm going to agree with DaveSmed on the no dash lights with DRLs on, most cars I've driven with DRLs leave the dash lights off until you switch to position 2. Keep us updated!

Cheers,
Brendan

[G-max]

Thanks for the advice.

I think it's a warped rotor, so that's a simple fix, after my brakes are more worn down.

I finally figured out the lighting problem after piling through the schematics, it's fuse 23. '-_-

Now i'm trying to figure out my friend's E30's lighting problem, the lighting for the fan control section doesn't work.

As for the Caddy, I think the drains are clogged, so i have to redo the roof. Everything is original, the car was bought straight from the factory back then.

[Fidhle007]

The fan control and heater control sections are each lit by a tiny bulb. You have to do a fair bit of digging to get to them, but if you pull out your radio and pull the HVAC panel out an inch or so you should see some wires running into them, pull these out and you'll find a little dead bulb. Installation is the reverse of removal with slightly more swearing. :)