Two tickets later... HELP ME!!!!!

[Delliott]

So when the headlight switch is pushed all the way (turned off) the headlights are on and the tail lights and dashboard light are off. When i pull it to the middle the headlights are off (supposed to be on) and the tail lights are on. When i pull it all the way out my headlights are on and my tail lights and dashboard light are once again off. Brake lights, turn signals and high beams. still work normally.

What do I do?

It is a 91 318is by the way

[Delliott]

Oh ya and i've gotten 2 tickets now for not having my tail lights on

[dogsbark26]

So when the headlight switch is pushed all the way (turned off) the headlights are on and the tail lights and dashboard light are off. When i pull it to the middle the headlights are off (supposed to be on) and the tail lights are on. When i pull it all the way out my headlights are on and my tail lights and dashboard light are once again off. Brake lights, turn signals and high beams. still work normally.

What do I do?

It is a 91 318is by the way

What do you think the problem might be?

Safety, both yours and others is paramount.

Have it repaired by a professional.

When i pull it to the middle the headlights are off (supposed to be on)

You are not even describing normal operation of a light switch properly.

Normal operation is:
1. when pushed in, lights are off
2. middle position is parking lights only (the headlamps are supposed to be off)
3. pulled out, head lamps and tail lamps are on.

Probably switch is bad but you don't tell us if you've been screwing around with the wiring.

Welcome to the forum. You live in a nice area. I'm jealous.

[Delliott]

What do you think the problem might be?

Safety, both yours and others is paramount.

Have it repaired by a professional.



You are not even describing normal operation of a light switch properly.

Normal operation is:
1. when pushed in, lights are off
2. middle position is parking lights only (the headlamps are supposed to be off)
3. pulled out, head lamps and tail lamps are on.

Probably switch is bad but you don't tell us if you've been screwing around with the wiring.

Welcome to the forum. You live in a nice area. I'm jealous.

I haven't been screwing around with anything. But the guy that installed my stereo, sub and amp messed with the wires before because i had an issue before, where my dashboard light would never turn off. He fixed it but now this is happening

Normal operation is:
1. when pushed in, lights are off - my lights are on
2. middle position is parking lights only (the headlamps are supposed to be off) - my lights are off and tail lights are on
3. pulled out, head lamps and tail lamps are on. - headlights are on and tail lights are not

[dogsbark26]

He didn't fix it. Clearly someone has screwed up the lighting wiring behind the dash. I'm afraid no one can help you from afar.

Do you have the Electrical Troubleshooting Manual? Available here: www.wedophones.com

Sounds like light switch is broken and in need of replacement but it also sounds like there are problems with the wiring. You will have to trace the wires for the headlights, parking lights, and dash lighting beginning from the switch. You are looking for anywhere the factory wiring has been molested. You must un-molest it.

Sorry that I was a dick. It is just beyond me that anyone would continue to operate a vehicle in an unsafe manner after they were made aware of the unsafe condition by having the police inform them. I know these are hard times. I fully expect times to get worse. Do you know how to properly hand signal turns and stops?

[Delliott]

Alright thank you for the help. I will try looking for all that. I wouldn't drive once i knew my tail lights weren't working or at least when it was dark. I got my first ticket then the guy fixed it but then after a few weeks they apparently stopped working again and i got another ticket. So i haven't been driving since i got my last ticket

[Delliott]

Oh ya and my turn signals and brake lights work all the time. But i know the hand signals just incase

[Eecen]

So was everything fine before getting the stereo put in? If so go bitch at out whoever the retard is that put it in...but I wouldn't let them try to "fix" it again.


Go on wedohpnones and figure out whats wrong, shotty splices etc should be pretty obvious.

[Delliott]

The lights were all fine it was just that the dashboard light would not turn off once i turned my car off. He got that fixed but he must have fucked something up now.

OK thanks i'll try looking on there for the problem

[Eecen]

He gave you a bad link..here's the one for BMW ETMs

http://wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm

[dogsbark26]

Good luck. The quantity of wiring behind the dash seems immense when you first get in there but the ETM shows wire colors that should help you trace. It will probably not be necessary to unwrap any bundles. Bundled wires have clearly not been molested.

It sounds like both the headlamp circuit AND the dash lighting circuits are affected. The dash lighting circuit is complicated because it goes to every light on the dash and console. I think the headlamp circuit is simpler. Maybe start with that one.

I agree with Eecen. Probably not wise to employ the stereo installer again.

Be kind enough to update us on your progress in this thread. Others who follow you with similar problems years from now will find this thread.

PS: I see you have a '91. That means air bag. Search here for procedure to safely disconnect the air bag when removing steering wheel to remove cluster. Don't want to cause more problems.

[dogsbark26]

Thanks Eecen for fixing the link.

[Delliott]

Thanks for all the help i'll get started on this right away tomorrow. Hopefully everything goes good so i can post that i completed it.

[Eecen]

I live 40mins south of you, if you need some help pulling apart your dash etc I could be persuaded with beer? Haha..but yeah, GL, hopefully it's something easy to fix.

[redhatpat]

Actually, Delliot probably has a Canadian vehicle (Kelowna?) so he'd have daytime running lights.

From my 90 325i with DRL, proper light switch operation is:
0 - all lights on (low beams on)*
1 - all lights on but headlights off
2 - all lights on (and high beam can be turned on)

I normally drive with the light switch at 0 (off) unless I need to turn on the high beams or the fog lights. And when I say all lights, that's exactly what I mean. My headlights are on, the taillights are on, the side markers are on, the dash is lit, and the window switches are lit.

* these are the first years for DRL, so some makers just made the car normally run with the lights on as if the light switch was turned on. Goofy, but oh well.