car is feaking out!

[CorvallisBMW]

I put the car in the garage this afternoon. Later tonight, i went back out to start it. Nothing. My high beams are stuck on, and all the lights on the dash have stopped working when I turn the key to position #2 (except the battery light, it stays on). No clicks from the solenoid, nothing. My gas gauge now reads half empty, even though it's full. And if I switch the high beams to 'on', the gauge reads empty. Also, the blower motor doesn't work but the sound system does. The brake lights and interior lights still work, but none of the check or service lights in the cluster will will come on, though the red/orange backlights do work. WTF?!?!?!?!?!?! It just started out of nowhere. What the hell would cause this? I need some ideas, I don't even know where to look. I disconnected the battery for an hour but it didn't change anything.

my car is possessed by fucking demons i swear.....DEMONS

[CorvallisBMW]

bump, I need to visit my family for thanksgiving and it's hard without a car!!!

[moatilliatta]

electronics, ecu?

[StereoInstaller1]

Hey D, did you look at the electrical schematics over at www.wedophones.com?

[DaveSmed]

The headlights, are they as bright as they normally are? Also, by stuck on, does that include with the key off? When a large amount of stuff starts acting up like that, its usually a ground fell off or I'm thinking theres a decent chance its time for an ignition switch.

[CorvallisBMW]

The headlights, are they as bright as they normally are? Also, by stuck on, does that include with the key off? When a large amount of stuff starts acting up like that, its usually a ground fell off or I'm thinking theres a decent chance its time for an ignition switch.

Ya, they're still bright as ever. They will come on as long as the key is in position 2, and then the parking lights stay on in position 1 (like normal) and they turn off completely if I take the key out. I know it's not the ignition switch because I can jump the starter solenoid with the key in position 2 and get the engine to run. But all the other stuff is still screwy. Oh and the tach doesn't work also.

[moatilliatta]

swap out ecu's and see what happens.

[TopOfTheLine89]

check fuses?

[CorvallisBMW]

swapped all relays, checked fuses, swapped ECUs, and checked all grounds. No go.

[Van Westervelt]

You have the oddest problems with this car. I got nothin for ya.

[Addissimo]

That is definately a ground somewhere. Are you sure that you checked ALL of your grounds?

As in you went through your bentley and checked each one off, one by one. Its a pain in the ass, but that is definately systematic of a loose ground.

I had a problem where my head lights would kill my gas guage and engine in about 2 seconds, or if I put my foot on the brake, the engine and gas guage would die immediately. It was the ground nut underneath the rear seat on the pass side.

Point is, wierd shit happens when you're missing a ground.

-Addis

edit: Did you check to make sure all of the wires are on your starter? Do your windows work? Ground strap to engine block? Check all of your grounds!!!!!

[CorvallisBMW]

I didn't know about the one behind the rear seat, I will check it.

[CorvallisBMW]

I had a problem where my head lights would kill my gas guage and engine in about 2 seconds, or if I put my foot on the brake, the engine and gas guage would die immediately. It was the ground nut underneath the rear seat on the pass side.

-Addis

Yup, that was it! I didn't even know there was a ground back there, but it seems to be working just fine now. Thanks for the help!

[moatilliatta]

was it loose or corroded?

[CorvallisBMW]

There was a tiny bit of surface rust, nothing that didn't come off with my fingernail. It was loose though, I think that is was caused most of it.