Dash lights.

[Super Eta]

Alright guys this stumps me big time and i dont know whats going on. :evil:

Here is whats happening, When i turn on my headlights the dash lights stay off and the OBC actually shuts off becuase when i turn off the lights the obc comes back on and needs to be reset.

What i have done to try and fix it, I replaced two fuses just incase, swapped headlight switchs, wiggled wires around by the headlight switch to see if there was a loose and i even unplugged the driver seat dong plug as it was fine before i plugged it in and guess what no go still does it.

Please help me figure out whats wrong i am annoyed with these light problems i am having.

:curse:

[modifiede30]

Have you done any wiring work recently, anywhere in the car? Also, any major pothole encounters that may have loosened something?

[Super Eta]

I rewired in an 88+ headlight switch as my pre 88 switch and plug was toast also some of the wires leading down to that plug has some bubbling on the plastic coating.

I also rewired in an 88+ speaker fader switch.

Roads in washington are not the best and i have holes at the bottom of my driveway, It is a gravel road.

[peerless]

Check wire schematics for both years, I bet it's not the same. You may need to swap around some wires to get it to work properly. I think it would be best to get a new replacement headlight switch for your model year. Hope you don't fry anything (Dash Lights) in the meantime.

[modifiede30]

Yeah, you likely mismatched some wiring. Alot of the power for interior gadgets go through the radio and headlights. No telling what would happen if one schematic shows a ground, the other power. Sounds like you've grounded a wire leading from the headlights (power) to the obc (possibly a ground), causing the obc to shut down completely when you turn the lights on. This is likely the reason it needs to be reset. I'd switch back to the same year as Peerles recommended and check what you did with the speaker switch. I doubt it has anything to do with the speaker switch though.

[Super Eta]

But the funny thing is that i did this like a month or so ago and everything worked just fine.

I have two 88+ switchs and one pre 88 sitting in toolboxs and thats including the one in my car

Why now if it is the problem.

[Super Eta]

WoW now this is weird i went into my car and turned on the lights and my dash lights are working perfectly FINE i dont beileve it one bit but they do, they dim and everything talk about wacky shit.

Can anyone tell me what they think the problem was, could it have been a short.

Its like it fixed itself but w/e im jsut happy and that drivers seat belt dong plug is not going to be used as it might have been the culprit as it is damp under my carpet and the water might cause some problems with that plug and such, i just need to get a vaccum and stuff it under the carpet to get out all the water.

Its more of condensation then water just so you guys dont get the wrong idea and think i have a puddle under it wich there was but i stuffed towels under it and soaked it all up

[modifiede30]

Sounds like a short or the water created a short temporarily. Fix the water leak/condensation problem. Since you mentioned bubbled wiring, you may also need to check to see if you still have a short somewhere else.

[Super Eta]

The bubbling was caused by that stupid bolt that holds down the center console under the rear ashtray i think i might have tightened to tight by accident and it pinched a wire and man did that cause damage i had to cut out the plug as it was defected and no longer usable and the board inside the switch was pretty much melted to the plastic casing oh and this only took less then a minute to happen.

The water leak was caused by the sunroof as i was trying to replace the sunroof liner wich went totally wrong and i put some duct tap across a part of the sunroof to keep water out.

Im done touching anything with wires for now atleast.

[F|2eeSTy|e]

The water leak was caused by the sunroof as i was trying to replace the sunroof liner wich went totally wrong and i put some duct tap across a part of the sunroof to keep water out.

Sucky State to live in, with a leaking sunroof... :evil: Do you get to park it in a garage at all?

[Jand3rson]

Wiring was the one thing I would never do in my car. I would only let Jordan or the mechanic touch that shit.

[Super Eta]

Well guys the problem happened again so i said fuck it and i got down on my knees and spliced in the pre 88 but for some reason i had a wire left over on the plug.

the brown and black wire. :?

If this car does it again im going to ram it into a brick wall. :evil:

P.S. Josh i enjoy reading your sig and i would like to know where you are getting all those quotes. :P

[Jand3rson]

If this car does it again im going to ram it into a brick wall. :evil:

Or into an '85 Honda Accord? Oh wait, that's me...

P.S. Josh i enjoy reading your sig and i would like to know where you are getting all those quotes. :P

Sorry Ryan, but if you have to ask, you'll never know... 8)

[Super Eta]

If this car does it again im going to ram it into a brick wall. :evil:

Or into an '85 Honda Accord? Oh wait, that's me...

P.S. Josh i enjoy reading your sig and i would like to know where you are getting all those quotes. :P

Sorry Ryan, but if you have to ask, you'll never know... 8)

Doh!


Yeah i will try to find an old honda accord but no promises.

I love my car and everything but these little problems are just giving me headache, i just dont have the funds to pour money into this car to get it back to the way it was.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I am having the same identical problem with my 89 325I. The only difference is that my onboard computer does not need to be reset. When I pull out the headlight switch to turn it on the OBC light shuts off but I can still see the time, date, etc... I have replaced the headlight switch and it fixed the OBC issue but not the dash lights. Then after a week the OBC light started turning off again when I turned on the lights. I have a system in the car and it has never had any problems before. Another odd thing is that the stock fader switch still lights up. It isn't hooked up to the head unit it is only still in the dash for the purpose of filling the hole. I guess the reason it lights up is because it isn't hooked up to anything though.

Any ideas on what I could check.


Also all fuses are good