Major Electrical Problem, PLEASE HELP

[Jean]

And your car starts and everything works?

[Dhohn]

The two power wires in the first picture where connected back into the distribution block individually and then amperage draw was measured at the battery using my big fluke meter. Set to measure amperage. The positive lead is connected to the battery cable and the negative is connected to the positive post allowing me to read amperage draw.

So each wire that is circled with text next to it in the first picture was connected back to the distribution block and amperage draw was read for each individually. This was done to try to single out where the draw was coming from.

The circled power wires have written in the picture what the specific amperage draw was reading at the battery for each separate power wire.

Hopefully this helps give a better mental picture of what i was doing. I will shoot video tomorrow to show the testing process to provide a hd visual.

[george graves]

Also, your pictures need a bit of clarification - I can't quite understand what it caption meaning is in relation to everything.

Did we already rule out starter solenoid?

[Jean]

post a picture of dmm showing 12amp draw..... this is hard to believe without something melting or getting warm...

[Dhohn]

The one pictured with the 13 amp draw in the first picture ***

[Dhohn]

Is the second power wire that is highlighted in the picture the power lead to the starter ?? That is the only main thing I havent had time to check yet.

[Dhohn]

Not that I could find with the limited time I have had. Sisters wedding, huge changes at work, finishing my unfinished basement ect have really devistated my car time.

[george graves]

Yea, that could be one way to find it. There really aren't that many things that cause draw that much power. Maybe a voltage regulator gone bad? It could be shorting out?

The ecu could fry leaving all the injectors stuck open and the ecu is buring off the power?

Nothing you've touched is warm hun?

[Dhohn]

The car was like this when I bought it. I got a steal, 325 bucks and the body and motor are both in great shape.

I also haven't been able to hear anything audible. I will be trying to take a closer look tomorrow night because I will finally have a decent bit of time to really dig into it more.

I have tried looking through my bmw service manual and through the hanes manual and cant figure out where the other positive cable goes. Obviously I know one goes to the fuse box. The other one that connects into the largest wire bundle where does it go ?

[george graves]

Unplug the ecu - and see if the draw goes away. Mt hunch is that the ecu has melted.

But I'd also open up the fuse box and look. What's warm? Anything? What led up to this?

[Dhohn]

So here are my findings after some more digging.


The 12 amp draw runs into the fuse panel on the strut tower. What is odd is that I get almost no change im amperage draw when I pull the fuses and relays. Is it possible that the fuse panel itself is bad ?? This just doesnt make sense to me.

The other highlighted wire connects to the main wire bundle so im not sur eif this will help me track down the draw or not.



The main bundle, the only thing I find weird is the trickle down in amperage.

What do you guys think ????

[Dhohn]

nope im not reading volts im reading amperage. Trust me, I wish it was an easy mistake like that

[jlevie]

A reading of 12.6 makes me wonder if you might be reading voltage and not current.

[Dhohn]

I will report back on Friday. Thanks for the input

[george graves]

Some under the dash - driver side.

Start checking modules. Amp. Door lock unit, ect.

I'm assuming there has to be a smell - where is the smell coming from? You'll need to feed us details if you want any more help. Make sure you tell us what you've checked and what you find or we're in the dark here.