Cluster 'Check' light

[audiquattrot]

every E30 i've owned has this "brake" light come on. Sometimes its there, sometimes it disappears. I've learned to live w/ it b/c i know all my lights function properly.

[nando]

[

every e30 i've owned has this "brake" light come on. Sometimes its there, sometimes it disappears. I've learned to live w/ it b/c i know all my lights function properly.

RTFM

ok? ;)

[audiquattrot]

[

RTFM

ok? ;)

lol it would help if i actually had one. My car never came w/ one....need to get one.

[nando]

well, the light is supposed to flash when you turn on the car. the check panel can't test that the brake lights function until you step on the brake pedal to activate them. so the check light flashes until you step on the brakes. ALL E30s do this - it's how it's supposed to work. :)

[JinormusJ]

Lol
I freaked out for about 3 seconds when this happened..

[Swanny]

I'm gunna revive this.....

So the check light should go away after you step on the brake or if you start the car with the pedal pressed. Did I get that right?

What if the check light continues to stay flashing until the check button is pressed. There was mention of the reverse lights also tripping the system. Is that a closed loop with the reverse switch? Would it only trigger the check system when shifting to reverse?

I swear to god if this is in the manual I'll give a $1 to the first person to quote it.

[Swanny]

Sunday bump

[jlevie]

The reverse lights have nothing to do with the brake light warning. As mentioned several times in this thread, if you start the car without the brake pedal depressed CHECK will flash and the brake light LED will be on. Depressing the brake pedal should turn both off.

The brake warning light turns on if the current through the brake light circuit is lower than normal. That can result from:

1) A burned out bulb (obviously)
2) A wrong wattage bulb
3) An aged bulb. If the glass envelope of the bulb is dark the filament may have lost enough material to trigger the warning
4) Corrosion of the bulb socket, bulb base, or connectors. Always use plated base bulbs. Plain brass base bulbs will oxidize and cause a high resistance connection.

[DaveSmed]

[Swanny]

Here's where I'm running into the problem. New bulbs and brake on when starting but still throwing the check light. Hmmm.....

[jlevie]

Here's where I'm running into the problem. New bulbs and brake on when starting but still throwing the check light. Hmmm.....

Assuming that the correct bulbs are installed in all three locations, start looking for a high resistance in the circuit.