'90 325i, stock electronics except I'm running a Mark D chip and the motor/harness are from an '89.
Like it says, whenever the brake lights come on or I use turn signals, the car sputters and dies. Like it runs out of fuel. Also, when I push the brake pedal with the car not running but in the on position, the gas gauge drops to E (with a nearly full tank). Let off the brake, gauge pops right back up. Once I've activated the brake lights, then all brake lights and turn signals stay dimly lit.
When driving it, it runs perfect most of the time. When I touch the brakes or signal it then starts to sputter and will die if I don't let off the brake immediately or tun off the signal. Once I used the signals/brakes the car will not run properly, it acts like it's starving for fuel. Then I can usually turn the car off then back on and it will run properly again. Though this trick hasn't worked the last few times.
When I test the tail light connectors during this dimly lit behavior, I'm getting between 4 to 8 volts without the brakes applied and without the turn signals on. I tested the thick brown ground wire in the harness that runs under the back seat, it shows about 8 volts when I ground the voltmeter to the chassis.
I'm pretty sure I have a short somewhere with a power wire touching the chassis, but my only clue is that it's probably somewhere in the rear of the car since it only seems to be affecting brake lights, signals, and fuel pump/sending unit.
Like it says, whenever the brake lights come on or I use turn signals, the car sputters and dies. Like it runs out of fuel. Also, when I push the brake pedal with the car not running but in the on position, the gas gauge drops to E (with a nearly full tank). Let off the brake, gauge pops right back up. Once I've activated the brake lights, then all brake lights and turn signals stay dimly lit.
When driving it, it runs perfect most of the time. When I touch the brakes or signal it then starts to sputter and will die if I don't let off the brake immediately or tun off the signal. Once I used the signals/brakes the car will not run properly, it acts like it's starving for fuel. Then I can usually turn the car off then back on and it will run properly again. Though this trick hasn't worked the last few times.
When I test the tail light connectors during this dimly lit behavior, I'm getting between 4 to 8 volts without the brakes applied and without the turn signals on. I tested the thick brown ground wire in the harness that runs under the back seat, it shows about 8 volts when I ground the voltmeter to the chassis.
I'm pretty sure I have a short somewhere with a power wire touching the chassis, but my only clue is that it's probably somewhere in the rear of the car since it only seems to be affecting brake lights, signals, and fuel pump/sending unit.
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