Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Reverse lights non-functional

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Reverse lights non-functional

    The Reverse lights in my '91 318is are not working right now. I've already replaced the switch and bulbs, to no avail. I have also checked the fuse, which looks fine. Is there anywhere else I should concentrate my search?

    Pain in the butt, since I have someone coming by tomorrow that might want to buy the car. Briefly considered running dedicated wiring for just the reverse switch.

    Thanks in advance,
    -Dave
    1991 BMW 318is, mild SOLD | 1996 Subaru Impreza Wagon(STi V2 replica), inferno spicy

    #2
    Have you confirmed with a voltmeter that there's +12v getting to the switch? How about the harness connector under the shift boot? At the sockets themselves? Sometimes the connectors for the panel that the rear bulbs go into get corroded.

    Happy hunting. Electrical issues are no fun, but with a meter, you can track this one down.

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by Cephas View Post
      Have you confirmed with a voltmeter that there's +12v getting to the switch? How about the harness connector under the shift boot? At the sockets themselves? Sometimes the connectors for the panel that the rear bulbs go into get corroded.

      Happy hunting. Electrical issues are no fun, but with a meter, you can track this one down.
      Check that you have 12v at the switch. If not, pull the shift boot and look for the connector that feeds two wires down through the rubber boot around the shifter. Pull apart the connector and look for 12v on the chassis side of the plug.....actually, I would do this first so I don't need to jack the car up and climb under it.
      Originally posted by codyep3
      I hope to Christ you have looks going for you, because you sure as fuck don't have any intelligence.
      2001 silver/Blk 325 cabby. SOLD
      1988 Blk/Blk e30 factory wide body kit car SOLD
      1992 DS/BLK 325 m-tech II apperance pack cabby SOLD!
      2002 325xit Sil/blk. SOLD
      2012 328i xdrive touring. Wht/blk. SOLD
      2009 135 cabby. monacoblue/blk leather SOLD
      2007 Z4m coupe. Silver grey/black/ aluminum. 1of50
      2010 F650gs twin
      2016 M235i cabby. Mineral grey/Red leather

      Comment


        #4
        Thanks for the direction, I'll look at the wiring going into the shift boot to make sure I'm getting 12v. I pulled apart the center console yesterday and took a quick look so everything will be easy to get to today.
        1991 BMW 318is, mild SOLD | 1996 Subaru Impreza Wagon(STi V2 replica), inferno spicy

        Comment


          #5
          I recently went through this exact thing. Ended up with making a new loom from inside to the switch, and it still made no difference. I pulled the switch, hooked it to the loom and it worked, put it back in the tranny and it did not work. Ended up getting pissed off and throwing the switch in the box with my original failed seal switch and noticed the old switch pin was 1/4" longer from the body.
          I ended up dismantling the switches and noticed the inside of the old switch was milled out much farther then the new switch, so the pin stuck out farther. I drilled the body out 1/4" farther, dropped the pin in, stretched the spring longer to make contact, dropped the seal plate in, dropped the connector plate in and epoxied it back together.
          Tested. And it works. First time in three years I have reverse lights.
          Switch was from BMW dealer.
          Originally posted by codyep3
          I hope to Christ you have looks going for you, because you sure as fuck don't have any intelligence.
          2001 silver/Blk 325 cabby. SOLD
          1988 Blk/Blk e30 factory wide body kit car SOLD
          1992 DS/BLK 325 m-tech II apperance pack cabby SOLD!
          2002 325xit Sil/blk. SOLD
          2012 328i xdrive touring. Wht/blk. SOLD
          2009 135 cabby. monacoblue/blk leather SOLD
          2007 Z4m coupe. Silver grey/black/ aluminum. 1of50
          2010 F650gs twin
          2016 M235i cabby. Mineral grey/Red leather

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by Todd Black 88 View Post
            I recently went through this exact thing. Ended up with making a new loom from inside to the switch, and it still made no difference. I pulled the switch, hooked it to the loom and it worked, put it back in the tranny and it did not work. Ended up getting pissed off and throwing the switch in the box with my original failed seal switch and noticed the old switch pin was 1/4" longer from the body.
            I ended up dismantling the switches and noticed the inside of the old switch was milled out much farther then the new switch, so the pin stuck out farther. I drilled the body out 1/4" farther, dropped the pin in, stretched the spring longer to make contact, dropped the seal plate in, dropped the connector plate in and epoxied it back together.
            Tested. And it works. First time in three years I have reverse lights.
            Switch was from BMW dealer.
            Do you recall if the switches were the same part number, Todd?
            sigpic

            92 325iC Diamantschwarz factory M-Technic appearance
            99 M Roadster Dakar Yellow II
            97 318ti Active Bostongrun DD
            01 Z3 3.0i Coupe Black Sapphire
            93 325iC Schwarz II. Sold, but not forgotten.

            Comment


              #7
              Todd and Cephas, thanks for the help. It was indeed the wiring between the plug under the center console and the switch. I had started constructing a new mini-loom for just the reverse lights, glad I didn't have to follow through with that.

              It was over 90 today with ball-soup humidity, so working under the car at least provided some shade.
              1991 BMW 318is, mild SOLD | 1996 Subaru Impreza Wagon(STi V2 replica), inferno spicy

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by e30topdown View Post
                Do you recall if the switches were the same part number, Todd?
                Exact same part number. I don't know what the deal is with the one I got, but the pin stuck out less than the original. I bought it from my local BMW dealership.
                Originally posted by codyep3
                I hope to Christ you have looks going for you, because you sure as fuck don't have any intelligence.
                2001 silver/Blk 325 cabby. SOLD
                1988 Blk/Blk e30 factory wide body kit car SOLD
                1992 DS/BLK 325 m-tech II apperance pack cabby SOLD!
                2002 325xit Sil/blk. SOLD
                2012 328i xdrive touring. Wht/blk. SOLD
                2009 135 cabby. monacoblue/blk leather SOLD
                2007 Z4m coupe. Silver grey/black/ aluminum. 1of50
                2010 F650gs twin
                2016 M235i cabby. Mineral grey/Red leather

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by deadlydave View Post
                  Todd and Cephas, thanks for the help. It was indeed the wiring between the plug under the center console and the switch. I had started constructing a new mini-loom for just the reverse lights, glad I didn't have to follow through with that.

                  It was over 90 today with ball-soup humidity, so working under the car at least provided some shade.
                  Glad you found it.
                  Originally posted by codyep3
                  I hope to Christ you have looks going for you, because you sure as fuck don't have any intelligence.
                  2001 silver/Blk 325 cabby. SOLD
                  1988 Blk/Blk e30 factory wide body kit car SOLD
                  1992 DS/BLK 325 m-tech II apperance pack cabby SOLD!
                  2002 325xit Sil/blk. SOLD
                  2012 328i xdrive touring. Wht/blk. SOLD
                  2009 135 cabby. monacoblue/blk leather SOLD
                  2007 Z4m coupe. Silver grey/black/ aluminum. 1of50
                  2010 F650gs twin
                  2016 M235i cabby. Mineral grey/Red leather

                  Comment


                    #10
                    anyone know the type of connector at the switch? seems to be dual blades but need to fabricate a new connection from switch to shift boot connector. I scored the white dual pin connector on the shifter side but need to figure out what's on the other side. also seems total length is less than 12"

                    thanks in advance....
                    Originally posted by StereoInstaller1
                    Yeah, it is expensive but get it anyway, it kicks ass...don't be a cheap bitch:

                    Comment


                      #11
                      E30 switch is just two female spade connectors, nothing special.
                      Originally posted by codyep3
                      I hope to Christ you have looks going for you, because you sure as fuck don't have any intelligence.
                      2001 silver/Blk 325 cabby. SOLD
                      1988 Blk/Blk e30 factory wide body kit car SOLD
                      1992 DS/BLK 325 m-tech II apperance pack cabby SOLD!
                      2002 325xit Sil/blk. SOLD
                      2012 328i xdrive touring. Wht/blk. SOLD
                      2009 135 cabby. monacoblue/blk leather SOLD
                      2007 Z4m coupe. Silver grey/black/ aluminum. 1of50
                      2010 F650gs twin
                      2016 M235i cabby. Mineral grey/Red leather

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Great thank you. Wanted to confirm before I get her jacked up.
                        Originally posted by StereoInstaller1
                        Yeah, it is expensive but get it anyway, it kicks ass...don't be a cheap bitch:

                        Comment

                        Working...
                        X