Author Topic: whats my fuse box missing? (Read 4254 times)

budgetown/6 · « **on:** June 05, 2009, 01:31:20 PM »

im having some weird turn signal problems and even problems with my lights. looks like i might be missing some stuff in my fuse box.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2009, 02:00:46 PM »

Mine looks like that too. The turn signal relay is on the steering column IIRC. I think you have some problems with grounding wires - check & clean them first, then test relays, etc. Look for clusters of brown wires bolted directly to the frame. Unbolt them, then use a wire brush to clean them to bare metal.

After that, check the relays. I think the headlight relays are K4 and K3, and the headlight switch itself might also be dirty or worn.

My turn signals blink quickly sometimes, like a burned out light bulb. I'm suspecting a corroded connector in the front signal harness, it's just hard to get to. I also had problems with the marker lights; all were damp or shorted. I cleaned them with Radio Shack Contact Cleaner and a little dielectric grease, then sealed the cracks with black silicone sealant. They work perfectly now.

Wizard · « **Reply #2 on:** June 05, 2009, 10:17:32 PM »

That looks about normal.....I assume you do not have fogs hence the missing relay and the 2 fuses on the end....There is a diagram somewhere that shows all the fuses and thier functions....Might be under the reference section..

budgetown/6 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 05, 2009, 10:50:32 PM »

now my headlights wont come on. this is weird. i cleaned up that ground but no luck. is there a ground close to the fuse box? i think its something to do with a relay. ill try and figure out which one is for my lights.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2009, 07:50:26 AM »

Found this over on bimmerforums:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1222810

Quote

Looking at an Electrical Troubleshooting Manual (ETM), green/yellow from the light switch goes from connector 103 (29 pins, upper left corner of driver's footwell), ending up in the fuse box at the low beam relay K4.

The left low beam goes through fuse 13 with the power wire yellow/white, while the right goes through fuse 14, power wire yellow/blue.

Brown wires typically are ground wires. The headlights ground to G104 (inner fender behind left headlights).

Good luck with it.

Especially check post #19, great writeup for testing. Our relays might be different but I doubt it. I haven't found any list of what the relays do, but I'll add it if I come across it. Even the e30 ETM doesn't have it, what's up with that?

budgetown/6 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2009, 01:37:00 PM »

thanks for all the help. it ended up being the headlight relay plug. one of the female plugs had been pushed down and wasn't making contact with my relay. it was just super hard for me to see.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2009, 07:07:32 PM »

Nice work...advice is cheap, glad to hear that it did some good.