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View Full Version : Electrical Issues, Brake Light Circuit, Fuel Gage, Windshield Wipers



Paul Strefling
09-10-2008, 09:34 PM
Car is a 97 M3 with no previous electrical problems.

2 hours into driving back from the track in the rain my windshield wipers stopped working. After letting them sit in the off position for 15 minutes they fixed themselves and would work again for another 30 minutes before repeating the symptoms. I had a two hour session in the rain at the track with the windows down as well. The inside of the car remained fairly dry except the back seats and the B piller, but the cockpit was very humid.


The next day when I started my car at lunch the fuel gage was reading empty and the tank light was on. When I filled up after getting back from the track the previous night, there were no apparent problems. During this lunch startup there was also a "Brake Light Circuit" failure on the OBC. Both of these problems did not exist on my drive into work in the morning.

I am wondering if any of these problems are related, or if they are all independent.

Thanks

Paul Strefling
09-10-2008, 09:43 PM
I should also mention that I disconnected the battery for approximately 10 minutes to see if it would help either the brake light circuit or the fuel gage problem. It did not help either of them. It is also important for me to note that I currently do not have any brake lights.

I imagine that the brake light problem is simply the position sensor on the pedal, but there may be a fuse or module that is common to both the fuel gage as well as the brake light circuit that I am not aware of.

-P

Paul Strefling
09-11-2008, 03:48 PM
I managed to fix the brake light circuit failure as well as the fuel gauge failure. While pulling fuse #31 in an attempt to "reset" the fuel level I noticed that fuse #46 was blown. I replaced the fuses and all is well.


I imagine the windshield wipers are separate matter.

tb04512
09-11-2008, 05:47 PM
I managed to fix the brake light circuit failure as well as the fuel gauge failure. While pulling fuse #31 in an attempt to "reset" the fuel level I noticed that fuse #46 was blown. I replaced the fuses and all is well.


I imagine the windshield wipers are separate matter.
46 was the problem with mine, always check fuses before anything with electrical..also check your chart on the fuse box lid for the wiper fuse!