Cluster gear indicators

[halbitton]

Hi,
My 1999 e38 won't start. The electrical accesories all come on and the battery is charged, but the starter won't engage at all...no click, no relay sound, no nothing. I've researched the possible causes for this...EMS module, bad key transmitter, neutral safety switch, etc.
I do notice that on the instrument cluster, that the N and P annunciators are the only ones that don't "brighten" when the shifter is put into those 2 positions. I think those annunciators brightened before the "no start" problem, but can't remember for sure.
So, could someone with a "starting" e38 confirm for me that the N and P annunciators on the cluster do indeed brighten when those gears are selected.
Much appreciated, Hal
PS...the shift indicator lights on the console all work fine.

[Mayorchuck]

Yes, they do brighten when the ignition is in Position 2 and while starting.

[meteck]

I'm thinking iggy first and NSS second. :)

[Xephius]

Hal,

I am having a similar problem and am going down the road of the transmission position sensor (Located on the side of the transmission next to the shifter input rod)

I will be posting another thread in a couple hours outlining my story and the various issues I have had and what I have tried. FWIW, try moving the shifter in and out of position a few times then try to start it again.

John

[halbitton]

Thanks very much for your responces. John, I have been jockying the shifter every which way but loose, and in both N and P while trying to start, with no luck.
I found a rudimentary wiring diagram online, so I'm gong to check for start voltage out of the ignition switch. Will also jumper 12v directly to the starter and see if it cranks then. I wish I had a decent wiring diagram that showed how the neutral safety switch is tied in to all this...
I'll look forward with great interest to your next post.
Best regards, Hal

[Xephius]

Thanks very much for your responces. John, I have been jockying the shifter every which way but loose, and in both N and P while trying to start, with no luck.
I found a rudimentary wiring diagram online, so I'm gong to check for start voltage out of the ignition switch. Will also jumper 12v directly to the starter and see if it cranks then. I wish I had a decent wiring diagram that showed how the neutral safety switch is tied in to all this...
I'll look forward with great interest to your next post.
Best regards, Hal

Hal,

I would like to advise you against trying to jump the starter. Your problem has to do with the transmission not knowing it is in P and refusing to start for safety purposes. Hang in there and I will get the photos uploaded for you to see how to rebuild the switch. That is the safest place to start.

For wiring, you need to locate a copy of WDS. Or you can use the online version here...

http://spaghetticoder.org/bmw/wds/

John

[meteck]

Like John said, don't do it. You can turn an easy repair into something expensive. :(

[Pedro Rabie]

Everytime I saw a problem like this, it was caused by the ignition switch.

Regrads

Pedro

[Xephius]

Ignition switch could be it, I have a spare and will swap it out (again) and see if that fixes it. But I suspect it is the transmission sensor... This is a somewhat known issue as water gets into that sensor and causes it to fail. Not terribly common, but it does happen.

John