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View Full Version : Confusing non-critical electrical issues



iXguy
04-10-2017, 08:25 AM
2009 323i (cdn E90 LCI) with about 170kkm.

I have a few things going on in my car right now, not really sure where to start with it. They all started fairly close to but not exactly the same time. It seems conceivable that they are all related which is why I'm posting them all together here instead of just diving in to fix one of them at a time.

1. On startup the phone with the line through it (SOS not working warning) comes up on the dash.
2. Aux audio input (inside armrest) has quit working. USB feed beside worked for a while after that but has now also quit.
3. Sport mode switch on shifter has stopped working. The AT cannot tell if it has been put in sport mode -- but will correctly read manual shift inputs from there. If you do shift manually though you cannot get out of manual mode as it also cannot recognize moving out of the sport position, need to shift into neutral and back to get into regular drive again. No paddles on this car.
4. Radio sometimes shuts off for no reason and comes back about 5-10 seconds later
5. There is a click sound, that seems like it is coming from the sound system. Similar to a record player needle passing a scratch. There are two clicks, separated by about a quarter of a second, repeating every two seconds. Not always the same intensity. Oddly, they seem unconcerned with the volume setting and once when I pulled over for a nap, turned off the car, locked the doors, and turned the stereo off -- it continued to my amazement.

Any thoughts where to start with this one guys?

scantool
04-10-2017, 08:51 AM
I once had strange things happen with my E92. The radio would just not play sound. cut off for no reason. about 2 months later the water pump went bad. With in those 2 months the radio seemed to cut out a little more than usual. After i changed the water pump i have no problems with the radio. Strange? Maybe the electrical load from the water pump going bad was causing it. Maybe this will help you solve your problem.

iXguy
04-10-2017, 01:22 PM
Very interesting reply, thanks for that.

As it happens, between the time this all started and the time I am writing this message, ie while the symptoms were occuring and I was ignoring them, we did change the water pump and thermostat. Just because the mileage was getting up there (160kkm) and not for any other reason. As far as we could tell the pump that came out was working perfectly and we put in all BMW oem parts.

I haven't had the heart to tear into the dash and console yet looking for faults without some kind of clues first, so it's been quite a while it's been doing this.

-Russ.