E36 Electrical Issues

[m3nate]

Hey everyone,

I am still having electrical trouble with my E36. The symptoms are:

1. Speedometer works 90% of the time. Sometimes it will just sit at 0. (Have checked diff plug and all seems good there.)

2. Wipers will work 25% of the time. The function that slows them from the middle speed to an intermittent setting at a stop no longer works, and they will sometimes quit working all together. This is usually coupled with the speedometer not working.

3. Airbag light is on.


Any ideas on things to check here?

Thanks,

Nate

[mastermind]

there was a sticky here about the faulty wires in the back of the e36's trunk. basically all the wires that are routed to the back of the trunk get scraped by the hole or something. other than that i dont know

[m^ke]

could it just be a dodgy earth? or faulty battery..

[m3nate]

Where are the grounds i should check? Thanks for the reply.

[87esir]

The wiring in the trunk issue is the wiring that is visible by the left trunk hinge/shock. Pull the rubber seal out of the trunk and slide the covering back past where you can see the wires bend when you shut the trunk. Odds are you have wiring problems there even if it isn't causing this. My e36 only has 114k miles and I had two wires broken.