I've had a couple of electrical issues I want to address and they may all be related. Withing a month or so I had one of my brake lights go out, shortly after they both went out, and now the soft top which ran well and strong doesnt activate when I push the button. Any ideas where I can start diagnosing the problem? There have been heavy rains and there is potential for water to get into my car from the convertible boot because of dripping.
I have no experience with electrical systems as of yet and all of my problems have been mechanical in nature so far. Any advice would be appreciated.
Most likely the brake light switch on the pedal. Easy fix.
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But, it is worth checking the trunk wiring loom for wire damage.
-Abel
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For soft top to start working, you need to press on brake to engage brake switch, press on the soft top button, and at the same time tilt the front part of the soft top, engaging the microswitch over drivers left shoulder where soft top folds. Seems like your problem most probably is with brake switch, but microswitch is well known for failing too, so check that if your brake lights work and soft top - not.
Thanks for the advice guys, I'll investigate and update this weekend when I have time.
So I installed a new switch... problems are unchanged. Maybe the switch is bad so I requested another... All typical symptoms are there... brakes, top, and cruise control. What else could it be???? Hopefully the switch was just bad.
While I have seen the asian sourced switches sold by the chain autoparts stores fail in a matter of weeks, I can't say I've ever seen one DOA. Make sure you have it adjusted correctly. Don't push the slider in, let the pedal do it. The next step would be putting a test light on things. This should have been the first step; I am not a fan of diagnosing by random parts replacement. The Blue and red wire is for the lights. If that tests good, the most likely juncture is splice X181 in the driver's footwell.
/.randy
The brake light switch can be tricky to replace. I have not done it. Simple as it sounds, some people have trouble. I wonder if the destruction of the old switch is necessary. One person bent the bracket in forcibly removing the switch, which is stronger than the bracket, and this caused the new switch to not work properly.
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...6#post28358366
http://perkornhall.se/Per_Kornhall/Brake_light.html
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...5#post25267405
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...6#post28368906
http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_25.htm
Last edited by Vintage42; 06-07-2017 at 07:24 PM.
BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405
I've changed the switch in many cars. No destruction is necessary. The only tool needed is a coin.
/.randy
The coin is used to remove the lower panel.
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...6#post28358366
Last edited by Vintage42; 06-08-2017 at 12:53 PM.
BMW MOA 696, BMW CCA 1405
I swapped the switch and still no fix. Is there a fuse dedicated the brake light or something?
Bingo... it was a fuse... it was obviously burned out.
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