Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Right trunk tail light has a possible short

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Woodstock, GA
    Posts
    566
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 540i6

    Right trunk tail light has a possible short

    The right light on my trunk doesn’t come on unless I hit the trunk or open and close it really fast. Like shaking it while it’s open basically. Is this likely a problem with the light itself?
    Last edited by killian665; 02-13-2018 at 02:01 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Harrisburg, PA, USA
    Posts
    374
    My Cars
    x5, 640i, 850Ci, 850CSi
    Quote Originally Posted by killian665 View Post
    The right light on my trunk doesn’t come on unless I hit the trunk or open and close it really fast. Like shaking it while it’s open basically. Is this likely a probablem with the light itself?
    My guess would be a short in the cable loom.

    Mike Barrett
    Mike Barrett
    94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
    96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    475
    My Cars
    95 BMW 850
    The right light on the trunk lid may be close to burning out. I had the same problem, (when the engine is on all four tail lights are on), and if I hit the right trunk light it would turn on until it wouldn't anymore. Dealer replaced the bulb. It took only a few minutes.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Woodstock, GA
    Posts
    566
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 540i6
    Guess I’ll pop it out and see

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    montreal,Canada
    Posts
    154
    My Cars
    bmw 850
    i had problems with my right tail light' it turned out to be a short in the plug itself.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Woodstock, GA
    Posts
    566
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 540i6
    Burnt wire? Loose connection? How’d you fix it

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    2,365
    My Cars
    93 850Ci, 09 Caddy SRX
    Quote Originally Posted by killian665 View Post
    Burnt wire? Loose connection? How’d you fix it
    Turned to be a broken wire in the harness in the trunk lid. During a "mini" Wrenchfest last year a SocalEights member with the patience of "Job" spliced the broken wire and it's been as good as new since.
    1993 850Ci.....18 years & 165,000 miles and counting!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Liberal Loontown, CA
    Posts
    2,658
    My Cars
    Cool Volvo, Ugly BMW
    Timm has a fix up for this under the DIY section.

    In my opinion, the only way to really fix this long term is to cut out and replace the entire wiring section that is between each set of grommets. That is more involved, but ENGL sells a decent kit. Special crimping tool is needed however.
    What "thumbs up" really means




  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    571
    My Cars
    91 850i-95 850csi- 94 85
    Link?

    Quote Originally Posted by toomanyparts View Post
    Timm has a fix up for this under the DIY section.

    In my opinion, the only way to really fix this long term is to cut out and replace the entire wiring section that is between each set of grommets. That is more involved, but ENGL sells a decent kit. Special crimping tool is needed however.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Hampshire UK
    Posts
    8,867
    My Cars
    99 840ci Sport Indv
    Here's the link:

    http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e31/BMW_E31...ing_Repair.htm



    .....but your fault sounds more like a failing bulb than a hinge wiring problem.....
    Last edited by Timm; 02-13-2018 at 11:59 AM.
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


    My BMW Repair YouTube Channel
    My Current 840ci Sport Individual
    My Current 650ci Sport Individual
    My E31 Repair and Information Website
    My E38 Repair and Information Website
    My E63/E64 Repair and Information Website

    Chase - Heroes to a generation

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Woodstock, GA
    Posts
    566
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 540i6
    I’m starting to think it might be more I don’t know. My under hood and interior trunk lights also don’t work and I just now put new bulbs in them. Must be a wiring problem somewhere even if it’s not related

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Woodstock, GA
    Posts
    566
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 540i6
    Okay yeah, all 3 of my interior trunk lights don’t work. The two in the trunk lid itself that are part of the actual taillights and the one in the car under the rear deck. The under hood light also doesn’t work. All new bulbs

    *Update*
    My underhood light only comes on when I have the hood open and I turn the headlight switch either to the middle or full on. Is that normal? I feel like it should just come on when the hood is open regardless.

    Also I believe it is the wiring at the hinge because I can get my trunk lights to come on at an exact spot when opening then they go off if it’s higher than that point. I didn’t think the light under the rear deck on the body itself was part of that same loom as the ones in the trunk lid that shine down, why would that be affected?
    Last edited by killian665; 02-13-2018 at 01:29 PM.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Harrisburg, PA, USA
    Posts
    374
    My Cars
    x5, 640i, 850Ci, 850CSi
    Quote Originally Posted by killian665 View Post
    Okay yeah, all 3 of my interior trunk lights don’t work. The two in the trunk lid itself that are part of the actual taillights and the one in the car under the rear deck. The under hood light also doesn’t work. All new bulbs

    *Update*
    My underhood light only comes on when I have the hood open and I turn the headlight switch either to the middle or full on. Is that normal? I feel like it should just come on when the hood is open regardless.

    Also I believe it is the wiring at the hinge because I can get my trunk lights to come on at an exact spot when opening then they go off if it’s higher than that point. I didn’t think the light under the rear deck on the body itself was part of that same loom as the ones in the trunk lid that shine down, why would that be affected?
    That's the way the underhood lamp is supposed to work.

    Mike Barrett
    Mike Barrett
    94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
    96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Woodstock, GA
    Posts
    566
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 540i6
    What a dumb design haha. Well I guess that narrows it down to the harness then. Guess I’ll pull the whole thing out of the trunk lid and see what’s going on.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Liberal Loontown, CA
    Posts
    2,658
    My Cars
    Cool Volvo, Ugly BMW
    Quote Originally Posted by G8nightman View Post
    Link?
    http://www.engl-production.de/heckklappenkabelsatz.html

    Need some proper crimpers, Greenlee Crimp-all comes to mind. Will need to check the die number.
    What "thumbs up" really means




  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Woodstock, GA
    Posts
    566
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 540i6
    Yeah those are the factory bmw repair connections. I have the crimpers for those so that’ll work nice, thanks.

    That website sucks how do you even buy stuff
    Last edited by killian665; 02-14-2018 at 01:41 AM.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Woodstock, GA
    Posts
    566
    My Cars
    2001 BMW 540i6
    Okay good talk

Similar Threads

  1. E39 FS OEM 5 series e39 right, passenger tail light
    By sharksfan in forum Exterior Lighting & Body Parts
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-04-2011, 12:45 PM
  2. right side tail light for sale
    By billyr3d in forum 1996 - 2002 Z3 (E36/7, E36/8)
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-09-2006, 10:12 PM
  3. WTB: E34 Right Outer Tail Light
    By Kdog2112 in forum BMW Parts Wanted
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 08-03-2006, 02:09 PM
  4. Water in Trunk, Tail light failure on OBC
    By Ubertino in forum General BMW Mechanical Help sponsored by RM European Auto Parts
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 05-14-2005, 03:34 PM
  5. Trunk Tail Lights
    By nocalbmw in forum 1996 - 2003 (E39)
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 03-28-2005, 07:01 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •