320i Impianto Luci Stop

[Bela27]

Hello, it's -16°C outside and i got message on OBC: Impianto Luci Stop (and check control light on cluster). The car is 320i 1996. manual with 246k kilometers.
Can someone help me to diagnose this problem?

[shogun]

Probably your battery is too weak and all reset to original.
That is Italian language for brake light problem. You can switch the language on your car:
RESETTING THE BMW DASH LANGUAGE
The language is stored in the Coding Plug. This is located in chocolate-brown harness connector on the back of the instrument cluster. After 2/89 this is a separate plug on the back of the cluster.When the cluster is first powered up the language is normally German or country of destination by default. To change the language,
1. Ignition switch in the OFF position.
2. Press and HOLD the right instrument cluster button.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the on position.
4. Wait about 10 seconds. The next language will be displayed.
5. Hold the button until the desired language appears.
If the language doesn't hold one of the following has occurred:
a) Code Plug has bad connection. - Check wiring for breaks or shorts. Disconnect and then reconnect the Coding Plug on the back of instrument cluster.
b) Coding Plug may be defective. Replace Coding Plug.
c) Instrument cluster motherboard is dead. When this is the case there are normally other problems present, such as : jumpy needles, tripometer resets itself to zero, gong keeps sounding even after the brakes are depressed,...etc.
E36 OBC V The test function are accessed by pressing the "1000" and "10" buttons simultaneously. Test function(1,10,18,19,& 21) are unlocked and can be called up by inputting the number and pressing " SET/RES" Number 10 is Language change.
BC V TEST FUNCTIONS
The BC contains test data values that can be accessed for troubleshooting purposes. The following is a list of the test functions and numbers that are stored in the BC
1. Display test - test all of the LCD segments in the display matrix
2. Momentary consumption (L/100Km) - based on the current "ti"signal and road speed
3. Momentary consumption (L/h) - based on current "ti"signal only
4. Range consumption -5.
Momentary range (Km) - range left on fuel in tank when reserve light is on
6. Not used
7. Fuel level from the instrument cluster - average value
8. Momentary speed (Km) - current speed averaged over 2 seconds
9. Operating voltage - available to BC from KL R
10. Language for display -11.
Units readout - for display of mileage/gallons - etc.
12. Average speed for arrival time function
13. Momentary arrival computed
14. ROM - date
15. Readout of fault memory - vendor use only
16. I/O port status - vendor use only
17. Encoding of vehicle specific data - vendor use only
18. Alarm mode - for BC code function - pulse or continuous tone
19. Lock/Unlock function
20. Fuel consumption correction factor
21. Software reset function
The test functions are accessed by pressing the "1000" and "10" buttons simultaneously.
Test functions #1, #10, #14, #19 and #21 are unlocked and can be called up by entering the number and pressing SET/RES.
The other test functions are locked out and test #19 must be used to release the test functions for display. The unlock procedure is as follows
• Call up test #19 - " LOCK ON" is displayed in the matrix display.
• Use the number input buttons to enter the sum of the day and month displayed on the clock.
• Press SET/RES and the computer is now unlocked for display of all test functions
To relock the test functions when through with the testing, call up test #19 and press SET/RES twice.

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/all/ele...ret_codes.html
http://www.bimmerinfo.com/E36_OBC_tricks.htm

[Bela27]

I can feel when starting the car that the battery is not so powerfull as before 2 weeks when temperature was about +5°C.
My OBC has pixel poblems, and i can read hard (i must put fingers to the display so i can see what letter is there).

[shogun]

You can repair the OBC with a new ribbon cable, search on ebay for BMW E31 E36 OBC (8 / 11 / 18 button) LCD RIBBON CABLE FOR DISPLAY PIXEL REPAIR

[samy01]

I can feel when starting the car that the battery is not so powerfull as before 2 weeks when temperature was about +5°C.
My OBC has pixel poblems, and i can read hard (i must put fingers to the display so i can see what letter is there).

then you probably have a problem with your battery. i recommend to go to a shop in your case.

[Bela27]

Yeasterday i didn't start the car all day, and today i try to start, he is trying to start but he can't, i changed the battery with other one and same thing, yeasterday was -19°C, can be that gasolise has frozen?

[shogun]

There is always a small amount of moisture in a gas tank as the result of condensation. A little water in the gas tank is nothing to worry about but if you have too much, you're going to have problems.
Keep your fuel tank as full as possible. That is the cheapest and easiest thing you can do to minimize condensation in your fuel tank. Water vapor starts condensing on the top and sides of the tank's interior surface when humid air gets into your gas tank, Try to keep the tank at least half full. Three-quarters full is even better.
Use a fuel additive designed to help water mix with your fuel. Almost all auto parts stores offer several kinds of fuel additives that may help.
If there is moisture inside the tank, the moisture/water has a higher specific gravity than the fuel and will be on the bottom of the tank where the fuel pump is.

Do you hear the fuel pump? Are the fuel line under pressure?

[Bela27]

It was +1 yeasterday and the car started, engine was running rough, but after some time it's stabilised... today the engine started with no problems...

[shogun]

add into the fuel tank some fuel additive and cleaner, Water Remover contains isopropyl alcohol and some special additives designed to remove moisture from gasoline. When added to the fuel tank, Water Remover absorbs the water and prevents the water from freezing. The encapsulated moisture is burned during combustion inside the engine.

[Bela27]

Should i add now some additive and cleaner because the outside temperature will be +5, +15°C after 2 days...

[shogun]

I do that in regular intervals to remove moisture from tank. Check in your car parts shop in Croatia what they sell, there are many different brands, for example from STP all season water remover http://www.stp.com/products/fuel-add...-water-remover
All Season Water Remover year round—especially during the winter and in warm, wet weather.

[Bela27]

I will check in parts shop, and how much addditive must i put in tank?

[shogun]

it is written on the additive bottle how to mix. For example the small STP bottle is for 21 gallons of fuel = approx. 1 complete fuel tank.

[Bela27]

Ok, thank you

[Bela27]

Today, i was driving 15km and i got again message Impianto Luci Stop, and i reached my destination and forgot to check my brake light and after 1h i tried to start the car and nothing turned on, so the cluster was dead, after 30min i got other battery and changed it and the car turned on and the brake light is always ON, but message was again there. So i drive to work and turn off the car and disconnected the battery. What should i check when i go home? I have another switch for brake from m50b20 (my is m52b20). Should i try change it?

[shogun]

check both switches, there are 2-pole and 4-pole switches. If same, install the other one http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=35_0452
This is a switch used on E34 and E32, he cleaned it, just for info http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_25.htm

[Bela27]

I found the problem, first the left rear bulb was bad and not working, i changed that, and i found that radio is draining much current (1.45A), and when i disconect radio the current dropped to 0.02A
I changed radio and same problem...

[Bela27]

I changed the bulb, and i got again message: impianto luci stop (and check engine light is on)

[shogun]

Did you change the brake light switch meanwhile?

[Bela27]

I didn't, but the problem with check control and impianto luci stop is gone... if it shows again then i will change switch...

[jmo69]

(and check engine light is on)

You'll need to scan the car to find out what's causing the light to light. My guess would be lean codes or misfires, but you won't know till you scan it.

[Bela27]

Can someone send me private message with some diagnostic tool(ebay) that are good for my car? I have obd1...

[ultimatetester]

This car doesn’t have check engine. Do you mean check control? It comes on whenever there’s a message on your obc. So you already know what is wrong.

[Bela27]

My bad, it is check control on cluster...

[Bela27]

Result: it was bad brake light switch