:banghead
Ok, I'm posting this question in an attempt to avoid paying a shop by the hour to track down my problem.
I've got a 1986 325 with the 2.7L engine. I'm not particularly a BMW fan, but I know they're good reliable cars. I picked this one up for a mere $900 (which was the main reason for my ownership) and it only had 115,000 miles on it.
My problem is this. I've got a short in the electrical system, verified by running test leads from the negative battery terminal to the unattached ground cable. It shows 12. something volts, which I've read signifies a short. I don't have any blown fuses (which is confusing), so I started removing fuses to try to narrow down the short. Well I was finally was able to eliminate the short by pulling fuses 21, 27 and 28. Which, according to the Bentley manual is the radio circuit (the only thing all 3 have in common). I've had the dash nearly completely removed and have a grey w/red striped wire that shows as grounded. But the Bentley book shows this wire in a variety of functions (mainly lighting). I've pulled the light switch connector, radio connector, multi-function clock connector and various other connectors in an attempt to track it down without luck. I can eliminate the grey/red wire short, but not the system short.
I can't seem to find a wiring diagram that shows the radio circuitry, so I'm not sure where to go from here.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm inclined to continue replacing the alternator brush/regulator rather than pay high dollars to a repair shop where it could take hours or days to track down.
Thanks...
Dino
Ok, I'm posting this question in an attempt to avoid paying a shop by the hour to track down my problem.
I've got a 1986 325 with the 2.7L engine. I'm not particularly a BMW fan, but I know they're good reliable cars. I picked this one up for a mere $900 (which was the main reason for my ownership) and it only had 115,000 miles on it.
My problem is this. I've got a short in the electrical system, verified by running test leads from the negative battery terminal to the unattached ground cable. It shows 12. something volts, which I've read signifies a short. I don't have any blown fuses (which is confusing), so I started removing fuses to try to narrow down the short. Well I was finally was able to eliminate the short by pulling fuses 21, 27 and 28. Which, according to the Bentley manual is the radio circuit (the only thing all 3 have in common). I've had the dash nearly completely removed and have a grey w/red striped wire that shows as grounded. But the Bentley book shows this wire in a variety of functions (mainly lighting). I've pulled the light switch connector, radio connector, multi-function clock connector and various other connectors in an attempt to track it down without luck. I can eliminate the grey/red wire short, but not the system short.
I can't seem to find a wiring diagram that shows the radio circuitry, so I'm not sure where to go from here.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm inclined to continue replacing the alternator brush/regulator rather than pay high dollars to a repair shop where it could take hours or days to track down.
Thanks...
Dino