E36 electrical problems

[avidco]

I pride myself on being a pretty good mechanic, but I have rarely had to work on my own car after 6 years. I have found that it is easier to ask someone who works on these things everyday. I was driving along yesterday when I noticed my fuel and temp gauges were dead. Also, my brake light circuit warning light started flashing and wouldn't shut off. Other than that, the car ran great.(nothing abnormal) When I got home, I shut it off and tried to restart it. The starter won't make any noise. The lights are all bright, and the car seems to have plenty of voltage. I'm debating on changing the starter, but that doesn't explain the goofy gauge readings.

Has anyone else heard of this happening??

Oh...I have a 1996 328i with 170,000 miles on it. It is an auto.

[AlpineSixAndSeven]

Starter isn't making even a click? most likely power isn't getting power to it...
maybe there is a bad power lead..... but check for power at the starter and sonoid < spelling is failing me at the moment...
the gauges could be a fuse... brake circuit could be a bulb out or a short check all your bulbs...

[dannyb]

check your brake light switch, if its a bulb you would get brake light failure. its cheap and easy to fix

[avidco]

Update!! If fuse #46 blows...it will cause temp and fuel gauges to drop, and the car will not start. After removing entire intake manifold assembly, I figured this out. If you want to mess with someone with an E36....pull that fuse. They will never figure out why their car wont turn over.