HELP! new E36 owner with electrical problems.

[justin1180]

just got a 92 318is. this is my first bmw so i'm definitely having to learn. have some electrical issues that i've searched on. one i can't find anything about and the other there was no clear solution to the problem.

the most pressing issue that i have is that i have no brake lights. i currently have the switch unplugged because if you have it plugged in, as soon as you hit the brakes, it will blow the fuse and i lose my fuel and temp guages. i've seen at least one other person with the exact same issue but there was no solution posted.

the other is a window issue. both the driver and passenger windows will only roll up about an inch at a time. i didn't find any posts about this.

any solutions or links to at least the most pressing issue would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

[Jack Dabsy]

The live connection to the brake light wire has "Earthed" or "Shorted" to negative this is why it is blowing fuses...
You should chase the wiring from the fusebox to the pedal swith and back to the rear lights...
Hope this helps!

[justin1180]

yes, that part i know. i just didn't know if there was a common area where the brake light circuit shorts.

[Jack Dabsy]

If the wiring seems ok then it could be the pedal switch itself....

[justin1180]

SUCCESS!!

after about 45 minutes of isolating portions of the circuit and looking for broken wires, i found that the left lamp assembly was the culprit. there is a short in it causing it to take out the entire circuit.

[Jack Dabsy]

Excellent result ;-)

[jimmythepie]

Dabs,your a welcome noob. You should go far here,we need someone like you since the resy of the guys went AWOL.

[Jack Dabsy]

Thx Jimmy... Here to stay, mate !!!
As for the elec windows prob as mentioned... It could be the EWS module at fault as I have a similar issue with my sunroof !!!
DAZ

[justin1180]

thanks dabsy. i'll check that out