Taillight Warning Light

[mrniceguy]

The warning light for the right rear of my 2002 325i comes on periodically. I've taken the car to the dealer and they replaced all of the bulbs in the right rear. The next day, the warning indicator came on again. With no rhyme or reason, sometimes it comes on, sometimes it goes out. All the lights work. There is no corrosion in the sockets. This has me stumped. The dealer said it "could" be a wiring problem [if so, it'll be big bucks]. I'd like to know is there something else I can check before taking it back in. Is there a switch, relay, or control module? used:

[Ocean02]

You can check out my thread on this exact problem. I was fighting this for weeks.

Try this: Remove the right-rear light cluster from inside your trunk. Unplug the connector and check for dirty or burnt connector pins. If there was a bad bulb in there, it could have shorted and made a bad connection from the burning, etc. (That was my problem).

Also, take a small, flathead screwdriver and gently pry the contacts for each bulb (on the cluster) upward. They operate as a spring when the bulb is pressed down into their respective sockets. If the contact isn't pushing enough against the bottom of the bulb, then your car will not get a good, solid signal from that bulb all the time, and it my "think" the bulb is going bad. While you are doing this, also take the screwdriver and scratch the surface of each of the contacts where the bulb touches them, to ensure a good contact connection.

That, with scraping out any corrosion from the connector and pins should do the trick. If not, then tripple-check that you have the correct bulbs in there. (1156 bulbs).

Best of luck!

[Ocean02]

P.S.

Here's the link to my previous post on this. It was literally the exact same friggin' problem. Same model car, same year, same side, everything!

When you clean out the connector, you can use a small paperclip, unfolded to scrape out any corrosion. That's what I used. Just peek in there and you'll most likely see one of the connector holes looks burnt or corroded.

Best,

[Ocean02]

http://www.bimmerwerkz.com/forum/3-s...ine-44276.html

Damn I'm out of it today. Here's the link...

[mrniceguy]

Thanks Ocean02! That solved my problem. The dealer said they replaced all of the bulbs on that side. After thorough inspection, I can tell they did not. I took each bulb and rubbed the tip with a nail file (gently) so to show a shiney surface. Then I used a flat blade screwdriver and scratched a shiney surface in each socket. Other then a light oxidation, it was not corroded (like I would have thought using the term "corroded"). But its must have been enough oxidation, to effect the sensitive current. It has been 3 days and the warning light has not come back on.

Thanks again. I was totally frustrated.

[Ocean02]

I know EXACTLY how you feel! Well done on fixing it yourself. Glad to have been of service!