Car won't start, bad starter, but why did the windows stop working? - BMW Forum

jimmy154 · 11-16-2010, 11:59 AM

I took my car in to get a state mandated "safety inspection." They started the car took it in the shop lifted it up, out it down and then they said the car wouldn't start and was smoking. The mechanic told me was that the starter had been recently replaced (not by me) and that the car started smoking when he tried to start it and the starter wouldn't turn off by itself.

After that happened my windows don't work and I don't know why. Are the starter and windows on the same relay? Where is the windows relay?

It's interesting how you're forced to have morons look your car over ever year, but you're not allowed in the shop to look at them looking your car over.

witeshark · 11-16-2010, 12:30 PM

Yeah that's retarded. Have a look at the window circuit breaker; it may be a switch similar to the window buttons. If it's tripped, it'll be popped up; it can simply be pushed back down to reset.

jimmy154 · 11-16-2010, 03:42 PM

Any one know where the power window relay is in a 1995 540i? I'm having a really hard time finding out where it could be. The Bentley manual does not mention any relays under the dashboard. The fuses are labeled differently in the manual and in the car, so I don't think it will tell me where my window relay is or where my starter relay is. The starter relay I have narrowed down though and I can pull it out and search the part number and see what it does.

jimmy154 · 11-17-2010, 03:40 AM

I can't find the windows circuit breaker, I think. Why would it need one if it has fuses? There is a button between the rear window switches that seems to do nothing, but it only stays in the up position.

Can jump starting a BMW backwards (with pos. on neg. and vice versa) cause windows to stop working and starter to smoke and become inoperable?

brettski · 11-17-2010, 05:16 AM

Trying to jump start the car using the wrong polarity could do a lot of damage to your electronics, some of the damage could be hidden for some time before finally failing.

jimmy154 · 11-17-2010, 09:08 AM

Got the windows fixed. It was the relay. I measured it though and it seemed fine. I will look at it and measure it more carefully later. The wiper relay is the same so I just put that one in it's place.

I don't think the car was jump started by the shop. I can't be sure, but they convinced me.

Does any one know of a link to a tutorial on how to troubleshoot and/or take off the starter?