Starting and whiper-problem

[malle pietje]

Hey there! I'm new here, so a little introduction;

I've bought a 1997 E39 525tds touring, green with cream leather and have been driving it for 10.000km now, mileage is 290.000km, without any problems.

Since it beginning to rain, the whiper stopt working for now and then. After changing the relais, and checking everything (thanks to this site!), the garage read out the computer but couldn't find anything but "fault in circuit". He's been searching for 2 weeks, didn''t find a thing. Now, for 2 days, the wipers have started working again, but not how they should be. There no speed in fastest position, and in normal continues position, they go in interval. I cannot trust them on working....

I've tried fixing it, but i've messed up something. I've used 12v from the wires that are being split in 2 by a little cube on the side of the box and blown a fuse or something. Now, there's no pre-heating on the glowsparks but the fuse of the unit is still intact, no 12v on the fuses of the computer in the box and the car won't start (because it's not pre-heating, boardcomputer just stays black for the time it should be preheating). This image shows the fuses, which don't have 12v, with of without ignition on.



These are the wires that used to give 12v, but now don't.



Summary;
the 2 big red wires with 12v, feeding something, don't have 12v anymore. Can't find blown fuses, 12v on the preheating box still there, but the computer doesn't seem to get 12v.

Who nows where to seach? I've lost it completely and didn't drive my beloved E39 for 3 weeks now!!! Where is the fuse for the two red wires, that has to be blown?

Please help,

thanks, Frank

[malle pietje]

Anyone?

[marti5]

You must have more fuses than that, check the main fuse box out.

[malle pietje]

Hi Marti5,

as far as I know, there's a fusebox in the glove compartment and a fusebox in the back. Both of them I've checked, but everything is ok, no blown fuses of anything at all...

Is there another fusebox I didn't know of?

[marti5]

Where the battery ? you may a have an in line fuse from the positive. just off the pos lead next to the batt.

[marti5]

If you need a workshop manual, this is the only one I know about, but does cost , not much:

BMW 5 Series Workshop Manual, Service Manual, Repair Manual

[marti5]

I suppose you may have a short on the wiper stick, which is affecting the ignition switch, which would effect the whole ignition system and maybe thats why the wipers are working strange, worth dropping the under side of the steering column and checking the wires there, the other thing is have you removed the DME cover, a while ago I remember someone one here having water in there due to a blocked drain hole.

[malle pietje]

Thanks Marti!

I'll go and check any fuses near the battery, I know there's a few.

The garages checked all the stiks for indication and whipers, I checked it too, couldn't see anything, but I'll check it again!

thanks!

[malle pietje]

Well, no blown fuses in the back. I found these heavy fuses at the battery, but all are good. Also, there's a 40A fuse next to the fusebox, but this one's allright as well.

No faults found at the whiperunit underneath the steeringcolum...

Any suggestions?

[malle pietje]

OH, and what's the DME cover, and where can I find it? Is it the cover of the computerbox, underneath the microfilters? I cleared those, and indeed, there was wather at the whipermotor. But after checking the wires of the motor, and checking if there was power on the plug, it was clear that the problem lies somewhere else...

[marti5]

So youve had the top of the DME/ computer box ?

[marti5]

I have just re-read the whole thread, no.1.........you use 12v from the to red wires,this is not good as this might have .................shorted the DME ( the brain ), I hope not but Im have trouble sorting this,

1. what dash lights do you have on and what works on the car and what doesnt.

2. Disconnect the battery for 15 minutes neg 1st off last on.

[malle pietje]

Well, the only thing I've noticed different when turning ignition, is that there's no preheating notice, after a second or 5, the boardcomputer tells me there's the usual lights are faulty etc. The startermotor turns, lights and even (temporary) the whipers...

So, really nothing weird.

Did you mean, I've got the take the + off the battery for 15 minutes and then put it back? What do you mean by ; neg 1st off last on.?

I've checked it again, the red wire feeding the blue relais and the fuses for motormanagement don't give 12V.

[marti5]

Take both battery cables off, but Negative first off followed by the POS, when reconnecting POS 1st then NEG last.

[malle pietje]

Ok, and, do you think the DME is broken, when there's light burning, startermotor turning etc?