318i short circuit

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

cowznofsky - 25 Oct 2007 13:28 GMT

Just got an electrical problem and wondered if anybody had hints about
where to look.

It's a 1984 318i. The radio (a recent one from the previous owner),
clock, glove compartment light (there is one, right?) and dome light
on the driver's door are out.
So I checked the fuse and it was blown. Tried a new one and it blew
immediately as it went in. So I'm not sure about where to start on
this.

Some other info that should be unrelated. I had taken off the fuse
cover a few days earlier and the catch on the cover snapped, so I had
driven briefly without the cover, but it all looks clean and dry.
Next, the trunk had been left up overnight just before this situation
happened.
Speedometer has been intermittent for some time.

Reply to this Message

cosmo - 26 Oct 2007 08:40 GMT

>Just got an electrical problem and wondered if anybody had hints about
>where to look.

Library?

>It's a 1984 318i. The radio (a recent one from the previous owner),
>clock, glove compartment light (there is one, right?) and dome light
>on the driver's door are out.

If you don't have a manual, start at the library and trace the circuit
for those devices.

>So I checked the fuse and it was blown. Tried a new one and it blew
>immediately as it went in. So I'm not sure about where to start on
>this.

I'd start with the radio as it's been owner added and probably the
most recent change in the electrical system. Look for a "black tape
fallen off and skinned wires touching the frame" problem.
Thou shalt not replace the fuse with a higher value.

>Some other info that should be unrelated. I had taken off the fuse
>cover a few days earlier and the catch on the cover snapped, so I had
>driven briefly without the cover, but it all looks clean and dry.

The snap is off my fusebox cover too. It sits on there fine without
it.

>Next, the trunk had been left up overnight just before this situation
>happened.

Probably unrelated. Bad luck runs in multiples though, right? My trunk
('88 325) has a light in it, which I guess could heat the circuit if
it was on all night.

>Speedometer has been intermittent for some time.

Does it come on if you flick the dial with your finger? (my temp gauge
is like that). If so check the connectors on the back of the dash.
Also, some models have a battery in the back of the dashboard that
needs replacement every four years or so. I don't know if the speedo
is part of that setup though.
Good luck and happy motoring.

Reply to this Message