Electrical Problem 91 525I
user2532
09-01-2003, 08:41 PM
My wipers , power seat controls , power locks, windows, computer display, and radio went out yesterday. They came back on momentarily
when I started the car this morning, then went out again. All the fuses
under the hood look fine. I think it's got to be a bad connection somewhere. Anyone had the same experience? Thank's in advance.
Brad
when I started the car this morning, then went out again. All the fuses
under the hood look fine. I think it's got to be a bad connection somewhere. Anyone had the same experience? Thank's in advance.
Brad
engisfun
09-13-2003, 12:54 PM
This identical problem happened to my mother-in-law 91-525i on Thursday. What a coincidence for the same model and same year about the same time !
On Thursday, she was driving to our place, and the computer and radio went out suddenly . When she got to my place, the sun roof won't close. She locked the door and then realized that the door won't open any more. We tried all the doors and the trunk, and the key did nothing on any of them !
It was fortunate that the Sun roof was open, so I reached in and unlocked the door for her. Somehow everything start working again.
On Friday (i.e. yesterday), the same things happened again. I walked through all the electrial functions, and noticed the identical list not working, e.g. wipers, power-seat, power-lock, windows, computre and radio. All the light, the horn, the window washer, heater blower, ignition, starter continue to work fine. However, the failed list stay not operational.
I've measured the voltage at the fuse socket and they all read-out OK. I've also replaced all the fuses, with no effect. Could this be a problem of some relay, but why should I measure any voltage at the fuse socket then ? or some marginal wiring after the fuses ? Grounding problem ?
The worst part is that she don't feel comfortable to drive the car away. Both the car and her is now stuck at our place ! Not knowing what caused the electical problem, I can't risk a divorce by telling my wife's mother that the fuel pump or ignition won't fail soon.
BTW : we had a power problem with a 90-325i some years ago, but were able to use the key to open the driver side door (from my fussy re-collection). So we were quite surprised to find that we can't open any of the door on the 91-525i ! We owned quite a few different BMW model over the years, and never noticed this problem of not being able to open at least one door with the key under all circumstances ! Is this a normal behaviorfor certain model and year ?
Any suggestion would be much appreciated. Thanks.
On Thursday, she was driving to our place, and the computer and radio went out suddenly . When she got to my place, the sun roof won't close. She locked the door and then realized that the door won't open any more. We tried all the doors and the trunk, and the key did nothing on any of them !
It was fortunate that the Sun roof was open, so I reached in and unlocked the door for her. Somehow everything start working again.
On Friday (i.e. yesterday), the same things happened again. I walked through all the electrial functions, and noticed the identical list not working, e.g. wipers, power-seat, power-lock, windows, computre and radio. All the light, the horn, the window washer, heater blower, ignition, starter continue to work fine. However, the failed list stay not operational.
I've measured the voltage at the fuse socket and they all read-out OK. I've also replaced all the fuses, with no effect. Could this be a problem of some relay, but why should I measure any voltage at the fuse socket then ? or some marginal wiring after the fuses ? Grounding problem ?
The worst part is that she don't feel comfortable to drive the car away. Both the car and her is now stuck at our place ! Not knowing what caused the electical problem, I can't risk a divorce by telling my wife's mother that the fuel pump or ignition won't fail soon.
BTW : we had a power problem with a 90-325i some years ago, but were able to use the key to open the driver side door (from my fussy re-collection). So we were quite surprised to find that we can't open any of the door on the 91-525i ! We owned quite a few different BMW model over the years, and never noticed this problem of not being able to open at least one door with the key under all circumstances ! Is this a normal behaviorfor certain model and year ?
Any suggestion would be much appreciated. Thanks.
jhn
09-14-2003, 06:07 PM
A week ago the same exact thing has started with my 90 525i, with the same symptoms and everything. Once in a while the power will come on for a few seconds but then shut right off. This problem has been a real pain lately because my windshield whippers wont work when it rains. So today I took my car over to an European technician that sold me the car, and he is going to take a look at it and try fixing it. That is crazy that the exact same thing happened to all of us around the same time. When i get it back I will let you all know what the problem was and what he did to fix it.
John.
John.
engisfun
09-14-2003, 10:28 PM
I've found this correction procedure "http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Electrical/Fusible_link.htm"; which seem to match our problem pretty well !
When I removed the fusible link, it seem to be indeed broken underneath the 4x10mm screw. However, I can't be 100% sure that the turing of the screw didn't actually break the fusible link either. I should have (but didn't) measure the resistance before turning the screw ! Since I've measured some voltage at the fuse socket before, it could mean that the fuse was marginal, i.e. a very high impedance but not fully opened yet. You may want to measure the resistance before turning the screen for curiosity.
I can't find the replacement fuse, which is 80A, from all my neighboorhood auto part stores this weekend. I won't be able to verify that this actually fixes the problem until I get hold of the fusible link, hopefully, tomorrow from the BMW dealer.
I could have solder the fuselink, or short out the gap, but don't want to risk changing the fuse characeteristic without knowing whether the fusible link is a cause or consequence of another problem. Have anybody try soldering an opened fuse before ?
BTW : there are also a number of procedures to open the locked door there "http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/Locked.htm";. Pretty neat tricks !
When I removed the fusible link, it seem to be indeed broken underneath the 4x10mm screw. However, I can't be 100% sure that the turing of the screw didn't actually break the fusible link either. I should have (but didn't) measure the resistance before turning the screw ! Since I've measured some voltage at the fuse socket before, it could mean that the fuse was marginal, i.e. a very high impedance but not fully opened yet. You may want to measure the resistance before turning the screen for curiosity.
I can't find the replacement fuse, which is 80A, from all my neighboorhood auto part stores this weekend. I won't be able to verify that this actually fixes the problem until I get hold of the fusible link, hopefully, tomorrow from the BMW dealer.
I could have solder the fuselink, or short out the gap, but don't want to risk changing the fuse characeteristic without knowing whether the fusible link is a cause or consequence of another problem. Have anybody try soldering an opened fuse before ?
BTW : there are also a number of procedures to open the locked door there "http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/trouble/Locked.htm";. Pretty neat tricks !
jhn
09-15-2003, 11:36 PM
Well I got my car back in working order now. What seemed to be the matter was I had a missing relay.... Well any way he got a new one and put it in and now everything is working like it used to. I hope yall find the problem on yall's, and hopefully it will be as easy as mine was.
John
John
engisfun
09-15-2003, 11:55 PM
I've got the replacement fuse link from the BMW dealer this morning for $2.12 (tax included), and everything now works.
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2025