I haven't used this account in over 2 years, I don't know how updated my stuff is. This is a 2002 325i, sedan, manual.
OK, 3 months ago, I go to leave and my car is dead. So, I call a friend to jump me and had my keys in my pocket. Once I clamped the last clamp to the battery, my taillights came on and when I looked in my car, my dash lights were on; keys were in pocket. I had to work the next day and it was night time so I jumped it, drove to charge battery and then came home and unplugged the battery. The next morning, I connect the battery and everything was great. For 3 months I never had the problem again, so I couldn't diagnose it.
4 days ago, I start car and everything was fine, and then drove to gas station. When I parked at the gas station, I tried to roll up windows and my system just went nuts. When I was first trying to roll up window, my window was jumping like it was loosing power and getting it back, maybe a 1/4 inch at a time. At this moment, I realize something is wrong, so I turn my key and engine off. My head lights, dash lights, every light that was on and maybe more, just started doing the rave and strobing like crazy. So I pushed the clutch and started it, lights and stuff were still kind of being weird but for the most part everything seemed normal. So, I turn key off and the lights just go crazy again. For the past 3 days, if my key was not in the on position when the reconnecting battery, the rave would happen. I'm going to stop there. There was way more, but you get the idea. will explain more if needed.
Ok, as a guys that works on anything I can, I am use to the normal process. Something messes up, it stays messed up, and then it gets fixed. Something else might go bad as a result of that being bad, but it's all common sense. Bearing goes out, tire will wear unevenly. switch goes out, windows doesn't work, on the other hand; this problem has been a progressive problem.
1. My electrical system messed up, then fixed it self in one night. Lights wouldn't shut off.
(3 months later)
2.My electrical problem is happening again, and is not even acting like the first time. My windows are being weird and lights are strobing. For the next 2 days, every time I went anywhere, I had to leave my key in the on position so car doesn't strobe.
4.Today, I go to leave for work and it was 30 degrees so I went to turn on heat and heat will not work. The actual heater control face will not light up, and the buttons do nothing. At the same time, just my regular interior lights are on. They are not bright, but about half way to work (14 min drive) the interiors started strobing slowly and still not getting too bright.
5. At break (11:00), the sun was out, melted all the snow, and it was actually warm in the car from the sun, so I hooked battery up and wanted to see if I could figure anything out. Forgetting to put my key in the on position, as I was hooking up battery I thought, "I will have to hurry and put key in ignition to stop the strobing, but when I hooked up battery, nothing happened. So I opened door, and dash lights came on with the buzzing noise. So I got in and shut my door and the lights all shut off, like everything was normal. Stuck key in ignition and started car, everything seemed normal. tried to roll windows down, and nothing happens except my interior lights get brighter if I pull one up (any window switch)
So, right now
Key in ignition and engine on--------- everything seems fine.
key not in ignition with door shut---- everything seems fine.
Key not in ignition with door open---- all dash lights come on and taillights are lit up.
Whether on or off, the windows and heater will not work.
The heater will not even turn on, and window switches control brightness of interior lights
Related Notes:
OK, this is something I should have dealt with a while ago, but it never messed with anything so I left it. I have owned this car for 3-4 years and this has been a problem the whole time and nothing has ever happened. It makes me think its not the problem since it's been there for so long but...... Every time it rains, there is water in my magazine holder on the door. I think it comes in through the windows bottom outside seal and then between the bottom two pieces of trim on the door. Magazine holder being the bottom of the two pieces.
I went to school for cars but never finished. I took electronics class (E&E) but never took (AEP) Advanced engine protocol. I'm not good with electrical stuff when the car is running, but I have a basic understanding and a decent multi-meter. Just thought I would throw that out there.
I forgot to post the video first. I recorded a video of me doing some of this stuff and am going to put it on YouTube, will be back to link it.
Thanks to all!
Hope this can be fixed, I have no other option. It does not seem to be messing with my engine in anyway, and other than my dash lights staying on at times, it does not mess with the performance of the dash's gauges, they all work perfectly fine. Radio works fine. seat warmers work. driver mirror can still be adjusted. When car is on, headlights work perfectly fine,I hope taillights are too.
I can't think of anything else, once again, thanks for the replies.
OK, 3 months ago, I go to leave and my car is dead. So, I call a friend to jump me and had my keys in my pocket. Once I clamped the last clamp to the battery, my taillights came on and when I looked in my car, my dash lights were on; keys were in pocket. I had to work the next day and it was night time so I jumped it, drove to charge battery and then came home and unplugged the battery. The next morning, I connect the battery and everything was great. For 3 months I never had the problem again, so I couldn't diagnose it.
4 days ago, I start car and everything was fine, and then drove to gas station. When I parked at the gas station, I tried to roll up windows and my system just went nuts. When I was first trying to roll up window, my window was jumping like it was loosing power and getting it back, maybe a 1/4 inch at a time. At this moment, I realize something is wrong, so I turn my key and engine off. My head lights, dash lights, every light that was on and maybe more, just started doing the rave and strobing like crazy. So I pushed the clutch and started it, lights and stuff were still kind of being weird but for the most part everything seemed normal. So, I turn key off and the lights just go crazy again. For the past 3 days, if my key was not in the on position when the reconnecting battery, the rave would happen. I'm going to stop there. There was way more, but you get the idea. will explain more if needed.
Ok, as a guys that works on anything I can, I am use to the normal process. Something messes up, it stays messed up, and then it gets fixed. Something else might go bad as a result of that being bad, but it's all common sense. Bearing goes out, tire will wear unevenly. switch goes out, windows doesn't work, on the other hand; this problem has been a progressive problem.
1. My electrical system messed up, then fixed it self in one night. Lights wouldn't shut off.
(3 months later)
2.My electrical problem is happening again, and is not even acting like the first time. My windows are being weird and lights are strobing. For the next 2 days, every time I went anywhere, I had to leave my key in the on position so car doesn't strobe.
4.Today, I go to leave for work and it was 30 degrees so I went to turn on heat and heat will not work. The actual heater control face will not light up, and the buttons do nothing. At the same time, just my regular interior lights are on. They are not bright, but about half way to work (14 min drive) the interiors started strobing slowly and still not getting too bright.
5. At break (11:00), the sun was out, melted all the snow, and it was actually warm in the car from the sun, so I hooked battery up and wanted to see if I could figure anything out. Forgetting to put my key in the on position, as I was hooking up battery I thought, "I will have to hurry and put key in ignition to stop the strobing, but when I hooked up battery, nothing happened. So I opened door, and dash lights came on with the buzzing noise. So I got in and shut my door and the lights all shut off, like everything was normal. Stuck key in ignition and started car, everything seemed normal. tried to roll windows down, and nothing happens except my interior lights get brighter if I pull one up (any window switch)
So, right now
Key in ignition and engine on--------- everything seems fine.
key not in ignition with door shut---- everything seems fine.
Key not in ignition with door open---- all dash lights come on and taillights are lit up.
Whether on or off, the windows and heater will not work.
The heater will not even turn on, and window switches control brightness of interior lights
Related Notes:
OK, this is something I should have dealt with a while ago, but it never messed with anything so I left it. I have owned this car for 3-4 years and this has been a problem the whole time and nothing has ever happened. It makes me think its not the problem since it's been there for so long but...... Every time it rains, there is water in my magazine holder on the door. I think it comes in through the windows bottom outside seal and then between the bottom two pieces of trim on the door. Magazine holder being the bottom of the two pieces.
I went to school for cars but never finished. I took electronics class (E&E) but never took (AEP) Advanced engine protocol. I'm not good with electrical stuff when the car is running, but I have a basic understanding and a decent multi-meter. Just thought I would throw that out there.
I forgot to post the video first. I recorded a video of me doing some of this stuff and am going to put it on YouTube, will be back to link it.
Thanks to all!
Hope this can be fixed, I have no other option. It does not seem to be messing with my engine in anyway, and other than my dash lights staying on at times, it does not mess with the performance of the dash's gauges, they all work perfectly fine. Radio works fine. seat warmers work. driver mirror can still be adjusted. When car is on, headlights work perfectly fine,I hope taillights are too.
I can't think of anything else, once again, thanks for the replies.