Minor electrical glitch-bad relay? - Page 2 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

ard · 12th June 2006, 02:25

DME is under the hood- actually, under the right side cabin air microfilter assy. Once you take out the microfilter assy there is a white plastic case with a few screws- sealed- inside that is the DME.

Just a thought- if you loose a ground connection point, where multiple circuits used to tie to ground, sometimes one circuit tries to find ground through another circuit..funny things happen. I don't have schematics handy, but I'd see if any of the items that are doing funny things have anything in common (cable bundles, ground points, etc...)

Good luck

A

gsfent · 12th June 2006, 03:20

Thanks for all the good info and pics. Tozzy suggested I check the gearshift lever light the next time I had the problem. When I got in the car today, I noticed the gearshift light out. Hmmm. Dash lights working. I instictively tried turning the knob ( I know it really doesn't turn) and found out clockwise pressure turned off the lights!!! CC pressure put them back on. I pulled the knob, and the long wire to what I assume was the top of the knob on the inside is disconnected. Not sure how to put it back together, not a lot of room to work there. No gearshift light, but I think my dash lights are back. Any help on fixing the gearshift light?
Regards,
Jerry

Tozzy · 12th June 2006, 10:30

The module behind the glovebox is the "General Module", it controls wipers, central locking, power windows and lots more...

Is the wire disconnected from the knob or is it still connected to the knob but disconnected further down? I will try to have a look at mine tonight..

/Thomas

gsfent · 12th June 2006, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tozzy

Is the wire disconnected from the knob or is it still connected to the knob but disconnected further down? I will try to have a look at mine tonight..

/Thomas

It appears disconnected from inside the top of the knob, just where one might expect an electircal connection for the gear shift light. It is connected at the white pin connector a few inches farther away, the one you normally pull when you take off the boot. . I am trying to see where the loose wire goes.......I suspect, careful use of a small soldering iron will work if I can see where the wire goes, but I don't want to make a mess...Thx.
Regards,
Jerry

Tozzy · 12th June 2006, 17:21

I would dissconect the white pin connector until the wire is secure to the knob again, to prevent short circuits causing more damage. Did you do the clutch yourself or in a shop? if in a shop I would go back and have them fix it since it's quite obvious the wires were yanked out of the knob.
I'll check if there is a way to access the lamp for soldering tonight.

Tozzy · 13th June 2006, 10:15

I did not dare to use any force on my knob, but if you try to use a small skrewdriver maybe you can carefully get a grip of the top part with the illuminated gear-grid and lift it up. If it's already broken it might be worth the risk to do this

gsfent · 13th June 2006, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tozzy

I did not dare to use any force on my knob, but if you try to use a small skrewdriver maybe you can carefully get a grip of the top part with the illuminated gear-grid and lift it up. If it's already broken it might be worth the risk to do this

It lifts off with medium force. I simply took the wire and for now, layed it on the padding surrounding the gearshift. I simply coiled it once around. It is not touching anything and the area is some type of soft material, does not conduct electricity.
Regards,
Jerry