Just bought a 2000 Z3 and have several issues I need to clean up.
#1, the Parking Brake light is on. It appears to be a defective switch as I can wiggle the lever around and it blinks off and on but won't stay off. Question" where is the switch located and how how do I get to it (remove the console?)
#2. Button on dash left of clock "DSC". Pushing it in causes a notification light on the instrument panel to come on. Traction Control or????. Can't find it in the Owners Manual
I'll have more as I go along but any help on this will be appreciated
For the first question, RealOEM.com is your friend. It will show you where everything goes and what part numbers you need to order if something is broken.
For the second question, DSC is Dynamic Stability Control. If you turn it off, there is a light in the cluster to inform you that it is not there to protect you. For normal driving, you should leave it on.
That's interesting.
The switch almost has to be under the hand brake lever. You can easily access that area by removing the boot. To do that, you simply pull up and forward on the back of the boot. It's glued to a plastic frame that pops out. You shouldn't need to remove the boot, but if you do, there is a zip tie around the brake handle the holds the boot.
OK, got the boot off as per Blacklane and found what looks like the switch at the back. However it's tight in there and to remove it I have to get to a phillips screw on the side which requires removing that part of the console. I jiggled and wiggled as far as I could reach with my little finger. The warning light on the dash is totally off now, (so far). When I get more time I'll investigate further. Need to invest in a can of electronic cleaner spray anyway and that might work to unstick the switch (if that's what the problem is)
I fiddled with the switch as best I could without getting into the center console and finally just disconnected it. Ordered a new switch after much searching (me and the dealer parts guy).
Saved a few tax bucks ordering it on line and it arrived in a 12"x12"x12" box, stuffed with big bubble packing and wrapped in a plastic security envelope. It's an itty bitty switch for Crissakes!!
Anyway, I took the car to an Indie yesterday to check a thump in the rear and and fix an oil drip.
I was telling him that I had to put the new switch in and he told me he'd fixed that. It was bent out of shape. So now I have an extra. If anybody needs it I'll sell it for $15 free shipping.
Also my cruise control was working intermittently so I checked on the forum for ideas. Seems like any interruption in the electrical circuit can cause the CC not to work, such as brake light out, wrong bulb etc.
Well, after repairing the hand brake switch the CC is working again. Who knew?
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