Hey everybody, maybe you've been reading about my electrical problems with my 2000 528i in another thread. I thought I had found the culprit, but I was wrong.
Saturday, the electrical problems started again. I got out my service manual and started researching everything that could go wrong. I ran across a picture of a ground wire that I was not aware of (I had already cleaned and tightened the ones on the fender with all the brown wires hanging out the bottom). I think everyone with an E39 should take 5 minutes and check this out. It may save you some headaches and $.
You just need a 10mm wrench or socket.
Open hood. Unlatch the wire retainer from the passenger side cabin filter housing. Remove the lid. Remove the oval duct from the side by popping up the three locking tabs and rotate the duct toward the engine out of the way. Remove the cabin filter and housing by pulling up on the engine side and pulling toward the engine. Underneath, you will see a tuperware like container with a flat top. This contains a several relays and modules that control your cars emissions and performance. On the outside of this container (closest to the engine) you'll see a couple of rubber boots that serve as electrical raceways coming out of the container. At that location there will be a metal stud with wires and a nut. Mine was so loose I could take it off by hand. Take some sandpaper or plumbers cloth and shine up the terminals and tighten that nut.
As soon as I did, all of my electrical problems ceased. I had been having trouble with my cruise control working intermittently ever since I purchased the car. Now it works like new.
My DSC and brake light would come on after about 5 minutes of driving - and I thought it was a speed sensor or ABS unit going out. Now that's fixed.
Most recently, my car was dying altogether while driving. All of the lights on the dash would light up and the temp gauge would peg in conjunction with losing all power. Sitting on the side of the road is no fun. Now that's fixed.
Everyone within the sound of my voice should at least check this connection. It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes (seriously). If it helps you, please report back and post on this thread. Thanks!
Saturday, the electrical problems started again. I got out my service manual and started researching everything that could go wrong. I ran across a picture of a ground wire that I was not aware of (I had already cleaned and tightened the ones on the fender with all the brown wires hanging out the bottom). I think everyone with an E39 should take 5 minutes and check this out. It may save you some headaches and $.
You just need a 10mm wrench or socket.
Open hood. Unlatch the wire retainer from the passenger side cabin filter housing. Remove the lid. Remove the oval duct from the side by popping up the three locking tabs and rotate the duct toward the engine out of the way. Remove the cabin filter and housing by pulling up on the engine side and pulling toward the engine. Underneath, you will see a tuperware like container with a flat top. This contains a several relays and modules that control your cars emissions and performance. On the outside of this container (closest to the engine) you'll see a couple of rubber boots that serve as electrical raceways coming out of the container. At that location there will be a metal stud with wires and a nut. Mine was so loose I could take it off by hand. Take some sandpaper or plumbers cloth and shine up the terminals and tighten that nut.
As soon as I did, all of my electrical problems ceased. I had been having trouble with my cruise control working intermittently ever since I purchased the car. Now it works like new.
My DSC and brake light would come on after about 5 minutes of driving - and I thought it was a speed sensor or ABS unit going out. Now that's fixed.
Most recently, my car was dying altogether while driving. All of the lights on the dash would light up and the temp gauge would peg in conjunction with losing all power. Sitting on the side of the road is no fun. Now that's fixed.
Everyone within the sound of my voice should at least check this connection. It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes (seriously). If it helps you, please report back and post on this thread. Thanks!
