Subject: trunk wiring Author: oberon as Jerome : member since January, 2006 : 613 posts Posted on: 2008-10-19 02:02:02

There will almost always be some bulb slots left empty in the clusters. That's normal. The clusters are shared between the E34 and E32 (7 series) and there won't be a bulb in place if your car isn't equipped with that feature. For instance, the "battery 2" bulb is only for E32s that have a 2nd battery installed (some models had this).

Of course someone may have removed a bulb (maybe the airbag or seatbelt bulb) if it annoyed them! But if the missing bulbs are for slots you don't know about (or can't find in your owners manual) then don't worry.

I can't speak for the brake switch, but one other thing that may cause a grounding in the brake circuit is a damaged wire harness in the trunk. The wires that run along the trunk lid hinge arms have a tendency to break (inside the tape wrapping them together) and cause malfunctioning reverse lights and brake lights. Usually it's just as if the wire has been cut, causing lights to not work intermittently but there's no reason it couldn't cause adjacent wires to short together, causing untold weirdness depending on which wires it is.

So my suggestion is to also check the trunk lid wires for damage at the hinging point. I forget if there are wires on just the left or both sides. I don't know if damaged trunk wires could cause your symptoms but it's worth checking.

Jerome

Current STUDENT car:
1994 Dodge Spirit (now in Seattle area)
Previous REAL car:
1992 525iA = SOLD (was in Cape Town, South Africa)

• Newbie, E34 problems - ddavison512 2008-10-10 21:11:19 (294 views)
  • Re: Newbie, E34 problems - rick540 2008-10-19 03:52:15 (155 views)
    • Re: Newbie, E34 problems - ddavison512 2008-10-19 23:42:49 (130 views)
  • Re: Newbie, E34 problems - Shayne 2008-10-10 22:16:03 (196 views)
    • Re: Newbie, E34 problems - ddavison512 2008-10-18 21:31:56 (132 views)
      • Re: Newbie, E34 problems - ddavison512 2008-11-08 19:01:53 (113 views)
        • Re: Newbie, E34 problems - ddavison512 2009-01-08 14:20:13 (78 views)
          • Re: Newbie, E34 problems - ddavison512 2009-01-24 16:59:36 (74 views)
            • Re: Newbie, E34 problems - ddavison512 2009-04-10 18:34:38 (43 views)
      • trunk wiring - Jerome 2008-10-19 02:02:02 (140 views)
        • Re: trunk wiring - ddavison512 2008-10-21 20:24:25 (136 views)
        • Re: trunk wiring - ddavison512 2008-10-19 23:35:58 (118 views)
        • Re: trunk wiring - ddavison512 2008-10-19 03:10:53 (125 views)
    • Re: Newbie, E34 problems - ddavison512 2008-10-11 01:17:06 (142 views)