Back in the fold...

After having my N reg classic taken from me after a BMW decided to drive into it, I am finally back in the RR fold after a few years with a P38 DSE on a W plate.

Mechanically it seems fantastic, I realised why I missed a rr so much, but of course there are issues with electrics!

1. Orange lights coming on and draining the battery, I am aware this may be RF, so willing just to change it, but it hasn't done it at my house yet where there is plenty of wireless interference about (was at parents house this weekend) so may be related to next issue...

2. sometimes it thinks the key is left in the ignition, it only seems to like me turning the key to off, opening the door so it can tell me the key is in and then i remove it, if i follow this I haven't had the christmas tree effect so far (have GP placement in the morning, bet the battery is flat), is the car just wanting to tell me it can be helpful or is there an underlying issues

3. Interior lights, one or two bulbs gone, cannot turn on drivers side rear or main centre one, would this be causing the lights not to come on when opening the doors? have given the locks a good wd spray for now as know that can be a cause but should it fix itself once the bulbs are changed?

4. becm - any recommendations of how to clean connections to delay a certain self destruction

thank you for any help, I will endeavour to pay back any help with anything i can offer, had a G-Wagen before an still part of that forum so I am not a one post wonder (unless a bmw hits this one, in which case i may just be found outside bavarian motor works with a box of matches!!!)

Kins Regards

Tommy

Hi Tommy,
I think your first purchase should be a can of electrical contact cleaner spray!

This, squirted sparingly into your ignition lock should sort out the 'key in' message on the display, as the little flap that springs open and shut when you push the key in controls this. WD40 would do the same job but attracts dust to a certain extent.

Your contact spray is also fine for the BeCM module plugs- however, if it's ok for now, I'd leave it alone. The module gets lots of bad press... but a lot of people have absolutely no problems at all with it (me included).

What orange lights are coming on?

I would not say blown interior light bulbs would stop the others from functioning, yes this 'could' be a BeCM issue but make sure the door switches are functioning correctly, I'm pretty sure they're built into the latch assembly.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

tclynes said:

.
3. Interior lights, one or two bulbs gone, cannot turn on drivers side rear or main centre one, would this be causing the lights not to come on when opening the doors? have given the locks a good wd spray for now as know that can be a cause but should it fix itself once the bulbs are changed?


Kins Regards

Tommy

Click to expand...

Change the bulbs then hold the center light switch for a couple of seconds until the message display on the dash says "int lights on" then they should come on when you open the doors.

Thanks for the replies!

Plan of action is the contact spray and change the bulbs, fingers crossed it works!

On the interior note, the lights under the door do come on, it's this a hopeful sign?

I will leave the becm until I need to I think, if it ain't broke don't fix it!

As for orange lights, I was referring to the indicators, it didn't do it last night though so maybe it is ignition key related!

Next question, recommended oil for a change on a 100k engine, habit of mine to change it when I first get a car so I know the miles it's done

Thanks for your help chaps, really nice to have a supportive forum

Tommy

tclynes said:

Thanks for the replies!

Plan of action is the contact spray and change the bulbs, fingers crossed it works!

On the interior note, the lights under the door do come on, it's this a hopeful sign?

I will leave the becm until I need to I think, if it ain't broke don't fix it!

As for orange lights, I was referring to the indicators, it didn't do it last night though so maybe it is ignition key related!

Next question, recommended oil for a change on a 100k engine, habit of mine to change it when I first get a car so I know the miles it's done

Thanks for your help chaps, really nice to have a supportive forum

Tommy

Click to expand...

If it's an auto change the gearbox oil and filter as well. Also check the under bonnet fuse box for signs or smells of burning, the poor old BECM gets blamed for a lot that is actually due to the fuse box.
Ignition key in lock message, don't use contact cleaner, lube the lock with graphite lock lube.

If your puddle lights are coming on then that's good news as they're triggered by the same switch as the interiors.

PLEASE leave the WD40 alone. It's bad news for locks. It washes the crap out then leaves a lovely sticky surface for the next lot of crap to stick to twice as fast. If you haven't got graphite powder then you'd be better off rubbing pencil lead onto a fine file then tipping this onto your key and working it in to the lock.

The 96,000 mile service is the biggy, all fluids; engine, box, diffs, brakes, coolant and all filters.

good evening, not going to lie, not a productive evening with the p38.

popped to halfords and got bulbs for the interior after looking online stupidly without actually checking them, so ended up with the wrong ones!

did ebay some graphite for the ignition though that should be here soon and i can work on that.

with the interior lights, when i press the button in the middle between the reading lights, the puddle lights go on and off, but that light itself does not go on or off at all. i replaced the bulb and no luck with it turning on still. also the switch itself doesn't 'click' into place like the ones either side, is this normal? it does register when you hold it down and turn the interior lights on and off though.

i stocked up on plenty of fuses, when its light out I will check each one and see if there are any culprits!

as for servicing, im at 100k and the last owner was an army mechanic who did everything religiously so I am quite happy, just want to change the oil as part of a habit.

other than that, car is a dream, drove to my GP placement today and felt as relaxed and calm, which is a nice start when your spending the day with ill children and irate parents!

Thanks for your help,

Tommy

It's a soft-touch button, no click, so that's normal. Quick press on or off on puddle lights is a good sign, probably find main centre interior bulb failed - do rear courtesy lights work? Press and hold the centre button display should say Int Lights On....or Off as case may be. Check bulb, try another/check feed?

its not turning on the rear main lights, havent checked the doors. hoping it just needs a bulb and a fiddle, will go around and clean and spray all the lights to see tomorrow i think....

two quick ones before i pop back to get bulbs and work,

1. replaced my tailgate straps as others were gone, lovely satisfying job (nice and chunky job, you can see why i want to do orthopaedics!)
2. any one got a fuse diagram for the box in the drivers seat, i appreciate many are missing as i dont have electric seats but just want to check if it is the reason behind a instrument bulb being gone, i do have the cd manual but it doesnt work on a mac sadly!

cheers, and will get some pics up at the weekend after oil and wash!

tommy