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Thread: Electrical problems E39

  1. #1

    Electrical problems E39

    Hi, I have a couple of electrical problems in my '98 E39. It started off with me getting the boot open warning but my boot is shut.

    Then about a week later my fuel guage stopped working and now the outside temperature reading is a lot dimmer than my mileage numbers.

    Not sure where to start, would you say the problems are related?

  2. #2
    BMWHaus Contributor
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    259
    Not sure if they're related or not - the boot shut could be the rubber loom that goes between the body and bootlid, wires break from it flexing between open and closed over the years.

    I'd tend to address them one at a time and see how it goes - the temp reading dimmer is odd, never heard of that before - is it actually reading a temp or is it stuck at a value like -40

    Fuel gauge most likely the sender in tank
    Last edited by 318is-joe; 03-08-16 at 14:34. Reason: autocorrect thinking it's smarter than me

  3. #3
    Hi 318is-joe, yes the sensor is reading fine just the LEDs are a lot dimmer. I will check that wiring in the boot, I had a problem in that area before. I'm guessing now that it could be a ground wire has broken.

  4. #4
    BMWHaus Contributor
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    621
    As has been mentioned that boot loom is notorious for breaking. Your outside temperature meter, is it just when that's on the computer it's dim or is it dim with MPG/Miles/MPH? Could be failing pixels.
    E39 525iA Sport - Sapphire Black - SOLD
    E39 528iT SE - Orient Blue - SOLD
    E39 540i/A Sport - Topaz Blue

  5. #5
    BMWHaus Contributor
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    259
    How did you get on Kaveman?

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by 318is-joe View Post
    How did you get on Kaveman?
    Hi, I only got it sorted during the week. A boot wiring issue and 2 new fuel senders installed. The slight dimming of one side of my instrument cluster is still there. I didn't mention this to the garage though.
    Last edited by kaveman; 05-11-16 at 13:21.

  7. #7
    There are bulbs at the back of the instrument cluster. One of them is blown if cluster is darker on one side.


  8. #8
    I didn't know about those bulbs, thank you!

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