Please help: Left turn signal

RoodAwakening · Sun, Jun-22-2008, 01:54:55 PM

As my "Euro Clear PI(T)A" thread stated, I've been plagued with electrical gremlins of all sorts ever since I swapped out the OEM ambers for Euro Clears. I was able to eliminate most of them by swapping out blown fuses in 23, 34, and (I think) 37. With that said, why would I blow fuses swapping out the lenses if the bulbs were the correct ones (i.e., they now work without switching out locations)?

Now the one remaining electrical problem: My left turn signals do not work. That means the front, sidemarker, and back turn signals are out. The green left arrow on the dashboard is out, too. That leads me to believe the switch (relay?) got fried. So my question is this: Where are the electronics associated with the turn signals? I'm hoping you'll tell me they're in the engine bay because I don't want to have to tear my whole dashboard apart.

If someone knows, please take a picture and send it my way.

I wish I had just gone with OEM. This "simple" installation has led to two+ days of wasted time and energy.

RoodAwakening · Sun, Jun-22-2008, 06:18:56 PM

No one?

S0nik · Sun, Jun-22-2008, 06:24:00 PM

Wish I could help, but I've never ran into this before .. maybe this will help though.

Looked around and I don't see a relay specifically referencing turn signals, but your relays are in the same box as your fuses, which is in the engine bay at the rear corner (I think driver's side, but I forget and I'm about 600mi away from my E36

)

Should be a label in there stating what each fuse is as well .. but sounds like you've already been in the fuse box. No clue where all the other electronics are that are associated with turn signals ..

fitchesbass · Sun, Jun-22-2008, 06:29:05 PM

There are multiple ways (at least the way my car is wired) to connect the turn signal. There are 3 pins that need to be wired. One controls the turn signal and then one controls the parking lights, and on the is ground. Not sure on the voltages of the pins.

The fog lights should be unrelated to this issue - unless you did something else to them. Did you turn the foglights off in the cabin? The green light on the dash will be on regardless of if your foglights are working.

Check all the fuses related to lighting as well. The fuse box is on the driver's side of the engine compartment.

It could just be a coincidence that the foglight dash bulb burned out at the same time as you install.

RoodAwakening · Sun, Jun-22-2008, 08:34:39 PM

I think I found it. As SOnik stated, it was in the fuse box. It's a relay labeled "2/4 x 21W + 0-5W" and it has part number 1 388 533. It's number 7 in the diagram below.

M3CH · Sun, Jun-22-2008, 08:38:21 PM

Did you go with OEM clears or aftermarket clears??

RoodAwakening · Sun, Jun-22-2008, 08:39:05 PM

Here's one from BavAuto but it doesn't have the same part number. Maybe that's because the OEM model was made by Siemens and the one from BavAuto is not. The damn thing is $49! A couple more dollars and I could have had the OEM clears which wouldn't have blown the relay in the first place.

scbmw017 · Wed, May-06-2009, 07:29:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoodAwakening

Here's one from BavAuto but it doesn't have the same part number. Maybe that's because the OEM model was made by Siemens and the one from BavAuto is not. The damn thing is $49! A couple more dollars and I could have had the OEM clears which wouldn't have blown the relay in the first place.

Did this ever fix your problem?

badgtho · Wed, May-06-2009, 07:46:45 PM

that sounds like a case of crappy lights, bad bulbs and confusion.

**jvit27** · Wed, May-06-2009, 11:55:03 PM

How much did you 'save' by not going OEM?

Sun, Jun-22-2008, 01:54:55 PM	#1
RoodAwakening The Curmudgeon Cop Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,323 Reputation: 0 Location: Upper Midwest	Please help: Left turn signal As my "Euro Clear PI(T)A" thread stated, I've been plagued with electrical gremlins of all sorts ever since I swapped out the OEM ambers for Euro Clears. I was able to eliminate most of them by swapping out blown fuses in 23, 34, and (I think) 37. With that said, why would I blow fuses swapping out the lenses if the bulbs were the correct ones (i.e., they now work without switching out locations)? Now the one remaining electrical problem: My left turn signals do not work. That means the front, sidemarker, and back turn signals are out. The green left arrow on the dashboard is out, too. That leads me to believe the switch (relay?) got fried. So my question is this: Where are the electronics associated with the turn signals? I'm hoping you'll tell me they're in the engine bay because I don't want to have to tear my whole dashboard apart. If someone knows, please take a picture and send it my way. I wish I had just gone with OEM. This "simple" installation has led to two+ days of wasted time and energy. __________________ "The descent to hell is easy. The gates stand open day and night. But to reclimb the slope and escape to the upper air: This is labor." --Virgil, Aeneid, Book 6 Rob 1999 BMW ///M3

Sun, Jun-22-2008, 06:18:56 PM	#2
RoodAwakening The Curmudgeon Cop Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,323 Reputation: 0 Location: Upper Midwest	No one? __________________ "The descent to hell is easy. The gates stand open day and night. But to reclimb the slope and escape to the upper air: This is labor." --Virgil, Aeneid, Book 6 Rob 1999 BMW ///M3

Sun, Jun-22-2008, 06:24:00 PM	#3
S0nik booooooooooooooost Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 989 Reputation: 0 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC - The E36 is still in OH Being Fixed :(	Wish I could help, but I've never ran into this before .. maybe this will help though. Looked around and I don't see a relay specifically referencing turn signals, but your relays are in the same box as your fuses, which is in the engine bay at the rear corner (I think driver's side, but I forget and I'm about 600mi away from my E36 ) Should be a label in there stating what each fuse is as well .. but sounds like you've already been in the fuse box. No clue where all the other electronics are that are associated with turn signals .. __________________ E36 M3 Turbo (The Phobia) / E39 M5 (The Therapy)

Sun, Jun-22-2008, 06:29:05 PM	#4
fitchesbass I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 15,961 Reputation: 0	There are multiple ways (at least the way my car is wired) to connect the turn signal. There are 3 pins that need to be wired. One controls the turn signal and then one controls the parking lights, and on the is ground. Not sure on the voltages of the pins. The fog lights should be unrelated to this issue - unless you did something else to them. Did you turn the foglights off in the cabin? The green light on the dash will be on regardless of if your foglights are working. Check all the fuses related to lighting as well. The fuse box is on the driver's side of the engine compartment. It could just be a coincidence that the foglight dash bulb burned out at the same time as you install. __________________

Sun, Jun-22-2008, 08:34:39 PM	#5
RoodAwakening The Curmudgeon Cop Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,323 Reputation: 0 Location: Upper Midwest	I think I found it. As SOnik stated, it was in the fuse box. It's a relay labeled "2/4 x 21W + 0-5W" and it has part number 1 388 533. It's number 7 in the diagram below. __________________ "The descent to hell is easy. The gates stand open day and night. But to reclimb the slope and escape to the upper air: This is labor." --Virgil, Aeneid, Book 6 Rob 1999 BMW ///M3

Sun, Jun-22-2008, 08:38:21 PM	#6
M3CH Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 837 Reputation: 0 Location: Sykesville	Did you go with OEM clears or aftermarket clears?? __________________ ///M3 1998 Jeep Cherokee 97 BMW M3 95 Toyota Supra TT 11 Harley FXDWG 09 Kawisaki ZX-6R 08 E90 BMW M3 SSII 6 speed(SOLD) 05 E46 BMW M3 TI Silver 6 speed (SOLD)

Sun, Jun-22-2008, 08:39:05 PM	#7
RoodAwakening The Curmudgeon Cop Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,323 Reputation: 0 Location: Upper Midwest	Here's one from BavAuto but it doesn't have the same part number. Maybe that's because the OEM model was made by Siemens and the one from BavAuto is not. The damn thing is $49! A couple more dollars and I could have had the OEM clears which wouldn't have blown the relay in the first place. __________________ "The descent to hell is easy. The gates stand open day and night. But to reclimb the slope and escape to the upper air: This is labor." --Virgil, Aeneid, Book 6 Rob 1999 BMW ///M3

Wed, May-06-2009, 11:55:03 PM	#10
jvit27 TEAM OEM Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 3,920 Reputation: 0 Location: Los Angeles	How much did you 'save' by not going OEM?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
M3 Turn Signal Out OR IS IT?	Viper966	E46 M3 (2001-2006)	10	Sun, Jan-30-2011 04:52:15 PM
Turn signal	awesome83	E46 M3 (2001-2006)	4	Thu, Aug-21-2008 11:18:59 PM
Left turn signal doesn't work PLEASE HELP :)	Carnag3	E46 M3 (2001-2006)	9	Fri, Mar-21-2008 01:36:51 AM
Dim Turn Signal	stocksure	Faults, Fixes and DIY	2	Tue, Oct-03-2006 04:06:01 PM
Red Left Turn Light, no Traffic: Turn or no turn?	Kevin034	Off Topic	8	Wed, Apr-07-2004 05:25:39 AM