headlights BMW 318i 1997 E36 Workshop Manual

010-12



FUNDAMENTALSFOR
THE
DO-IT
YOURSELF
OWNER

Jump
Starting
Car

Cars
with
discharged
or
dead
batteries
can
be
jump-started
using
the
good
battery
from
another
car
.
When
jump-starting

the
engine,
always
note
the
following
warnings
.

WARNING
-

"
Battery
acid
(electrolyte)
can
cause
severe
burns,
and
will
damage
the
car
and
clothing
.
lf
electrolyte
is
spilled,
wash
the
surface
with
large
quantities
of
water
.
lfit
gets
finto
eyes,
flush
them
with
water
for
severa¡
minutes
and
cal¡
a
doctor
.

"
Batteries
produce
explosive
and
noxious
gas-
ses
.
Keep
sparks
and
flames
away
.
Do
not
smoke
near
batteries
.

"
Do
not
jump-start
the
engine
if
you
suspect
that
the
battery
is
frozen
.
Trapped
gas
may
explode
.
Allow
the
battery
to
thaw
first
.

"
Do
not
quick-charge
the
battery
(for
boost
start-
ing)for
longer
than
one
minute,
and
donot
ex-
ceed
15
volts
at
the
battery
with
the
boosting
cables
attached
.
Wait
at
least
one
minutebefore
boosting
the
battery
a
second
time
.

"
Some
electrical
system
'comfort"
features
may
not
function
correctly
once
battery
power
is
restored
.
For
example,
the
front
window
one-touch-up
func-
tion
may
be
disabled
.
Some
electrical
systems
will
need
to
be
reinitialized
Consult
the
appropriate
re-
pairgroup
formore
specific
information
.

1
.
Place
cars
close
together,
but
do
not
allow
them
to'touch
each
other
.
Turn
off
the
engine
of
thecar
with
the
good
battery
.

2
.
Connect
oneend
of
the
positive
(+)
cable
to
the
positive
(+)
post
of
the
good
battery
.
Remove
the
coverfromthe

positive
(B+)
junction
post
in
the
engine
compartment
of
the
dead
car
and
connect
the
other
end
of
the
posi-
tive
(+)
cable
to
the
junction
post
.
See
Fig
.
17
.

EMERGENCIES

3
.
Connect
one
end
of
the
negative
(-)
cable
to
the
nega-

tive
(-)
battery
post
of
the
good
battery
.
Connect
oppo-

site
end
of
the
negative
cable
(-)
to
the
engine
block
of

thecar
with
the
dead
battery
.

4
.
Start
thecar
with
the
good
battery
and
runthe
engine

at
about2,000
rpm,
then
start
the
car
with
the
dead
bat-
tery
.

5
.
With
the
engine
at
¡dle,
switch
on
the
headlights,
blower

motor
and
rear
window
defogger
to
avoid
damaging
the

cars
electrical
system
.
Carefully
disconnect
the
jumper

cables,
starting
with
the
negative
cable
on
the
engine

block
.
Turn
all
electrical
consumers
off
.

NOTE-

The
engineshould
be
run
for
at
least
an
hour
to
re-
charge
the
battery
.

Overheating

lf
the
temperature
gauge
needle
goes
into
the
red
band
on
the
gauge
face,
the
coolant
temperature
is
too
high
.
Find
a
safe
place
to
stop
and
turn
the
engine
off
.
Open
the
hood
and
allow

the
engine
to
cool
until
the
temperature
gauge
needle
is
at
the

lower
thirdof
the
scale
.
Continuing
to
drive
an
overheated
car

can
cause
extensive
engine
damage
.

WARNING
-

Do
not
remove
the
coolant
reservoir
or
radíator
cap
with
the
engine
hot
.
Undoing
either
couldspray
hot
coolant
and
cause
burns
or
damage
the
engine
.

CAUTION-

Do
not
add
cold
water
or
coolant
to
a
hot
engine
.
Engine
damage
could
result
from
the
sudden
tem-
perature
change
.

NOTE-

If
the
enginecannot
be
safely
tumed
off,
make
sure
the
air
condifioner
isoff
and
turn
the
heater
to
high
.
This
will
helo
cool
the
engine
until
a
salestopping
place
canbe
reached
.

Overheating
may
be
caused
bylow
coolant
leve¡
or
a
dam-aged
engine
drive
belt
.
Visually
check
the
coolant
leve¡
and
en-
gine
belts
as
described
in
020
Maintenance
Program
.
lf
the
coolant
leve¡
is
low,
check
the
filler
cap,hoses,
clamps
and
ra-
diator
for
signs
of
leakage
.
Check
for
leaks
at
the
water
pump
on
the
frontof
theengine
.

lf
no
leaks
are
found,
add
coolant
after
the
engine
has
cooled
.
The
carcan
be
driven,
but
have
the
cooling
system
thoroughly
checked
assoonas
possible
.
lf
replacement
cool
0013245



-



ant
is
not
available,
then
plain
water
canbe
used,
butthe
cool-
antshould
later
be
drained
and
refilled
with
theproper
mixture
Fig
.
17
.
Battery
jump
starting
posts
(arrows)
behind
right
frontstrut



of
anti-freeze
and
water
.
tower
.
Lift
cover
to
access
positive
post
.

If
steam
is
coming
from
the
engine
compartment
thenthere
is



With
the
engine
and
ignition
off,
check
for
loose
or
corroded
most
likely
a
burst
coolant
hose
or
a
large
leak
in
the
cooling



battery
cables
or
wires
at
the
battery
or
thealtemator
.
Discon-
system
.
To
find
the
leak,
look
for
signs
of
coolant
leakage
on



necting,
cleaning,
and
reinstalling
corroded
wires
and
connec-
hoses,
at
hose
connections,
or
on
the
radiator
.
Let
theengine



tors
may
solve
the
problem
.
Also
check
drive
belt
tension
as
cool
thoroughly,
then
add
coolant
or
water
to
fill
the
system
and



described
in
020
Maintenance
Program
.
start
the
engine
.
If
a
great
deal
of
water
or
coolant
flows
out
of
the
hole,
then
thecarshouldnot
be
driven
until
repairs
are
made
.
lf
there
is
slight
seepage,
then
it
may
be
possible
to
drive



TOWi
ng

a
short
distance,
adding
coolant
as
needed
.
The
cars
covered
by
this
manual
should
be
towed
witha
tow
truck
using
wheel
lift
or
flat
bed
equipment
.
Do
not
tow
thecar
on
all
four
wheels
except
for
very
short
distances
to
move
it
to
a
safe
place
.
If
thered
engine
oil
pressure
warning
light
illuminates,
imme-
diately
stop
thecar
and
turn
off
the
engine
.
Have
the
vehicle



A
towing
eye
is
provided
in
the
luggage
compartment
tool
kit
.
flat-bedded
or
towed
to
an
authorized
service
center
and
have



The
towing
eye
can
be
screwed
into
the
front
or
rear
bumper
.
the
engine
oil
pressure
checked
.



See
Fig
.
18
and
Fig
.
19
.

Low
Oil
Pressure

NOTE-

Detafed
information
on
checking
the
oil
pressure
is
covered
ín
119
Lubrication
System
.

Brake
Fluid
Leve¡

The
brake
fluid
leve¡
warning
light
may
bean
indicator
of
brake
fluid
loss
.
Problems
with
the
brakesystem
should
be
checked
and
repaired
immediately
.
See
340Brakes
for
more

information
.

Check
Engine
Warning
Light

Dim
Lights

FUNDAMENTALS
FOR
THE
DO-IT
YOURSELF
OWNER



010-13

If
the
"CHECK
ENGI
NE"
warning
light
comes
on
or
flashes,
it
indicates
that
an
emissions-related
fault
has
occurred
.
Faults
suchas
a
failed
oxygen
sensor
or
a
faultyfuelinjector
can
tum

the
light
on,
causing
the
exhaust
or
evaporative
emissions
to

exceed
a
specified
limit
.
The
engine
can
be
safely
driven
with

the
light
on,
although
the
emission
systems
should
be
checked

assoonas
possible
.
See
100
Engine-General
for
more
infor-

mation
on
the
Check
Engine
Light
and
the
On-board
diagnostic

system
.

Headlights
and
instrument
panel
illuminationthat
are
dim
or

gradually
getting
dimmer
generally
indicate
a
problem
with
the

battery
or
charging
system
.
The
battery
charge
indicator
light

may
come
on
as
the
lights
are
dimming
.
In
either
case,
theen-

gine
and
accessories
are
running
off
of
the
battery
alone,
and

will
soon
discharge
it
altogether
.

If
possible,
do
not
stop
the
engine
unless
you
have
the
capa-

bility
to
jump
start
¡t
.
There
may
not
be
enough
power
in
the

starting
system
torestart
the
engine
.
Instead,turn
off
as
many

electrical
consumers
as
possible
.
This
will
reduce
the
current

drain
and
will
allow
thecar
to
be
driven
farther
before
you
lose

all
battery
power
.

Fig
.
18
.
Pry
open
rear
tow
lúg
access
panel
.

When
towingthecar
from
the
front
with
the
rear
wheelson

the
ground,
a
maximum
distance
of
20
miles
is
acceptable
.
If

thecar
needs
to
be
towed
further,
have
the
rear
wheels
placed
on
dollies
.

CA
UTION-

"
Do
not
tow
with
sling-type
equipment
The
front
spoilers
andbumper
covers
may
sustain
dam-
age
.

"
Towínga
BMW
with
an
automatic
transmission
with
the
rear
wheelson
the
ground
can
resuft
in
transmission
damage
due
to
lackof
lubrication
and
should
be
avoided
.

0013128

EMERGENCIES

Table
b
.
Inspection
I
Service

MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM
020-5

ad

d
d
ID

a



r



c



d
a~
;v
a
:
Q~
wE
y
a
r
E
R
:
L-



0
Maintenance
ítem



1



z



3
~



c
d

Engine
compartment
maintenance

Change
oil
and
oil
filter
.

Check
brake/clutch
fluid
leve¡

Check
battery
acid
leve¡
and
correct
asnecessary
.
Repair
Group
121

Check
engine
coolant
level
and
anti-freeze
protection
and
addasnecessary
.
Inspect
for
cooling
system
leaks
.
Repair
Group
170

Lubricate
throttie
linkage

Under
car
maintenance

Check
transmission
for
externa¡
leaks
.

Check
manual
transmission
oil
leve¡
andadd
asnecessary
.
Repair
Group
230

Check
final
drive
lubricant
and
addasnecessary
.

Check
fue¡
tank,
fuel
lines,
and
all
connections
for
leaks
.

Inspect
exhaust
system
.
Repair
Group
180

Check
steeringrack
and
steeringlinkages
.
Check
power
steering
system
for
leaks
.
Check
(luid
leve¡
.
Repair
Group
320

Inspect
brake
system
for
damaged
hoses
and
fines,
leaks
or
damage
.
Remove
calipers
and
check
brake
pad
wear
.
Check
brake
rotors
for
scoring
damage
.
Repair
Group
340

Check
parking
brake
operation,
adjust
cable
if
necessary
Repair
Group
340

Inspect
front
and
rear
suspension,
including
wheel
bearings,
for
play
.
Repair
Group
320/330

Inspect
wheelsand
tires,
including
spare,
check
tire
pressure
and
condition

Body
and
Interior
Maintenance

Lubricate
door
hinges
and
hood
latch,
hood
hinges

Check
headlight
and
driving
light
aiming
and
adjust
as
necessary
.

Check
operation
of
headlights,
parking
lights,
back-up
fights,
licenseplate
lights,
interior
lights,
glove
box
light,
engine
compartment
light,
trunk
light,
instrument
panel
lights,
turnsignals,
emer-gency
flashers,
stop
fights,
horas,
headlight
flasher
and
dimmer
switch

Replace
ventilation/A/C
micro-filter
.
Check
functionof
air
conditioning
.
Repair
Group
640

Check
function
of
seat
belts
.
Repair
Group
720

Check
tightness
of
mountfng
screws
on
airbag
front
crash
sensors
(Airbag
I)
.
Repair
Group
721

Check
windshield
washer
fluid
leve¡
and
concentration,
add
as
necessary
Check
operation
of
washer
system
.
Check
condition
of
wiperblades
.
Repair
Group
611

Tighten
nuts
and
bolts
for
door
locks
and
striker
plates

Replace
batteries
for
alarm/remote
control
in
masterkey(where
applicable)
.

Road
Test

Check
braking
performance,
steering,
HVAC,
manual
or
automatic
transmission,
and
mirrors

Service
Interval
Reset

Reset
service
indicator
using
specialreset
tool
.

MAINTENANCE
TALES

020-6



MAINTENANCE
PROGRAM

Group
310/330

Table
c
.
Inspection
II
Service

a
d

d



a



a>



0
d

a



r



.c



mm
L



m
y



L
E

ó
3
E
ó

Maintenance
ítem



l
o-



z



~



c

Engine
compartment
maintenance

Inspect
V-belt
/Poly-ribbeddrive
condition
.
Check
V-belt
tension,
if
applicable
.

Lubricate
throttle
linkage
.

Replace
air
filter
.

Change
oil
and
oil
filter
.

Replacespark
plugs
.
Repair
Group
120

Check
brake/clutch
fluid
leve¡
.

Check
battery
acid
leve¡
and
correct
asnecessary
.
Repair
Group
121

Check
engine
coolant
leve¡
and
anti-freeze
protection
and
add
asnecessary
.
Inspect
for
cooling
system
leaks
.
Repair
Group
170

Under
car
maintenance

Change
automatic
transmission
fluid
.
Repair
Group
240

Change
manual
transmission
oil
.
Repair
Group
230

Check
clutch
plate
for
wear
.
Repair
Group
210

Check
drive
axle
boots
for
leaks
.
Repair
Group
330

Change
final
drive
fluid
(1995
and
later
models
:
change
synthetic
oil
every
2nd
Inspection
II)
.

Replace
fuel
filter
.

Check
fuel
tank,
fuel
lines,
and
af
connections
for
leaks
.

Inspect
exhaust
system
.
Repair
Group
180

Check
steering
gear
and
steering
¡inkages
.
Check
power
steering
system
for
leaks
.
Check
fluidleve¡
.
Repair
Group
320

Inspect
brake
system
for
damaged
hoses
and
lines,
leaks
or
damage
.
Remove
calipers
and
check
brake
pad
wear
.
Check
brake
rotors
for
scoring
damage
.
Repair
Group
340

Check
parking
brake
operation,
adjust
cable
if
necessary
.
Check
thickness
of
parking
brake
lin-
ings
.
Repair
Group
340

Inspect
front
and
rear
suspension,
including
front
and
rear
wheel
bearings,
for
play
.
Repair

Inspect
wheels
and
tires,
including
spare,
check
tire
pressure
and
condition
.

Body
and
Interior
Maintenance

Lubricate
door
hinges
and
hood
latch,
hood
hinges
.

Check
headlight
and
driving
light
aiming
and
adjust
asnecessary
.

Check
operation
of
headlights,
parking
lights,
back-up
lights,
licenseplate
lights,
interior
lights,
glove
box
light,
engine
compartment
light,
trunk
light,
instrument
panel
lights,
turn
signals,
emer-gency
flashers,
stop
lights,
horns,
headlight
flasher
anddimmer
switch
.

Check
active
check
control
panel
forfauits
(where
applicable)
.
6
Electrical
System

MAINTENANCE
TABLES

Continued
on
next
page

121-
4



BATTERY,
STARTER,
ALTERNATOR

BatteryOpen-Circuit
Voltage
Test



Battery
Charging

Before
making
the
test,
load
the
battery
with
15
amperes
for



Discharged
batteries
can
be
recharged
using
a
battery

one
minute
with
a
batteryload-tester
or
turn
on
the
headlights



charger
.
The
battery
should
be
removed
from
the
luggage

for
about
one
minute
without
the
engine
running
.Then
discon-



compartment
during
charging
.

nect
the
battery
negative
(-)
cable
and
connect
a
digital
volt-

meter
acrossthe
battery
terminals
.
Open-circuit
voltage



Prolonged
charging
causes
electrolyte
evaporation
to
a
lev

levels
are
given
in
Table
c
.



el
that
can
damage
the
battery
.
Itis
bestto
use
a
low-current

charger
(6
amperes
or
less)
to
prevent
battery
damage

If
the
open-circuit
voltage
ís
OK
butthe
battery
still
lacks



caused
by
overheating
.

power
for
starting,
make
a
load
voltage
test
.
If
the
open-circuit

voltage
is
below
12
.4
volts,
recharge
the
battery
and
retest
.



WARNING
-

Hydrogen
gas
given
off
by
the
battery
duringcharg-

Table
c
.
Open-Circuit
Voltage
and
Battery
Charge



ing
is
explosive
.
Do
not
smoke
.
Keep
open
llames

away
from
the
top
of
the
battery,
and
prevent
elec
Open-circuit
voltage



State
of
charge



trical
sparks
by
turning
offthe
battery
charger
be-

12
.6
V
or
more



Fully
charged



fore
connecting
or
disconnecting
it
.

12
.4
V



1



75%
charged

12
.2
V



50%
charged



CAUTION-

12
.0
V



25%
charged



"
Battery
electrolyte
(sulfuric
acid)
can
damage
the
car
.
If
electrolyte
isspilled,
clean
the
area
11
.7
V
or
less



Fully
discharged



with
a
solution
of
baking
soda
and
water
.

Battery
Load
Voltage
Test

A
battery
load
tester
is
required
for
a
load
voltage
test
.
The



-
Always
disconnect
both
battery
cables
and
re-

test
is
made
by
applying
a
high
resistive
load
to
the
battery
ter-



move
battery
from
vehicle
during
battery
charg-
ing
.
Do
not
exceed
16
.5volts
at
the
battery
.
minals
and
then
measuring
battery
voltage
.
The
battery
should

be
fully
charged
for
the
most
accurate
results
.
The
battery
ca-

bles
mustbe
disconnected
before
making
the
test
.
If
the
volt-



ALTERNATOR
$ERVICE
age
is
below
that
listed
in
Table
d,
the
battery
should
be

replaced
.

WARNING
-

Always
wear
protective
goggles
and
clothing
when
performing
aload
test
.

Table
d
.
Battery
Load
Test-Minimum
Voltage

(apply
200
amp
load
for
15
seconds)

Ambient
temperature



Voltage

80°F
(27°C)



9
.6
V

60°F
(16°C)



9
.5
V

40°F
(4°C)



9
.3
V

20°F
(-7°C)



8
.9
V

0°F
(-18°C)



8
.5
V

ALTERNATOR
SERVICE

"
Always
allow
a
frozen
battery
to
thaw
before
at-
tempting
to
recharge
it
.

Before
checking
the
alternator
and
regulator,
make
sure
the

battery
is
fully
charged
and
capable
of
holding
acharge
.
Check
that
the
battery
terminals
are
clean
and
tight
and
the
al-

ternator
drive
belt
is
properly
tensioned
and
not
severely

worn
.

Charging
system,
checking

CAUTION-

Do
not
disconnect
the
battery
while
the
engine
is
running,
.
Damage
to
the
alternator
andlorengine
electronic
systems
may
result
.

1.
Turn
ignition
key
on
.
Check
that
the
chargewarning

lamp
comes
on
.

NOTE-

If
the
warning
light
does
not
come
on,
repair
any
wiring
or
bulb
faults
before
continuing
to
check
the
charging
system
.

400-2
BODY-GENERAL

4-door
Sedan

Coupe

-
saas3
.7""

351
/



37
.3
O



I
x
`-193



267

o
oa

'3281
model
"M3
model

Convertible

BODYASSEMBLY

55
ass
.e
iss
""
-
66
.9
-

Fig
.
2
.



E36
body
dimensíons
.

BODY
ASSEMBLY

29
.4

29
4

The
BMW
3
Series
chassis
is
a
unibodydesign
constructed
ofhigh
strength
steel
.
Attaching
parts,
suchas
the
front
fend-
ers,
rear
quarter
panels,
doors,
trunk
lid
and
hood
are
also
constructed
of
steel
.

706
.31108
.7"



I
38
.5
174
.5

174
.5

O



oo

196
.3/106
.7'
"



35_5



1.
.
55
.9,566
".

106
.3/196
.7""



i.
358
-1745-

55
9/56
3'/56
6"
-
J

0013099

Windows
bonded
flush
to
the
body
and
the
guided
flow
of
cooling
air
into
the
engine
compartment
provide
a
good
coeffi-
cient
of
drag(CD)
.
TheE36
cars
have
a
CD
of
approximately
0
.30for
the
sedan
and
coupe
models,
and
0
.35
for
the
con-
vertible
models
:

The
exterior
panels
are
corrosion-resistant
zinc
coated

steel
.
The
front
fenders
are
bolted
on
and
easily
replaceabie
.
The
body
styles
of
E36
cars
coveredby
this
manual
arethe



See410
Fenders,
Engine
Hood
.
4-door
sedan,
2-door
coupe
and
convertible
.
Body
dimen-
sions
vary
slightly
betweenmodels
.
See
Fig
.
2
.



The
front
and
rear
bumpers
use
an
aluminum
framework
with
an
overlaid
high-impact,
deformable
plastic
cover
.
This
Exterior
and
Aerodynamics



bumper
system
keeps
damage
to
a
minimum
in
head-on
colli-
sions
of
up
to
10
m
.p
.h
.
(15
km/h)
.
See
510
Exterior
Trim,
TheE36
can
be
immediatelyrecognized
asa
typical
BMW
.



Bumpers
.
With
its
traditionalstyling
features,
suchas
the
BMW
kidney
grille,
circular
headlights
behind
a
glass
cover
(for
reasons
of
streamliníng),
and
the
"kick"
in
the
rearmost
roof
pillar
(C-pil-
lar)
.

BMW
emblem,
removing
and
installing

The
procedure
given
below
applies
to
both
front
and
rear

emblems
.

1
.
Wrap
and
of
a
screwdriver
with
tape
.

CAUTION-

Protect
hood
paint
by
coveringarea
aroundem-

blem
with
tape
.

2
.
Carefully
pryout
emblem
.
See
Fig
.
15
.

UVI1'¿.

Fig
.
15
.
BMW
emblem
being
removed
.
Pry
up
emblem
carefully
on
ei-

ther
side
(arrows)
.
Note
tape
on
screwdriver
tips
.

3
.
Installation
is
reverse
of
removal
.

"
Replace
plastic
inserts
in
body
if
damaged
.

"
If
emblem
fits
loosely
intoinserts,
use
a
small
amount

of
bodymoldingtape
or
adhesiva
on
rear
of
emblem

before
installing
.

Body
side
molding,
replacing

To
remove
body
side
moldings,
carefully
pry
the
moldings

straight
off
.
See
Fig
.
16
.

Installation
is
the
reverse
of
removal
.
Replace
any
clips
or

clip
covering
boots
damaged
during
removal
.

Radiator
grille,
removing
and
installing

1
.
Remove
plastic
front
radiator
shroud
or
air
duct,
as

needed

2
.
Lightly
tap
center
of
grilla
toward
radiator
andremove

from
panel
opening
.
Chrome
ring
pulís
out
from
front
.

See
Fig
.
17
.

3
.
To
replace,
snap
grille
andchrome
piece
together
.

Push
assembly
into
front
panel,
pressing
at
top
and

bottom
until
it
snaps
into
place
.

EXTERIOR
TRIM,
BUMPERS



510-7

Fig
.
16
.
Body
sida
molding
retainingclips
(arrows)
.

-



0013048

Fig
.
17
.
Radiator
grille
being
tapped
inward
.
Right
side
front
panel
top

retaining
screw
is
shown
at
A
.

Front
panel,
removing
and
installing

The
front
panel
is
shown
in
Fig
.
18
.

1
.
Remove
front
bumper
as
described
earlier
.

2
.
Remove
headlights
.
See
630
Exterior
Lighting
.

3
.
Remove
radiator
grille
as
described
earlier
.

4
.
With
engine
hood
open,
remove
front
panel
retaining

screws
at
left
and
right
sides
of
radiator
.
See
Fig
.
19
.

EXTERIOR
TRIM

600-
4



ELECTRICAL
SYSTEM-GENERAL

Voltage
and
Voltage
Drops

The
wires,
connectors,
and
switches
that
carry
current
are

designed
with
very
low
resistance
so
that
current
flows
with
a

minimum
loss
of
voltage
.
A
voltage
drop
is
caused
by
higher
than
normal
resistance
in
a
circuit
.
This
additional
resistance

actually
decreases
or
stops
the
flow
of
current
.
A
voltage
drop

can
be
noticed
byproblems
ranging
fromdim
headlights
to
sluggish
wipers
.
Some
common
sources
of
voltage
drops
are
corroded
or
dirty
switches,
dirty
or
corroded
connections
or

contacts,
and
loose
or
corroded
ground
wires
and
ground
con-

nections
.

A
voltage
drop
test
is
a
good
test
to
make
if
current
is
flowing
through
the
circuit,
butthe
circuit
is
not
operating
correctly
.
A
voltage
drop
test
will
help
to
pinpoint
a
corroded
ground
strap
or
a
faulty
switch
.
Normally,
there
should
be
less
than
1
volt

drop
across
most
wires
or
closed
switches
.
A
voltage
drop
across
a
connector
or
short
cable
shouldnot
exceed
0
.5
volts
.

Voltage,
measuring

1
.
Connect
digital
multimeternegative
lead
to
a
reliable
ground
point
oncar
.

NOTE-

The
negative
(-)
battery
terminal
is
alwaysa
good
ground
point
.

2
.
Connect
digital
multimeter
positive
lead
to
point
incir-
cuit
you
wish
to
measure
.
See
Fig
.
1
.
If
a
reading
is
ob-
tained,
current
is
flowing
through
circuit
.

NOTE-

The
voltage
reading
shouldnot
deviate
more
than
1
volt
from
the
voltage
at
the
battery
.
If
the
voltage
drop
is
more
than
this,
check
for
acorroded
connector
or
cose
ground
wire
.

ELECTRICAL
TROLIBLESHOOTING

from
Battery

Fig
.
1
.



Digital
multimeterbeing
used
to
test
voltage
.

No
voltage
r_l

-1
Load

LJ

Switch

NOTE-

The
maximum
voltage
drop
in
an
automotive
circuit,
as
recommended
by
the
Society
of
AutomotiveEngineers
(SAE),
is
as
follows
:
0
voltsfor
small
vire
connections
;
0
.1
Volts
for
high
current
connections
;
0
.2
volts
for
high
current
cables
;
and
0
.3volts
for
switch
or
solenoidcon-
tacts
.
On
longer
wires
or
cables,
the
drop
may
be
slight-ly
higher
.
In
any
case,
a
voltage
drop
of
more
than
1.0volt
usually
indicates
a
problem
.

0013238

NOTE-

"
A
voltage
drop
test
is
generally
more
accuratethan
a



Voltage
drop,
testing

simple
resistance
check
because
the
resistances
in-
volvedare
often
too
small
to
measure
with
most
ohm-



Voltage
drop
can
only
be
checked
when
current
is
running
meters
.
For
example,
a
resistance
as
small
as0
.02



through
the
circuit,
suchasby
operating
the
starter
motor
or
ohms
would
results
in
a
3
volt
drop
in
a
typical
150



turning
onthe
headlights
.
A
digital
multimeter
should
beused
amp
starter
circuit
.
(150
amps
x
0
.02
ohms
=3
volts)
.



lo
ensure
accurate
readings
.

"
Keep
in
mind
that
voltage
with
the
key
on
and
voltage
with
the
engine
running
arenotthe
same
.
With
the
ig-



1
.
Connect
digital
multimeter
positive
lead
to
positive
(+)
nition
on
and
the
engine
off
(battery
voltage),
voltage



battery
terminalor
a
positive
power
supply
close
lo
bat
should
be
approximately
12
.6volts
.
With
the
engine



tery
source
.
running
(charging
voltage),
voltage
should
be
approx-
imately
14
.0
volts
.
Measure
voltage
at
the
battery
with



2
.
Connect
digital
multimeter
negativelead
to
other
end
of
the
ignition
on
and
then
with
the
engine
running
to
get



cable
orswitch
being
tested
.
See
Fig
.
2
.
exact
measurements
.

3
.
With
power
on
and
circuit
working,
meter
shows
volt-
age
drop
(difference
between
two
points)
.
This
value
should
not
exceed
1
volt
.

Tablea
.
E36
Component
Locations

Component



Model
Year



Location



Refer
to
Engine
Compartment
Light
Switch



1993-1996



Over
right
headlight
assembly



Fig
.
7
.

Engine
Control
Module
(ECM)



1992-1998



Right
rear
enginecompartment,
behind
bulkhead
panel



Fig
.
7
.

Engine
Control
Module
(System)



1992-1998



I
Power
distribution
box



Fig
.
2
.
Relay
Engine
Coolant
Leve¡
Sensor



1
1992-1998



1
Left
front
of
enginecompartment,
radiator
coolant
reservoir

Engine
Coolant
Temperature



1992-1998



I
Left
front
of
engine
under
intake
manifold



I



Fig
.
19
.
Sensor



Fig
.
20
.

Evaporative
Emission
Valve



1992-1998



Left
side
strut
Power
area

Evaporator
Temperature
Sensor



1992-1998



Left
side
of
heater
box

EWS
II
Control
Module



1/1995
-
1998



Behind
glove
compartment



Fig
.
8
.
Fig
.
9
.

EWS
II
Ring
Antenna



1
1/1995
-
1998
1
At
ignition
cylinder

EWS
II
Transmitter
Module



1/1995
-
1998



Right
side
of
steering
column
in
auxiliaryrelay
panel



Fig
.
3
.

Exhaust
Gas
Flap
Valve



1996-1998



Left
rear
muffler
area

Flasher
Relay



1992-1998



Power
distribution
box



Fig
.
2
.

Foglight
Relay



1



1992-1998



1
Power
distribution
box



1



Fig
.
2
.

Fresh
Air
FlapActuator



1



1992



1
Right
side
of
heater
box

Fresh
Air
FlapActuator



1
1993-1995



1
Below
right
side
heater
box

Fresh
Air
FlapActuator



1
1996-1998



Below
left
side
heater
box

Fuel
Injectors



1992
-
1998



Top
left
side
of
engine

Fuel
Leve¡
Sensor,
Left



1
1992-1998



/
Under
left
side
of
rear
seat
infuel
tank

Fuel
Leve¡
Sensor,
Right



1



1992-1998



1
Under
right
side
of
rear
seat
in
fuel
tank



1



Fig
.
28
.

Fuel
Pump



1



1992-1998



1



Under
right
side
of
rear
seat
in
fuel
tank



1



Fig
.
28
.

Fuel
Pump
Relay



1



1992-1998



1
Power
distribution
box



1



Fig
.
2
.

Fuel
Pump/Start
Identification
Relay



1994
-
1996



Power
distribution
box

Fuel
Tank
Pressure
Sensor



1
1997-1998



1
Right
rear
wheel
well
behind
trim
liner

ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS



610-13

Fuse
andRelay



x(Power



11992-1998



I
Left
side
of
engine
compartment



I



Fig
.
2
.
Distribution
Box



Fig
.
7
Fig
.
10
.

Gas
Filler
LockMotor



1992-1998



Right
side
of
luggage
compartment

Gear
Position/Neutral
Safety
Switch



1992-1998



Next
to
gear
shift
lever
in
center
console



Fig
.
29
.
(Automatic
Transmission
Range
Switch)

Glove
Compartment
Lock
Motor



1994-1998



Behind
glove
compartment

Grounds

G
100



1995-1998



Front
of
left
front
fender
(headlights)



Fig
.
22
.

G
101



1992-1998



Front
of
right
front
fender

Continued

COMPONENT
LOCATIONS

610-20



ELECTRICAL
COMPONENT
LOCATIONS

Fuses
31-46

o_

~oomoo
ommmo~

8
I



15A
I
Horn
Fuses21-30

Fuses
1-20

Fuse
positions
1-46
in
front
power
distribution
box

Table
b
.
1992
E36
Fuse
Positions

Fuse



1
Rating



1
Protected
Circuit

1



1



30A
1
Power
sunroof
(see
also
fuse
13)

2
I



I
Not
used

3
1



30A
1
Headlight
washer

(a
El
1
:1
El

4
1



15A
1
Heated
seats
(see
also
fuse
23)

5
1



30A
1
Power
seats
(see
also
fuse
40)

6
1



20A
1
Rear
window
defogger
(see
also
fuse
23)

7



5A
~
Anti-theft
system
(Alpine)
(see
also
fuse
43)
Central
locking
(ZVM
II)
(see
also
f
use
35,43)

9
(



20A
1
Sound
system
(see
also
fuse
44)

10
1



30A
1
ABS
(see
also
f
use
21,
27,
38,
46)

11



7
.5A



Crash
control
module
(seealso
fuse
12,25,
29,34)
Headlights/foglights
(see
also
fuse
12,15,22,23,
25,29,
30)
On-BoardComputer
(seealsofuse
12,
23,27,31,
33,37,
45,
46)

12



7
.5A



Crash
control
module
(see
also
f
use
11,
25,
29,34)
Headlights/foglights
(seealsofuse
11,15,
22,
23,25,
29,
30)
On-BoardComputer
(see
also
fuse
11,
23,27,
31,33,
37,45,
46)

13



5A



Power
sunroof
(see
also
fuse
1)
Power
windows
(see
also
f
use
14)

14
j



30A
1
Power
windows
(see
also
fuse
13)

15



5A



Headlights/foglights
(see
also
fuse
11,
12,22,
23,
25,29,
30)

16



5A
~
Engine
control
module
(seealsofuse
28)
Heating
andA/C
(IHKR
E36)(see
alsofuse
20,
23,
31,37,
39,
41)

17
I



I
Notused

FUSE
POSITION
TABLES

0013034

Table
b
.
1992
E36
Fuse
Positions

Fuse



Rating



Protected
Circult

18
1



15A
1
Fuel
pump

19
j



15A
1
Park
ventilation
(see
also
fuse
20)

20



30A
~
Heating
andA/C
(IHKR
E36)(see
alsofuse

16,23,31,37,39,
41)
Park
ventilation
(see
also
f
use
19)

21



1



5A
{
ABS
(see
also
fuse
10,27,
38,46)

22



5A



Headlights/foglights
(see
also
f
use
11,12,15,
23,
25,29,
30)
Instrument
illumination
(see
also
fuse
25,33,
37)
Park/taillights
(seealsofuse
33,
37)

23



5A



Multi-function
clock
(see
also
fuse
27,
31,
45,
46)
Headlights/foglights
(see
also
fuse
11,12,15,22,25,
29,30)
Heated
seats
(seealsofuse
4)
Heating
andA/C
(IHKR
E36)(see
alsofuse
16,20,31,37,39,
41)
Instrument
cluster
(see
also
fuse
27,31,
46)
On-Board
Computer
(seealso
fuse
11,
12,
27,31,
33,
37,45,
46)
Rear
window
defogger
(see
alsofuse
6)
Turn
signals/hazard
lights
(seealsofuse
34)

24
I



10A
I



Power
mirrors

25



5A



Crash
control
module
(see
also
f
use
11,12,
29,34)
Headlights/foglights
(see
also
fuse
11,12,15,22,23,29,
30)
Instrument
illumination
(see
also
fuse
22,
33,
37)

26



15A
~
Back-up
lights
Electronic
transmission
control
(A4S
310R)
(seealsofuse
28,46)

27



5A



ABS
(see
also
fuse
10,21,38,
46)
Multi-function
clock
(see
also
fuse
23,
31,
45,46)
Instrument
cluster
(see
also
fuse
23,
31,46)
On-BoardComputer
(see
also
fuse
11,12,23,
31,
33,37,45,
46)

28



5A



Cruise
control
(see
alsofuse
46)
Engine
control
module
(see
alsofuse
16)
Starting
system
Electronic
transmission
control
(A4S
310R)
(see
also
f
use
26,
46)

29



7
.5A



Crash
control
module
(see
also
fuse
11,12,
25,34)
Headlights/foglights
(see
also
fuse
11,12,15,22,23,
25,
30)

30



7
.5A



Headlights/foglights
(see
also
fuse
11,
12,
15,22,23,
25)

31



5A



Multi-function
clock
(see
alsofuse
23,27,
45,46)
Heating
andA/C
(IHKR
E36)(see
also
fuse
16,20,
23,
37,39,
41)
Instrument
cluster
(seealso
fuse
23,
27,46)
On-Board
Computer
(see
also
f
use
11,12,23,27,
33,
37,45,
46)