radio and other electronics keep on turning off

[BigKriss]

the OBC, radio and other electronics like the windscreen wipers. they go off for 30 seconds to 90 seconds and come back on again as if nothing happened. haven't checked the fuses but if everything comes back on again, I assume they are okay. I checked the fuseable link a while ago next to the battery and it was fine. the car is a e34 535i 1989 model.

okay, cheers.

[ryan roopnarine]

the fusible link may be cracked, and functioning intermittently. i have had this happen to me before. i would change it out before i would worry too much or start tearing things apart.

[BigKriss]

cheers, I'll have a look

[bmwrp8]

same thing happen to me last year. same symptoms looked at the fusible link but looked okay, upon close inspection it had a hairline crack not really visible.. changed it voila! back to normal:D

[shogun]

I have one new fusible link on stock already and wait for day X
when i can use it :)

[BigKriss]

sorry to be a pain, but is it the yellow rubber type connector with a fuse inside? or is it something else. it did it again today for around 2 minutes whilst i was driving and raining. eek!

[bmwrp8]

sorry to be a pain, but is it the yellow rubber type connector with a fuse inside? or is it something else. it did it again today for around 2 minutes whilst i was driving and raining. eek!

here you go bigkriss:)http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Electrical/Fusible_link.htm

[BigKriss]

thanks bmwrp8

[BigKriss]

okay I looked at Bruno's website and looked at my car, where is the fuseable link located, next to the battery (which I couldn't see) or in the engine compartment?

[Paul in NZ]

i thought it was somewhere near the battery,there may even be two....

[tim eh?]

okay I looked at Bruno's website and looked at my car, where is the fuseable link located, next to the battery (which I couldn't see) or in the engine compartment?

there are two in mine, but the battery in my car is in the engine compartment.


this is the 80A link before/after
http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6260&stc=1&d=1226604570
http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6305&stc=1&d=1227212888

there is a 50A one under my rear seat, near where the battery is on most cars. looks the same except the wire leading to it is red.
there is also the power link in the plastic box maybe needs a look. i'll have photos of that fix later today...


edit- here ya go... kriss, if i can find it, you can find it! :D

the link is underneath the heatwrap on the red cable.
http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6307&stc=1&d=1227370077http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6308&stc=1&d=1227370077

[BigKriss]

thanks tim, i will look tomorrow, its 3am now :)

[shogun]

Nice pics, Tim.
Can you upload them on photobucket or imageshack with a link, I would like to use the pics on a German board to show the locations, because this question often comes because many people cannot find them. Thanks

[tim eh?]

Nice pics, Tim.
Can you upload them on photobucket or imageshack with a link, I would like to use the pics on a German board to show the locations, because this question often comes because many people cannot find them. Thanks

Thanks! I will post them together in a new thread ...

[shogun]

if you need more pics:
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/shogun/fusible_E32_1.jpg
E32 http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/335715/
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/377728

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/377948

E32 has even 2 of them, same like the E31.

[BigKriss]

thanks Erich, I will look tomorrow. Its off almost all the time (I mean the electronics for the radio and windscreen wipers). Do I buy the fusable link from BMW, or is it a generic part that I can purchase from a electronics store?

[tim eh?]

thanks Erich, I will look tomorrow. Its off almost all the time (I mean the electronics for the radio and windscreen wipers). Do I buy the fusable link from BMW, or is it a generic part that I can purchase from a electronics store?

i found generic ones at an auto parts store easy, i don't think electronics store will have fuses that big but maybe. you just need a really big fuse.




E32 has even 2 of them, same like the E31.

we have two also... soon to be posted in serious detail on my forthcoming 'things newbies can do to their e34 for less than $20' website... but i have posted what i have on a new thread here for the time being.

[BigKriss]

cheers


i found generic ones at an auto parts store easy, i don't think electronics store will have fuses that big but maybe. you just need a really big fuse.



we have two also... soon to be posted in serious detail on my forthcoming 'things newbies can do to their e34 for less than $20' website... but i have posted what i have on a new thread here for the time being.

[tim eh?]

i just thought of this... so you know those links are riveted! so you need to either cut the wire and attach new ring terminals (what i did) or find a way to connect the new fuse to the old rings, which looks like it would be difficult, but very possible.

the wire is 6 guage wire.

[bubba966]

i just thought of this... so you know those links are riveted! so you need to either cut the wire and attach new ring terminals (what i did) or find a way to connect the new fuse to the old rings, which looks like it would be difficult, but very possible.

the wire is 6 guage wire.

Wouldn't be difficult at all. Drill out the rivet, re-rivet it with an aluminum rivet. Would probably take longer to re-heatshrink it than drill & re-riveting it.

[BigKriss]

Tim, do you have the fuse amounts correct?

You say the thin fuseable link is 80A and the one in the box is 50A, whilst the article from Bruno's article says its the other way around.

[shogun]

It is embossed in the fuse. And also realoem can give you the data. Seach with the words battery cable in realoem and then you find it. It is not under fuses. On the E32 750 it is 80A and 50A. The big one is in the plastic plastik box

[tim eh?]

hmmm i wonder how clear i was ....


both of my fusible links were the skinny type. they both looked the same but they did have their ratings stamped on them.

i replaced them with the larger 'box type'. in mine it was 80A at the front and 50A in the back.

the thing under the black cover here is just a connector. the fusible link is beneath the heatwrap on the red cable.
http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6330&stc=1&d=1227493672


the plastic box is connector X963 in this diagram. my cable going to 'E' should be red according to this but it is black.
http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6329&stc=1&d=1227493674
http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6331&stc=1&d=1227494285

i removed the connecting bit and attached the two cables directly to eachother, the new fuse fits better that way.
http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6326&stc=1&d=1227450504

nothing bad happened! :D

[BigKriss]

Thanks Erich, it looks like it's 80A

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD22&mospid=47382&btnr=61_0548&hg=61&fg=20&hl=134

my dilema is that I can only find the thin fuse (which is broken) - this was about 3 inches off the positive terminal on the battery wire.

I've followed the battery cable in my car, and the big plastic box, I cannot find anywhere.

Thinking about it, could my car only have one fuse? It contradicts the information on Bruno's website.

[tim eh?]

you should have two


for sure it will be different on yours, but i have an etm for a 2/89 535i and it says you should have an 80A in the engine compartment and a 50A under your seat.

edit- hey according to this you don't even have the black plastic box.

[BigKriss]

Okay thanks Tim, I could only find one, 80A coming off (about 3 inches) from the positive battery terminal. hmmm


you should have two


for sure it will be different on yours, but i have an etm for a 2/89 535i and it says you should have an 80A in the engine compartment and a 50A under your seat.

[tim eh?]

Okay thanks Tim, I could only find one, 80A coming off (about 3 inches) from the positive battery terminal. hmmm

you found the 80A fuse under the seat?

that is really the opposite of what your etm says.

F99 is supposed to be the 50A fuse.

F0 is supposed to be 80A and in the engine compartment, where my 80A fuse is. (http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6317&stc=1&d=1227449422)

[BigKriss]

yeah, I found the 80A fuse under the rear seat, thats where the battery is. No worries Tim. I'll replace the 80A fuse and see how I go. I'll post some pictures tomorrow probably. The 50A fuse I have no idea where it is. I'll replace the 80A fuse and see how I go. Thanks for your help guys.


you found the 80A fuse under the seat?

that is really the opposite of what your etm says.

F99 is supposed to be the 50A fuse.

F0 is supposed to be 80A and in the engine compartment, where my 80A fuse is. (http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6317&stc=1&d=1227449422)

[tim eh?]

yeah, I found the 80A fuse under the rear seat, thats where the battery is. No worries Tim. I'll replace the 80A fuse and see how I go. I'll post some pictures tomorrow probably. The 50A fuse I have no idea where it is. I'll replace the 80A fuse and see how I go. Thanks for your help guys.

cool - good luck!

[shogun]

Probably the differences are where the battery is, engine room under the rear seat. In your case, Kris, the battery is under the seat, so the 80A fuse
FUSE BATTERY CABLE POSITIVE 80A
in the black box should be next to the battery similar like in my E32 (in E32 all batteries are under rear seat).

The other one: follow the cable from the battery. On my car (left hand drive) it goes from the battery towards the cable duct under the door sills on right side (LHD), where a lot of cables go from the rear to the front and to engine room, that is the major cable duct. Just when that cable enters the duct I found inside the plastic shrink the fuse, you cannot see it, just feel it. You have to remove the shrink stuff.
See here, that should be same on the E34
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/377728
In any case, ALWAYS that fuse is near to the battery, wherever that is located.

[rockin1978TA]

On my 89 535I, the 80 amp fusible link is on the red cable bolted to the positve connector. The 50 amp is on the red cable that is heatshrinked to the Big black positve cable. The link is next to the hole that the positive cable runs through. You have to cut the heatshrink to find it.

[Paul in NZ]

RHD cars are often a bit different...good luck Kriss!

[misfortune]

awesome thread thanks guys.

[BigKriss]

Yeah I fixed this a while ago and used a car stero fuse holder and fuse. I've had no problem with it since then.