electrical problem

[dodj]

hi i have searched high and low for a solution to this problem.

96 318ti

occasionally when the key is turned the service lights will not come on, or their will be strange things in the display (backwards no.s etc) the clock will reset and the air bag light will get triggered. Occasionally even when the key is removed the seat belt light and the low fuel light will stay partially lit.

when this happens the central locking will not work. Everything else will work stereo lights etc.

The problem will always fix itself after between 5 and 40 minutes.

im hoping someone here has come across this or knows of a solution, or knows someone they can ask about this.

This has stumped my local bmw dealer so you will have solved a mystery!!

please help!

[1996 328ti]

That is odd. How old is the battery? Or you might just want to clean the battery terminals and be sure the cables are all secured.

[dodj]

the first time it happened i thought it was the battery it has been replaced and my bmw dealer checked all the connections to the battery

please helllllllllp :D

[brucelee]

This is a leap but my ti was doing weird electrical things for a week or so and then the chip in the key simply died. Ordered new key and life is fine.

[dodj]

thanks for that is an idea. is there a way they can test the key/chip without me having to order a new one first

[Stomp]

What year did they start using the chips in the keys?

[Jeff Spooner]

you can test the keys w/ the GT1 which is the factory diag. tester. A lot of indep. shops now have it, since it was released to us in 2002. They also have a lot of proplems w/ the electrical part of the ing. switch. You could also try a used cluster just so happen to have one. also check all fuses real good. Had one today that after a while would glow red in the center but looked good when the key was off.