Tail light help needed E36

[danieljames]

Hi fanatics. This has me completely baffled. Was driving sunday morning just my parks and spot lights...stopped at my girlfriends place and the OBD gives me a tail light failure message. So I check and the tail lights are dead. The strange thing is that the rear fog light indicator is displayed on the instrument cluster. I checked all the fuses, all the bulbs are still fine. I removed the headlight switch and nothing looks or smells burnt. Even if I remove the two buttons for the front and rear fog lights, the rear fog light indicator stays on. Has anyone experienced a similar situation?
I'm going to try another light switch but the earliest I can do that is Wednesday.

The car in question is a '95 E36

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EDIT.

Indicators hazards reverse lights brake lights all work. It's just the driving lights and the fog light that doesn't work

 

[zabbo]

The e36 is known to have tail light issues.

I replaced both my entire rear light clusters and had no issues after that.

I used an auto electrician in Crawford (Cosmo Auto Electrical) who uses different connectors. Took a morning to do the job and cost R650.

In case you do not find an easier solution.

 

[VeNoM_Ct]

ye I have the same issue but with the one brake light only...

works then dont work... I just leave it!

its the connector plates... probs need to bend it...

 

[Cape_Tonian]

Check that all your bulbs are correctly inserted in the socket and maybe try cleaning it with some very fine sandpaper.

This happened to me twice last month. I was told to check the bulbs, done that and it's working perfectly now.

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ye I have the same issue but with the one brake light only...

works then dont work... I just leave it!

its the connector plates... probs need to bend it...

You're sure it's not your brake light switch under the pedal?

Same happened to me, was the switch.

 

[Flash-Gordon]

ye I have the same issue but with the one brake light only...

works then dont work... I just leave it!

its the connector plates... probs need to bend it...

Had this issue on my E36 too.

The connector plates get worn after a while.

I just got hold of some aluminum tape and stuck pieces where the plates connect. Problem solved :rollsmile:

 

[VeNoM_Ct]

Check that all your bulbs are correctly inserted in the socket and maybe try cleaning it with some very fine sandpaper.

This happened to me twice last month. I was told to check the bulbs, done that and it's working perfectly now.

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ye I have the same issue but with the one brake light only...

works then dont work... I just leave it!

its the connector plates... probs need to bend it...

You're sure it's not your brake light switch under the pedal?

Same happened to me, was the switch.

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yep that is what i must do... clean it...

its not the switch, its only the right side brake light...

 

[danieljames]

Kwl. I'm taking the clusters out this eve. I doubt it's the switch. My brake lights work fine

 

[Jethro91775]

My headlamp switch is broken and is causing all the above faults, combined with corroded contacts on the clusters. Still hunting for a switch.

 

[Waseem 333i]

Use a multi meter to trace. Start with where the bulbs connects then move to the connector then to the switch. Saves so much of time.

 

[danieljames]

Sorted it. But thanks for the reply. Was a loose wire and a bad earth

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The previous owner did a crap job of a quick fix to the plug that fits into the light cluster. Guess with all the driving it eventually worked it's way loose