c36 electrical issues

[amgc36]

Hello forum!

Having owned my c36 from new I've finally run into a few problems and need some help/advice.

The main issue is electrical, concerning the dashboard. The low level light for engine coolant is permanently lit, the warning light for a failed light bulb comes on intermittently and the fuel guage after working intermittently has now completely failed.

Another problem that has developed recently is the dashboard speaker, adjacent to the binnacle which hisses continuously. I'm not sure if this is related to the other electrical problems but it's an extremely annoying distraction whilst driving.

If anybody could throw light on these issues or offer any advice would be great!

thanks,
Ben

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Hi Ben,

Which year is your car mate??

Make sure both coolant and washer levels are ok first.

Check all the bulbs, if any have gone black, replace them first.

Try adding some fuel system cleaner for the fuel gauge as a first port of call.

Sounds like a blown speaker to me, may need to be replaced.

 

[amgc36]

Hi Ben,

Which year is your car mate??

Make sure both coolant and washer levels are ok first.

Check all the bulbs, if any have gone black, replace them first.

Try adding some fuel system cleaner for the fuel gauge as a first port of call.

Sounds like a blown speaker to me, may need to be replaced.

Hi, Ellsy, thanks for the reply. Its a 1995 car. The coolant/washer levels are fine and I changed the sender at the coolant reservoir end which didn't solve the problem.

All bulbs work except one of the fogs but I will check them nevertheless. I'll try some fuel cleaner - do you think the problem with the guage is at the tank end rather than the dashboard and the other electrical gremlins are coincidental? The coolant light problem has existed for a while but the fuel guage problem is fairly recent.

I've noticed with the speaker that the noise it makes goes away on acceleration. Does this suggest a wiring (earthing fault?)

thanks,
Ben

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hello forum!

Having owned my c36 from new I've finally run into a few problems and need some help/advice.

The main issue is electrical, concerning the dashboard. The low level light for engine coolant is permanently lit, the warning light for a failed light bulb comes on intermittently and the fuel guage after working intermittently has now completely failed.

Another problem that has developed recently is the dashboard speaker, adjacent to the binnacle which hisses continuously. I'm not sure if this is related to the other electrical problems but it's an extremely annoying distraction whilst driving.

If anybody could throw light on these issues or offer any advice would be great!

thanks,
Ben

Hi,
Welcome to the forum,
As Elsy says do check the levels are correct first.
Regarding you Coolant light, I had the same problem with my 97 C230K, I went to MB and bought a new coolant sender switch, I mentioned why I was buying it and he said it won,t be that switch which is faulty but the Windscreen Washer level one, due to the way they are wired if the washer level switch goes it puts on the coolant bottle light on.
To be honest I scoffed at this, he shrugged and said he would be seeing me soon to order the washer bottle switch.
I went home fitted the new switch and low and behold the light was still on, returned to MB he saw me pull up and he already had a washer level switch on the counter, fitted it and as he said it put out the coolant light.
Never quite understood this but it worked so who cares.
Intermittent fault regarding the fuel light running on cheap supermarket fuel has a tendancy of leaving sulphur deposits on the fuel sender units causing erractic operation. do you run it on unleaded? as I believe it should be run on super plus, this could have a contributory factor to it but I am only surmising. The fuel cleaner "should" solve your problem.
Hope this helps.

 

[television]

yes the washer and coolant lamps are coupled,,the other thing that can turn them on is water in the fan control box or water under the front SAM in the control box,,there are modified lids for this

 

[amgc36]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. bigasotonuk - I'll get a washer level sender on order. I do run on ordinary unleaded, sometimes from supermarkets. What fuel additive would you recommend - ordinary stuff from Halfords or something better like Forte?

television - excuse my ignorance but what's the "front SAM in the control box"?

 

[bigasotonuk]

I have bought some additive called "fuel set" from the land down under but i have used Redex in the past.
http://liquideng.co.uk/content/view/23/