Help Please! - United Bimmer Community

**M3Scharged** · 11-02-2006, 11:28 AM

hi, the car is 1995 bmw M3

What happened:

I know for sure that when I was trying to get 12Volts from alarm, I touched a ground with a 12V wire and heard spark

Outcome:

ODB - no power
engine WON'T TURN AT ALL
alarm doesn't work - NO 12VOLTS ANYMORE from that wire
windows won't roll up/down
no horn
no sunroof
no radio power
no brake lights
dome light works - except for the 2 little lights that are right next to dome light - they don't turn on.
DME code: 1281 after resetting (it won't go away)

Everything else seems to have power. Checked all the tiny fuses in the black box under the hood. All are ok.

thanks for suggestions! I just don't know what else to check

**celsdogg** · 11-02-2006, 11:42 AM

electronics in the E36 are kinda sensitive. anytime your doing electrical work, you should disconnect the battery!

doesnt sound good, you might have fried a whole list of things.

**mullethunter3** · 11-02-2006, 01:00 PM

hopefuly c1apton will know what that code is...

**xsperf** · 11-02-2006, 01:05 PM

i would start by checking fuses, seems like you burnt quite a few.. can you say what DOES happen? when u put hte key in, is there anything?

**Dudesky** · 11-02-2006, 01:37 PM

This won't be much help, but it's closer than you are now. . 1281 basically means the power supply to the DME has been cut off. Now since other things are going haywire, I would bet you fried a power junction somewhere near the DME. I can see the junction in the wiring schematics, but I have no idea exactly where it is under the hood. That's all I have, sorry

**c1apton** · 11-02-2006, 07:03 PM

Currently I don't have access to schematics for that one & my bud @ BMW/NA is on vaca... but I'd venture to guess when you shorted accross the leads you "cooked" one of the fusible links. Start at the battery and test w/12 volt tester. Also the leads on the back of alternator. I almost positive you'll find an "open" between the battery and DME (1281 is the code for no pwr to DME)

**M3Scharged** · 11-02-2006, 07:57 PM

Thank you for answers.

* What happens is when the key is turned to start the engine, it won't do anything, and the instrument cluster lights up as normal.

* The fuses in black box are all ok, didn't check relays but not sure if I should, there is only one main relay, a DME relay.

* The Clifford 7000 ALARM also doesn't work.....Is it possible that this ALARM blocks these things?

If someone can find that schematic or know the exact place to check for that "break", please let me know.

ThAnKs!!!!!

**M3Scharged** · 11-09-2006, 10:56 PM

anyone have any suggestions?
thank you.

**Numark318i** · 11-09-2006, 11:11 PM

me and my dad crossed the cables on our 96 volvo. It had a master relay that prevented further damage to the car when it got the shock.

so..not sure what relay that would be for an OBD 1 bmw..but check around. Im sure thats why the car isnt turning over.

Work from there..im sure you blew a couple of other fuses that arent directly coming from the relay. If BMW had the right idea like volvo then they prolly have a fail safe for this sort of thing(IE that one main relay)

**M3Scharged** · 11-10-2006, 12:26 AM

well my bimmer works perfect for now cause I ommited the short, but I still gotta find the original short asap to stay on the safe side.

thx.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numark318i

me and my dad crossed the cables on our 96 volvo. It had a master relay that prevented further damage to the car when it got the shock.

so..not sure what relay that would be for an OBD 1 bmw..but check around. Im sure thats why the car isnt turning over.

Work from there..im sure you blew a couple of other fuses that arent directly coming from the relay. If BMW had the right idea like volvo then they prolly have a fail safe for this sort of thing(IE that one main relay)