check control light - United Bimmer Community

**Chris** · 06-15-2006, 09:28 PM

the check control light just came on and it says brake light circuit check owners manual.....

i would check the owners manual, but well... we don't have one.

can someone maybe look it up for me in their E36 manual?

**ChrisWorrell** · 06-15-2006, 10:05 PM

I think i remember reading about this

Common problem that happened in alot of e36, nothing is actually wrong, but rather bmw didn't seal the trunk perfectly and there are some wires that i believe have the chance to get wet, it doesn't brake anything but it sends a false signal to the computer saying something is wrong.

i could be entirely wrong but i think that was the cause of the problem

**Chris** · 06-15-2006, 11:45 PM

^^^

thats probably it. the light went out when i turned it off completely removed the key and restarted.

**xsperf** · 06-16-2006, 12:26 AM

fool around with your tail light bulbs/sockets, and if those are ok, there is a 10 dollar brake switch right at the brake pedal, that may be the problem too

**Dudesky** · 06-16-2006, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisWorrell

Common problem that happened in alot of e36, nothing is actually wrong, but rather bmw didn't seal the trunk perfectly and there are some wires that i believe have the chance to get wet . .

Actually it's the seal on the tail light lenses. Rain or water is supposed to channel along the outer edges of the trunk, and drains down alongside the inner edges of the tail lights. But if the seals on the lights are weak, you'll get moisture in there. The Check Control measures resistance to current, so if you have corrosion from moisture, it'll raise the resistance and trigger the warning. Try cleaning the bulb socket contacts. Also, as xsperf mentioned it can be the brake switch located on the pedal. That can be tricky because it can trigger the warning even if it still seems to work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisdoesntknow

the light went out when i turned it off completely removed the key and restarted.

That's how you reset the Check Control . . the warning will remain until you do that

**zeaq328i** · 06-16-2006, 12:43 PM

I got that problem before. Changed the Brake light swith and the sign is gone forever.