Trunk Light stays on

[m3f_355gts]

Any experience this ?



I noticed last night that the light behind the driverside tail-lamp remained on, even after the car was locked and, trunk shut.



I would think it would automatically switch off once the trunk is shut...





why does it stay on? and for how long? I dont imagine this can be good for the batt..





Thanks for input

[m3f_John Firestone]

... why does it stay on? and for how long? I dont imagine this can be good for the batt....

Non-cabrio models have constant power to the light and a trunk light switch that simply grounds it. Ergo, the light stays on until the battery is flat. I put a 15-minute timer on mine after I accidentally left the trunk open.

[m3f_Evtron]

Have you tested the switch?

[m3f_355gts]

Non-cabrio models have constant power to the light and a trunk light switch that simply grounds it. Ergo, the light stays on until the battery is flat. I put a 15-minute timer on mine after I accidentally left the trunk open.

i have a cabrio lol (hardtop)





whats the point of it staying on; doesnt it just drain batt life??

[m3f_John Firestone]

i have a cabrio lol (hardtop)


whats the point of it staying on; doesnt it just drain batt life??

A cabrio, you say? I imagined something else from your picture.


I think the ZKE should shut off the trunk lights as soon as you close the trunk. Does a cabrio also have the trunk switch in the trunk lid? If it does, I wonder if the wire from the switch to the ZKE has broken, inside the trunk-to-trunk-lid cable, and shorted to ground: and is now signalling the trunk is always open.

[m3f_daytonaviolet]

Have you tested the switch?

+1



with the light on, just press the switch with your finger. does it turn off?

[m3f_355gts]

A cabrio, you say? I imagined something else from your picture.



I think the ZKE should shut off the trunk lights as soon as you close the trunk. Does a cabrio also have the trunk switch in the trunk lid? If it does, I wonder if the wire from the switch to the ZKE has broken, inside the trunk-to-trunk-lid cable, and shorted to ground: and is now signalling the trunk is always open.

pic is of my e92





my e36M is a hardtop vert - pics in one of these threads..



- in anycase, what u are saying sounds to me like some irrational tidbit by BMW lol



I dont want to break anything - but is there a way to manually turn off that trunk light? I'll check when i get back to see if its still on..i only just noticed it yesterday so it may just have a delayed "off setting"

[m3f_John Firestone]

... I dont want to break anything - but is there a way to manually turn off that trunk light?...

Not that I know of. On a 'ti, you can pull out the switch a bit more and it will go off. Which suggests a refinement I should make to my timer, so that I can avoid cutting a little sheet metal.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

John, cabrio's also have the trunk lid switch.


There is a cut-off relay though. If you leave trunk or doors open, it will trigger the "rest relay" after aprox 15 minutes.

[m3f_355gts]

John, cabrio's also have the trunk lid switch.



There is a cut-off relay though. If you leave trunk or doors open, it will trigger the "rest relay" after aprox 15 minutes.

ahh, this was after i had hte doors open for 10-20mins..



so i guess that was the "rest relay" thing then.





good to know.. seemed strange at first