Loading ...Q
Car year: 2000
Car model: 528i
My cigarette lighter and cabin trunk opener button are inoperative. What could be the problem? I tried to charge my cell phone and found it inoperative. The trunk button stopped working long ago.
A
The front lighter socket, on the E39 chassis (5 series 97 through 03), is powered from fuse #21. After the fuse, there is a relay for the power delivery to the socket. The fuse may be blown or the relay may be faulty. Of course, there may be a broken wire or other circuit disconnect or problem as well. I’d suggest checking the fuse as a starting point. The Bentley repair manual contains the full vehicle wiring diagrams, if you end up needing to go further than the fuse in the diagnostics.
The trunk release switch is operated through fuse #27, so let’s check this fuse. The other functional parts are the switch itself and the vehicle General Module (GM), which controls most of the vehicle electrical functions. If the fuse if OK, unplug the wiring harness plug at the release motor/actuator and test for voltage when the switch is activated. If voltage is present, the motor/actuator may be at fault. If no voltage, the switch or the GM may be at fault (I’d suspect the switch first). As noted above, all of this info is available in the Bentley repair manual.
Cick here for Bentley repair manuals:
http://www.bavauto.com/se1.asp?dept_id=5228
