Licesnse plate lights out - handle works

[jgold47]

Both of my plate lights are out. However, the handle works. I tested for power at the lights, and get nothing. I pulled the assembly off, but didnt see anything strange. when I test across the lights to each other, I get nothing.

Any ideas?

Does the X5 have that problem with wires getting pinched in the rubber boots?

I think this is the whole assembly (and its my color too!)

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/51137170674/ES78255/

[TerminatorX5]

the connector X1739, the one that goes into the handle and the license plate lights, has 4 pins - one common ground, one for the handle and one for each light individually. the lights do not cross into each other, each one is individually powered... before scrapping the handle module, make sure that the module is defective:
if you have an ohmmeter (or multimeter) test the continuity (resistance) from each pin to the lights - the pin out is as following:

1 – left license plate light
2 – trunk lid release button
3 – ground (brown wire)
4 – right license plate light (also feeds trailer module for parking lights for trailer)

if the continuity is ok and there is no cross circuit shorts, then your module is ok... the power to the lights is not provided unless the LCM detects functioning light bulb - during engine start up (ignition hot) the LCM sends out PMW (pulse modulated wave) through out the entire car to determine the continuity of the light bulbs. The light bulbs that are deems defective (burnt out, missing...) do NOT get voltage from the LCM until the next power cycle. put is a fresh light bulb and try the engine again... hopefully, it will work... if not, then it is time to troubleshoot further...

[jgold47]

I sort of did that already with no success. I will try again, now that I have the pinouts. Thanks.

So, is that right that the LCM wont send power if it doesnt detect the lights? What constitues a cycle? Key on and off or car started? I ask, because I replaced the lights with LED's. I had the same LED on my e46 with no problems or bulb out errors but perhaps this car uses a different LCM. I will stop by the parts store today and grab a set of regular bulbs to see if that makes a difference. Perhaps I need to get them to turn on again, and then I can replace with the LED.

Just so we are clear, is there a fuse for this?

[TerminatorX5]

i did not see a fuse on the WDS but there still might be one somewhere in the trunk or the glove compartment.
the LED will set off check licplate light in E53, i have been playing with reverse camera that goes into lic plate opening, and the camera has the LEDs for license plate, and they set off the warning. I will be turning off the warning later, with the programming the cold monitoring of lic plate light set to OFF.
in the bmw the cycle is the ignition on/off but there should be a delay - i do not know the exact delay, but the car normally goes to sleep 16 minutes after last activity on the iBus.
i remember replacing the fog light bulb, and ther light did not come on with a known good bulb - then, i drove, parked for an errand, came back, tried again, and it worked... worth trying with regular bulbs, they are $4-5, better then spending $150 for the handle...

[jgold47]

great I'll give it a try. Is the license plate light a separate cold check item that can be turned off? I'm going to get out NCS this weekend. Any other fun things to code on the x5? I am going to turn on the window up with fob, fogs and high beams and get it so all the doors unlock when i hit the key.

[TerminatorX5]

i haven't looked in my NCS file in a while, but i think every cold monitoring can be turned on/off... i have fogs/highbeams together, gong off for key in ignition and belt warning, corner lights off, car clock synched to gps nav. i could not get windows up on the keyfob, nor let them roll up/down with doors open, could not get the auto lock on drive-away... i got sunroof closing on rain sensor... could not find the AE to work like the DRLs... turned off cold monitoring for AE LEDs...

[jgold47]

hmm - does anyone have a FSW file for the GM5? Windows up should be in there...

[jgold47]

yeah - SOL. Tried the new lights, no change. Suprised that the handle would still work, obviously, the microswitch is still getting power and ground. There are a couple lsz fuses I need to check but I am leaning towards having to replace the entire assembly. Its only 100 bucks at ECS.

[TerminatorX5]

i find it strange that both lights are out, considering that they are fed independently form each other... do you have access to WDS on line? you need adobe SVG reader to see the schematics, and Java to for the navigation... search for licenCe, the US spelling search returns nothing

[jgold47]

already looked. There is definately not an independant fuse for the plate lights. There are 3 general fuses for the LSZ, so its possible that one of them is blown. Although I suspect the LSZ handles the lighting for more than just the LP lights (directly, its also responsible obviously for a number of other components), its possible that the two extra fuses are directly connected to these lights. I couldnt get them out of the holder to check them when I tried the other night (too freaking cold) so I will try them with a multimeter when I get home. based on some other threads I found, I ordered the entire assembly and new gaskets. Seems water gets in behind the board and corrodes it. When I pulled out the lenses, a) one was cracked, and b) there was definately moisture in there.

For whatever reason BMW sells the handle in primer and titan, so I got lucky I wont need to paint it. For 100 bucks, no big deal.