interior lights staying on

[Phantom221]

i have a 1994 m reg 325 tds auto. i have had the car for a few weeks now but 2 days ago the interior lights stay on when the switch is on the door setting. another thing is when i use the key to lock the doors they lock for 1 second and reopen. how can i fix this. cheers

[96_323]

What happens if you lock the passenger side door?
Check the circuit under load for 12volts, then check at the drivers door and the passenger door at the switch.

Do the interior lights go out after 2 or 3 mins or do they stay on permanently?
The interior lights in the e36 stay on for 2 or 3 mins after you close the door if you dont lock it, watch it and they should fade out after 2 or 3 mins.

[96_323]

Sorry ment to say at the actuator and not the switch! Check for 12volts running to the actuator.

[Phantom221]

Hi there if I lock the passengers door just the passengers door locks. No other lock does anything. Cheers

[96_323]

Do the lights fade out after a few minutes when you close the door or do they stay on?
Get a voltage reading and get back to us, Its an electrical issue and if you bring it to a mechanic one of the 1st things they will do is get a voltage reading. Just take off the door card, about 5 or 6 minutes of work and then get your srcewdriver with its built in voltage tester and stick it onto the solders on the actuator.

[Zoltan]

I had the same problem and I took my e36 316i compact to all kind of mechanics with this, finally I solved the problem myself.
It sounds ridiculous, but the troublemaker (at leat for me) was the trunks switch which just did not closed properly when i closed the trunk. So a 0,5cm thick piece of cardbord paper solved the problem which I inserted just under that so as it closes the switch goes back to normal sensitivity.
Check this first. Good luck.