Hazard warning light switch - howto on p. 2

[E21meister]

Howtoooo... now with updated pics!

Pop the center grill in the dash out, a smaller flat head screw driver seems to help, then push the hazard switch out from the back side.





Use a pocket knife and a screwdriver to gently seperate the two halves.[/i]



seperate slowly & the inner spring will stay near by.







You can see here where the pin on the little metal arm slides in the groove on the opposite half.



This is the pin/arm closer up:



Use a pair of needle nose pliars and bend the arm in a tiny bit so that the pin/arm stay engaged with the corresponding groove.



Then reassemble the pieces and test. No more Bic pen caps stuck in there to keep it turned off...

[Bimmerman4Ever]

I appreciate the write up and photos for the jumper.

My car was missing the top button on the hazard switch when I got it and just had some cardboard jammed in it. But it was causing a fuse to blow for my wipers and signals at random times, even when I was driving in heavy rain .

After the faulty hazard switch caused my stereo (triggered accessory power) to come on in the middle of the night, I pull that stupid thing out and put in the jumper. No more worries and mysterious electrical problems.

[Reck]

Thanks for re-uploading those pictures meister. Just done this because I've my MOT tomorrow, worked a treat. A couple of things I thought might be helpful;

The book of lies says you need to remove steering wheel/fascia and instrument cluster to remove the switch. You can just prize off the vent on top (held on with a plastic clip in each corner), remove the connecting plug and push out the switch from behind with a screwdriver.

The bit I had most trouble with was prizing the switch apart. The plastic is really soft and bends/tears quite easily. Just be really careful and patient.

[pistonheader]

Thanks for re-uploading those pictures meister. Just done this because I've my MOT tomorrow, worked a treat. A couple of things I thought might be helpful;

The book of lies says you need to remove steering wheel/fascia and instrument cluster to remove the switch. You can just prize off the vent on top (held on with a plastic clip in each corner), remove the connecting plug and push out the switch from behind with a screwdriver.

The bit I had most trouble with was prizing the switch apart. The plastic is really soft and bends/tears quite easily. Just be really careful and patient.

strange, on my last one the plastic was bloody tough and took some doing! glad you fixed it. for me, it worked for about 3 months, then failed again so i replaced it and it's been fine since, touch wood.

[brandon mitchel]

Is the light switch the same with car ignition switch? My light switch is broken and I brought it to a mechanic to repair it.

[marcelo320 arg]

you people with this tutorial saved my life, i can find this switch in argentina nowhere. i managed to fix it

thanks!

[Jeroen]

[Dan323i]

Thought I'd have to source a new one 'til e21Mark mentioned this thread – even a mechanical doofus like me has fixed it, easy!

[yagermiester]

hi! i'm new to the forum but i just bought a e21 and the turn indicators dont work, the owner said it was because the hazard light switch may have broke and that it was the relay. i really need to get this fixed and i dont know much about the car cuz im only 16 years old.

[e21-Mark]

Pull the plug off the hazard switch and using a bit of wire, bridge the 2 lilac coloured wires and bingo, you should have indicators till you get a new switch.

[yagermiester]

so the hazard is the relay and thats what is making the blinkers stop working?

[e21-Mark]

Possibly. Is the hazzard switch working? The flasher unit is in the steering column.

[yagermiester]

no hazard swich it broken and the signal switch on the steering wheel is not showing any sign of power in it

[e21-Mark]

Your indicator circuit runs thru the hazard switch, so if you bridge the terminals I mentioned earlier you should see them working again. Either that, or stick a new switch in.

[Stefe21]

Hi, just visiting from the dutch forum... I also have the broken switch and repaired it as shown in the pics. Seemed to be okay until i connected it to my car, the fuse blew...

Opened the switch again but everything seems okay. I cannot remove the spring, is a bit jammed on the bottom of the switch... any suggestions?