My car has 2 (probably) false check control alarms: - parking lights on (all 4 working) AND ignition on: "lights" warning on the monitor - occasionally, with lights on (position/low/high beam), running or ign. off (all lights working): "lights" warning on the monitor, disappearing on its own, sometimes flickering. Does Anybody know HOW the Mondial check control computer determines wether there are any burned bulbs? Thanks for advice.
If it works like the system on asian cars that i've diagnosed in the past, power goes thru the bulb check module, then to the lamps. The module looks at the current used in the circuit, and determines from that if a lamp is out. Often, a socket or a board with poor connection can cause a fault to show, or even the wrong wattage bulb used on the circuit being monitored. Never checked a Mondial before, but it should use the same principal. Hope this helps. If you have the wiring diagram for the lighting circuit, you should be able to narrow down if its a circuit problem or a problem with the module itself with a few simple checks. Without the diagram, forget about it.
I think you are right. Monitoring the current is about the only way to detect lamp failure. On BMWs, I have found that cheap aftermarket lamps sometimes are really inconsistent in their current demands and with different base materials (e.g. brass) which may corrode, the load also changes. That will trigger a 'lamp failure' alarm on a Bimmer, probably also on a Mondial. My Mondial QV sends three error codes, one real and two false. The real one is a worn-brake-pad warning because a PO installed the pads w/o sensors, leaving the circuit 'open'. The two others are; (1) lamp warning with lighting on (just as posted above) and, (2) a 'low oil level' warning owing to a failed level sensor. The later repair could be a replacement sensor, if available for less than the national debt of a small third-world nation, or a 12 ohm resistor wired across the sensor thereby satisfying the Check Control but negating any low oil level detection - which we should all check MANUALLY anyway. When I get around to the lamp circuits, if I ever do, I'll just clean all the sockets and connectors, and replace all the lamps. If it still shows a failure, I'll just ignore it. -rick
If you make a jumper wire for your pad wear sensor, you can eliminate at least one of those pesky lights
Veloce thanks, yes I do have a wiring diagramm. It works as you have desicribed in terms of layout. Since the warning light comes on with the parking lights already, my search is relatively narrow. I have already decorroded all the bulbs a while ago, and may start by changing them to see if there is a "weak" one somewhere. I don't think the check-control computer is the problem, I suspect some connection issue actually (flickering light) Also, once a while, the warning light would go off and on alternating with the hazard lights on. I guess it goes off because the current goes up when all the indicators light up, then comes back on when they are off and the current drops. Rick - cheap aftermarket bulbs - I guess that is what is in the car here in Hong Kong I'll check my bulbs and connectors, will keep you posted on any results.
The occasional "false" washer level waring light was due to an inconsistent ground wire connection at the washer pump connector. Once the 2 ground wires redone, the warning light has consistently been off.
Urs: Any chance of your posting that wiring diagram? I have the Factory diagram for the 3.2, but either haven't found the detail of the check console or it isn't there. There are actually a good number of threads from people looking for a diagram of that component. I have the dame bulb issue, and have gone through and cleaned up most of the lighting system, but it hasn't made the check light go out. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Peter
The missing bit is the INSIDE of the Check Control system. All of my diagrams just show how it is wired into the main harness - basically, the hook-up to the sensors. We need an old C.C. unit to open and reverse engineer. Any volunteers? I can do the engineering but am not about to disassemble my only (and working) C.C.. -rick
Peter, as Rick said, unfortunately the check control computer itself is not detailed, just represented as a box... I also doubt the problem is the check control itself. I am replacing bulbs and cleaning up connections at the moment and will post the results.
Replacing bulbs didn't change anything. Anyone knows what happens if the bulbs in a given circuit are more powerful than originally specified? For example, 8W parking lights vs. 5W original spec? Will that cause the warning light to come on?
If you remove the "light" warning bulb, will the large amber "master" warning at the bottom go out too, e.g. will the green light come on? ... I'll try that and let you know. It be interesting to know what sort of current range results in no warning. The normal current can be calculated, the minimal too (theoretical minus the smallest bulb in the circuit). Is there a maximum value too to detect a "too high wattage" bulb? The intellectual challenge here is to figure out WHY the "light" light comes on despite all the bulbs and sockets in good order. Chances that the actual check control computer is faulty is rather slim I suppose. The light light on mine, a while ago, would flicker after start-up, then go out. That would indicate a partial connection that turns into a good one (temp. or vibration related maybe) Now it is on, solid, so the fault is persistent.
... after replacing all the bulbs and cleaning every accessible connector and ground and having all lights working brightly (including trunk and glovebox): For those of you who also have a false lights warning light: Remove the white wire from the red plug on the check control monitor and isolate it. It is the lights signal wire. Removing it will neither affect other warning lights nor interfere with the master warning fields lighting up. And check your lights the old fashioned way once a while! I also noticed a very weak illumination of the amber brake lights warning LED (only visible in the dark and straight from the top) that does not trigger the amber master lamp. Invisible from the driver's viewing angle. Maybe an indication of a problem inside the check control monitor. Again, all brake lights working.
