Trunk open warning light On dash stays on

[Washburn]

Okay. My wife is on her way to Tennessee in the ZhP and she is reporting that the trunk open warning light on the dashboard is staying on
the trunk is actually closed and she can open and close the trunk with the key manually or with the button on the key.
any idea what Can cause this?

Is the warning light on the dashboard going to stay on, even after the car is locked? Will it drain the battery somehow? Any advice would be much appreciated
thanks!!!

[telijah]

Check the wire loom where the trunk hinges to the car. Many have found that somehow the wires in there got cracked/sheared/cut. Might want to read this thread. The sensor is built into the latch mechanism, but is ~100 bucks: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6215662#post6215662; specifically, post #5

[telijah]

Another good thread: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=511230

[az3579]

That light most certainly will not stay on once the car is turned off. That check only happens when the key has been turned to position 2 and when the car is running.


Sent from my iPhone 4S from Tapatalk

[Washburn]

UPDATE:
wifey reports that the dash light went off after going over a small to medium bump near Asheville .... :P

I am thinking it's the actuator...rather than wiring. 2 Reasons for this:
1. now I seem to DISTANTLY recall that one day, while sitting at a red light, I heard some repeated clicking from the back, faint, as if from outside, and remember thinking "wtf - sounds like someone is locking and unlocking the trunk"...it stopped after a few clicks...and never repeated.
2. Lately when I unlock the trunk with inside button or the button on the key, i hear TWO clicks rather than ONE click which is normal...

what do you think?
But then again, if it's the actuator, how could the 'bump' cure it for the moment? or for that matter, if it was the wiring, a damaged wire...is it even possible - perhaps the bump momentarily pushed the frayed/broken wire back together just enough to make the contact?

In any case I hope to look at the wire loom...it seems a bit involved :(

Thanks for all replies.

[danewilson77]

UPDATE:
wifey reports that the dash light went off after going over a small to medium bump near Asheville ...but now there is a clunk from front left front end. :P


:rofl

[Washburn]

LOL - I might show her that, Dane - she'll have a good laugh :) (or a big eye roll)

[danewilson77]

LOL - I might show her that, Dane - she'll have a good laugh :) (or a big eye roll)

Standing by for eye roll hair flip action. I'm used to it.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[330i ZHP]

close the trunk harder next time

[Washburn]

The trunk was closed, and LOCKED (with the key) when the light on dash was on. (would not open when pulled on it)
Had nothing to do with the trunk being closed.
Either the wiring loom going south, or actuator. Both these (from what I read) can cause the light to come on, even when trunk is well and fully closed.

[330i ZHP]

i have never heard of the wiring issue - is it a coupe thing?

[kayger12]

Same locking mechanism/switch in coupe and sedan.

[330i ZHP]

hmmm, 7 yrs with these cars and millions of hours talking in person and online and I never heard a peep about this...damn cars...

OP - gl

[kayger12]

I'm with you. I've read about the switches going bad before, but not the condition listed in this thread.

[Washburn]

It's actually pretty well documented on all bimmer forums. Just google "E46 Trunk open warning on dash" or something, you get a lot of hits and links to threads that discuss this extensively. (exact same scenario as in mine) - most of them caused by the wires breaking in the trunk harness, and some due to the micro switch/actuator.

[kayger12]

^Good info. Thanks, Wash.

[Washburn]

you're welcome :) btw, another member posted links to 2 specific threads on other forums regrading this.
(it's on p.1 somewhere)

[telijah]

That was me. "Phantom trunk warning e46" is a good search term.