new battery new problem help!!!

[bmwrp8]

Just changed my battery last night and while at it changed my stalk with an remote for obc after that all is fine.this morning I used my car with no prob. around night time when I shut the engine off and took out the key I noticed the battery sign in the instrument cluster is still on and the oil and brake lights are dimly on...auxiliary E.Fan is still working and I could here the idle control valve still working also with the key out of the ignition WTF!!!...So what I did was checked the alternator,battery and checked the stalk also but all is fine...this is wierd...any ideas??please help...Now I just disconnected the battery cables so the batt.would not run down...

[BMWDriver]

Sounds like a short somewhere... did it rain ? Did you drop your coffee ? Seriously though, it feels like a short, whereas the current is passing through, but with resistance such as a liquid may provoque, since the lights are dimly lit. I would look for a bare wire somewhere.

That would be a hell of an investigation given the inexperience I have. But that is what I would do: give a hard look at electrical wiring I can see. It could even be coming from within the steering column. Or could it be that water went in the ignition key hole, carried in by your key ? Now I think I'm stretching it.

Replug the bat, and if all is good, then the water is dry.

[bmwrp8]

Sounds like a short somewhere... did it rain ? Did you drop your coffee ? Seriously though, it feels like a short, whereas the current is passing through, but with resistance such as a liquid may provoque, since the lights are dimly lit. I would look for a bare wire somewhere.

That would be a hell of an investigation given the inexperience I have.

it didn't rain and didn't pour anything...just happened by itself...just looked again and when I took out the instrument cluster voila aux fan stop...and all return to normal.But when I put the instrument cluster back its the same problem...could the cluster have a short inside or something else outside the cluster???I dunno getting confused already!!!

[BMWDriver]

Ah, yes my friend, look for a bare wire ! There be metal things I should think, to hold it in place. Keep in mind this bare wire may even be barely bare... it won't take much. So, have a careful look at them, take all the time you need and you might find it. Anything that might be loose, uncovered wire ends, solderings that show...

EDIT:
Oops... instrument cluster. It might be worthwhile to have a look inside it. I take it the fan goes on because of high temp under normal conditions. It sounds like there is a part inside (like a condensator or resistor, or other) that has leaked seriously, and so triggers the aux. fan to turn on as if the cluster is giving the signal to lower the engine's temperature. And it must be a mess then.

[whiskychaser]

Just changed my battery last night and while at it changed my stalk .

Not even sure what stalk you mean but I'm thinking bad solenoid connections or duff regulator. Charging OK?

[BMWDriver]

Capacitors are known to fail. I'm starting to have trouble with my own cluster (shows empty fuel at more than half full, erroneous "add oil" message, erroneous "coolant low" message; only those so far).

http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Mainte...capacitors.htm

[bmwrp8]

[QUOTE=whiskychaser]Not even sure what stalk you mean but I'm thinking bad solenoid connections or duff regulator. Charging OK?[/QUOT

OBC stalk

[bmwrp8]

Capacitors are known to fail. I'm starting to have trouble with my own cluster (shows empty fuel at more than half full, erroneous "add oil" message, erroneous "coolant low" message; only those so far).

http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Mainte...capacitors.htm

ill try to borrow a cluster from the local yard if its still the same then i guess ill have to look for the short someplace else...

[BMWDriver]

ill try to borrow a cluster from the local yard if its still the same then i guess ill have to look for the short someplace else...

Hey ! I might buy either one off of you ! That would be great ! - Then again, the 89 cluster model is different... shoot ! It might not fit, I remember a post about that...

[632 Regal]

a relay might be stuck or fried. Did you try installing the original stalk? If you installed the stalk with the battery connected you might have shorted something.