Malfunctions Of General Module (61 16 96)

MALFUNCTIONS OF GENERAL MODULE

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

SUBJECT

Malfunctions of General Module

SITUATION

As ambient temperatures fall below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), the voltage regulator in certain General Modules (GM) of the Central Body Electronics (ZKE IV) can initiate a reset. This reset can be more likely as the temperature falls further below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). The GM reacts in this instance as it would if the power supply had been briefly interrupted.

EFFECT

The following symptoms may arise:

1. - The interior lighting briefly fails to illuminate.
2. - On Convertibles only: the trunk lighting, the glove compartment light, and the reading lights may briefly fail to work.
3. - The comfort relay may "click" sporadically when the ignition is switched to the "Accessory" (KI. "R") position.
4. - The double-lock function of the Central Locking System may fail to engage, making it impossible to double-lock the vehicle until one of the front doors has been opened and closed again.
   NOTE: The GM will normally not double-lock after the ignition has been switched off unless it sees that one of the front doors has been opened and closed; however, in this malfunction, the "memory" of the door having been opened is not retained, and a front door must be opened and closed again before double-lock is enabled.
5. - The power windows and/or central locking system may fail to work.
6. - The comfort closing and one-touch features of the windows may fail to work if the windows were open when the reset took place.
7. - When diagnosing the General Module, the various voltage resets (maximum number = 31 ) are listed under "4 Test Procedure" and "5 Battery Status".

VEHICLES AFFECTED

3 Series (E36) vehicles equipped with General Module (ZKE IV), produced from June 1994 to approximately December 1995.

CORRECTION

In the case of customer complaint of one or more of the above-listed symptoms, when no other cause can be found for such complaint, replace the General Module.

PROCEDURE

1. Select the General Module with the DIS Tester or MoDiC.
2. Call up the fault memory and status displays for the given malfunctions. Check whether anything else could have caused the fault in question.
3. If the fault appears definitely to be caused by a General Module reset, replace the General Module if it bears the following characteristics:

Manufacturer	Part Number	Hardware/Date Code
UTA	61 35 8 336 149	All with HW 13
Reinshagen or Kostal	61 35 8 353 095	All with HW 13/HW 14 up to and including manufacturing date of 20/95
UTA, Reinshagen, or Kostal	61 35 8 369 482	All with HW 14 up to and including manufacturing date of 48/95

If a General Module is determined to be the cause of a customer complaint (due to a reset) and fits one of the above-listed categories, it should be replaced with Part Number 61 35 8 369 482. All parts of earlier Hardware Version have been cleared from the Parts Distribution Centers.

PARTS INFORMATION

Part Number	Description	Qty.
61 35 8 369 482	General Module (uncoded)	1

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Parts and Labor are reimbursable under the terms of the BMW New Car Limited Warranty of 4 years/50,000 miles.

Defect Code	Labor Operation	Labor Allowance
Use the defect Code appropriate to the failure encountered.	61 35 120	5 FRU