Steering Wheel going UP on its own.

[ahspao]

Hi guys, I posted on the other forum as well but figured I might get some different insight from this side of the tracks.

I got a 2002 530i, when I set my steering to the position I like and set it as memory, things look ok, then I get to driving and suddenly it moves up on its own. I can move it back down but in a minute or two, it will start moving up again. The level is not stuck or loose and I can't see any other reason why it does this. I did see a little bit of correlation between the brake pedal and the steering movement. They seem to be related somehow.

Any ideas ? Everything about the steering and its motor work fine otherwise. Its just this random raising of the wheel.

[dustin1717]

checked the seat switches on your drivers seat, sometimes the trim piece to hold the switchs breaks, causing switch to unplug only on e39.
that switch center controls seat and steering memery

[mookish]

Could be your ignition switch going also.

[Gumbi4u]

Could be your ignition switch going also.

+1, that would make a whole lot more sense. Hard to explain but the memory functions reside on the first "notch" on the ignition switch. After a while the switch wears down and there is play and float. Its probably floating right over the contact points. Anything else acting "weird"?

[Qsilver7]

Do a test to see if you can replicate the problem:

1. get in car and set up like you're getting ready to go somewhere
2. turn on engine, radio, and headlights
3. reach over and pull down the passenger sunvisor and open the mirror cover so that the make-up lights come on

If the steering wheel, seats, or other weird electrical stuff happens...the problem is your ignition switch.

[BMW 528]

I think you have bad seat switch.

[ezbmr]

Could be your ignition switch going also.


+2

[ViolinARC]

Do a test to see if you can replicate the problem:

1. get in car and set up like you're getting ready to go somewhere
2. turn on engine, radio, and headlights
3. reach over and pull down the passenger sunvisor and open the mirror cover so that the make-up lights come on

If the steering wheel, seats, or other weird electrical stuff happens...the problem is your ignition switch.
+1 for an inexpensive and quick troubleshoot. :)

EDIT: Does it only occur when you drive by hawt chicks??? :lol

[ahspao]

Did the test and nothing happened. No issues, but i'm not quite convinced that it "isn't" the ignition switch. I'll take a look at the seat controls this weekend when I take it apart. Thanks for the help.

[mookish]

Did the test and nothing happened. No issues, but i'm not quite convinced that it "isn't" the ignition switch. I'll take a look at the seat controls this weekend when I take it apart. Thanks for the help.The test can be hit or mis, it can rule in the ignition switch more than it can rule it out.

How often does this happen? Daily, weekly, or just every now and then? The switch could be just starting to fail.

[jamesdc4]

I agree. It's a good possibility that the ignition switch is failing intermittently. Please let us know the results of the seat switch diagnostic.
GL

[ahspao]

If I start the car, lower the steering wheel and then use my hands to press down on the drivers door side of the seat, when I let go, the steering wheel moves up. So its definately linked to the seat controls. Now, I don't know if just a swap of the controls will fix it or if there is just a little short I can repair without replacing anything. Time for a closer look.

[Qsilver7]

...press down on the drivers door side of the seat, when I let go, the steering wheel moves up. So its definately linked to the seat controls. .

Now that's an important detail that was missing the first time around...and points at where the problem lies.

You can't just swap the driver's side (large) seat switch with the passenger one because they are TWO different switches. The pass seat swith is just that...operates the pass seat.

The driver's seat switch is an integral part of the seat/steering column/sideview mirror operation. If you are pressing down on the switch and getting the steering column movement...that probably means that your seat cover (the plastic thing that holds the switch is either loose or broken...and/or the electrical connector to the the (large) seat switch is either busted or loose.

When you remove the seat cover (surround thingy)...flip it over and you'll see the harness connected to the seat switch is probably cracked....or the wiring harness is broken, cracked or not seated properly in the switch.

This topic was just discussed last week...there's pics of the switch and everything...go take a look/read:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=941214&highlight=seat+switch

Or you can click the two links below to see pics of the switch with the wiring harness connected...AND a pic of the switch that has the broken connector (both of these these posts were in the enitre thread that is linked above)

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12173355&postcount=3
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12174544&postcount=5

[dustin1717]

The problem is probably not the switch its self, but the trim that it mounts to, breaks causing the connector to come loose. you need the whole trim panel on left side of seat, when buying this panel comes with drivers and passenger side

[BMW 528]

Try to unplug that seat switch.

[Silver740il]

Starting a week ago my 2001 e38 randomly has been showing electrical issues while driving only (steering wheel goes up and down randomly, brake lights are on with the brake indicator on the dash, seat belt lights come on on the dash even when everyone is clicked in and the steering sensor makes the steering harder to turn at lower speeds, I came across this thread that suggests ignition switch but could there be anything else. The car has been doing this the first time ever and I have not done anything to it. I thought the recent rains may have caused water to invade electrical areas but then again it’s in consistent. Happens but not all the time. Were there other areas I need to look at? Mechanically everything is fine no loose belts or low steering fluid levels and even the engine RPM is normal

[Qsilver7]

Starting a week ago my 2001 e38 randomly has been showing electrical issues while driving only (steering wheel goes up and down randomly, brake lights are on with the brake indicator on the dash, seat belt lights come on on the dash even when everyone is clicked in and the steering sensor makes the steering harder to turn at lower speeds, I came across this thread that suggests ignition switch but could there be anything else. The car has been doing this the first time ever and I have not done anything to it. I thought the recent rains may have caused water to invade electrical areas but then again it’s in consistent. Happens but not all the time. Were there other areas I need to look at? Mechanically everything is fine no loose belts or low steering fluid levels and even the engine RPM is normal

You can quickly do the visor test to see if you can get the odd electrical gremlins to replicate themselves...if they do...then it is definitely the ignition switch.

If you haven't run across a link to one of the iggy switch videos that shows some of the common signs of the failing iggy switch...here they are again:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7gMUrAvcIE (short video of signs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX4ZawxM1X0 (short video of same car w/iggy switch replaced)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYqI6sCKVD8 (also includes instructions on how to get to the switch and replace it)

[Silver740il]

Will try that and report back, many thanks Qsilver7

[Silver740il]

I tried the visor test (without moving the car) after my wife got back from work and I didn’t see any of the symptoms on the videos with the exception that the visor lights didn’t come on. The reason could be that the iggy switch was working fine at that point. I tried several times (took the key out and placed it back in and had the ignition on and even started the car a couple of times but all was good. I should probably do it while the car is moving and see if the visor test causes it to act up. P.S when parked the symptoms never appear.

[Silver740il]

Visor test worked after the car started acting up again. Going to buy the ignition switch as the car is acting possessed and not drivable 😂

[Qsilver7]

Good luck...hopefully it will solve the issue. :thumbup:

[purplecty]

I had same issue on my e38 and the iggy switch resolved it...

Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Tapatalk

[Silver740il]

Fixed!!! 🎉
It was the iggy switch indeed, replaced it with a new one just now and test drive complete and the car is back to normal. Can’t thank you Qsilver7 for all the references and to this thread enough. Have a wonderful weekend everyone 😊

[Qsilver7]

WOO HOO! This is great news...thanks for posting back that the problem was resolved. :thumbup: