Phantom Electric

[B88mmer]

I have a 1988 528e, and the power seats and stereo both either work or do not work at the same time. It is obvious the two are connected somehow to make this happen. The radio works, but no music comes out through the stereo. One day, it was very humid out, and the windows were open, and the car felt like a jungle inside. I turned it on and the stereo worked! So I tried the seats like always, which worked as well. Within 10 minutes of driving, both stopped. Sometimes a fuzzy static comes through the stereo, but nothing more. That only happens on warmer days, as well. If anyone knows what this could me, help would be appreciated!

[a]

the seats are on fuse 4 and the radio memory should be on fuse 5. Both of these are constant power circuits. On the + battery terminal should be a couple of red wires feeding the fuse box. I would start by cleaning those connections.

[TSMacNeil]

Also, if its an aftermarket radio you might look under the ashtray for coins that may have found themselves down there on some wires.....(ask me how I know) If there's any speaker wires run down the console that are exposed, the coins can kill your speaker audio and your seats

[B88mmer]

OK, there are coins down there. I took the ashtray out a while ago because the previous owner stuffed tons of coins in there. I tried to clean it out, but I still have a lot of work to do. Also, the relay by the fuse box is corroded. The outlet that it plugs into is also corroded. Today I took it out and did the best I could to finely sand away the corrosion and shine it up, put it back in, and the seats worked! The stereo, however, did not work, which was a first to see one working and not the other. There might be a fuse in the actual radio, which is aftermarket, that is out. The seats stopped working after about two hours. Does anyone know where I can find the part that the relay plugs into?

[Brad D.]

It sounds like there may be some other connection issues throughout the car. I would just start systematically going through as much of the car as possible. Using something like CAIG Deoxit will help a lot.