Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Cluster solder joints

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Cluster solder joints

    Just a little tip for those with cluster issues.

    If you replaced your SI board or bypassed the board, and got a good working temp gauge but it's still acting up then keep reading. My right turn signal light in the cluster didn't always blink and the temp gauge would sometimes have a mind of it's own after I replaced the gauge and tightened the nut on the back of the cluster.

    I noticed that if I touched/moved the cable going to the right side of the cluster (in my case it's the blue plug) it would affect the temp gauge and my right turn signal light started working. So I figured it's a broken wire, a broken connection at the plug or something wrong in the cluster again. I put a spare cluster (actually it's not even a complete cluster) and checked again if touching/moving the blue plug made any difference and this time it didn't so I figured my cluster was at fault.

    Went ahead and opened the cluster and inspected the right side where the multi-pin blue plug is soldered to the main board. I noticed some of the solder joints were bad. I went over them with a fine tip soldering gun and put the cluster back in, and viola ! All is working w/o any kind of erratic movement.

    So, keep this in mind if your cluster is giving you trouble, check the solder joints on the main board.
    Mtech1 v8 build thread - https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=413205



    OEM v8 manual chip or dme - https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho....php?p=4938827

    #2
    Thanks for the tip.

    I took apart two clusters last night, and both of them appear to have this problem. I'm a novice at soldering, do you have any pictures of the joints you fixed?
    Looking for a new E30 ...

    1987 BMW 325is (sold)
    1996 VW GTI VR6
    1988 VW Cabriolet

    Comment

    Working...
    X