guage cluster problem

[Bokes]

when i start the car all the guages appear to be working fine. well then i realize that the gas guage and the temp guage go all the way to the right, and the tachometer appears to be working normally. then about half a second later all the guages except for speedometer stop working completely and appear to shut off (going all the way back to the left). my odometer also doesn't work now.

do i have a bad chip? bad guage cluster? i'm confused. all my relays and fuses are fine.

[Digitalwave]

SI batteries?

[Jarvis]

Check all the grounds. They come lose all the time with that mess of wires behind the cluster.

[screamingbmwe30]

perform the following.

go to car.
start car.
proceed to a secluded area.
flog car.
*if anything is loose i.e. connections the gauses will work/not work when the connections contact.

OR

remove under steering wheel cover (knee bolster thing?)
start car
reach underneath and wiggle the connection on the back of the cluster

[Bokes]

im taking the cluster out this afternoon to see if all the grounds are connected. if thats not the problem i'll just take a meter to it and find the problem.

[bddog]

Sounds like an SI Board problem

[KillerCalypso]

sounds like a faulty SI board

[4drsky]

Whats SI board cuz i'm having the same problem

[AdamF 88iS]

I doubt it's the SI board. I'm thinking a bad solder joint somewhere, or a really bad connection.

SI board symptoms are Inspection light that won't reset and a dead tach and temp gauge.

He says he's having a fuel gauge problem and didn't mention the Inspection light. He also says the gauges work for a few seconds when you first start up. Both of those points do not sound like SI board to me.

[EtaSport]

I doubt it's the SI board. I'm thinking a bad solder joint somewhere, or a really bad connection.

SI board symptoms are Inspection light that won't reset and a dead tach and temp gauge.

He says he's having a fuel gauge problem and didn't mention the Inspection light. He also says the gauges work for a few seconds when you first start up. Both of those points do not sound like SI board to me.

agree, My old cluster had a speedo problem (and lighting) Every once and awhile the speedo would just die, and tapping the dash would bring it back. I put the gauge in my new cluster and it worked great, but had intermittent operation of the other speedo. That cluster is history. If it is a solder joint, then you may be best off getting a used unit.

[bddog]

Replacing the S I Board is considered routine maintainance by BMW. The batteries wear out.
I would Start with a functioning S I Board and go from there.- Steve