Impossible to get Odometer working

[mrgraphics]

I have tried everything to get my odometer working. This is the last thing that doesn't work on the car. What I've done:

1) Replaced batteries in original SI board and replaced gears
2) Swapped out speedometer with another speedometer and gears
3) Swapped out SI board with newer / lithium board (new batteries)
4) Replaced entire cluster (with working SI board and gears)

Everything on the cluster works in all these scenarios . . . it just doesn't count the mileage. Is there something I'm missing? I even replaced the sensor on the differential, but if that wasn't working the speedometer wouldn't work, right?

Thoughts? I'm stumped.

[reelizmpro]

Hmmm In each case is the speedo working? if the speedo works then it's getting a signal and should also count the mileage unless the gears are broken or the motor is bad. Are you swapping in known good speedos/clusters?

[mrgraphics]

In all cases everything in the cluster works. Now, whether the actual odometer motor in the speedo itself was previously good, I don't know. These are all scrapyard parts. But I've grabbed three different speedos - what's the odds that they are all bad?

[Ayman]

pretty great lol

[FLG]

pretty great lol

I second that. Gears are crap on these cars. Pick up a set from the garagistic guys

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[idanity]

test a cluster in another e30 for free....
go to a meet or something, offer up a free beer to allow someone to try yours.
i would donate my red sedan for testing purposes..as its a stripped out drift car.

[cabriodster87]

In all cases everything in the cluster works. Now, whether the actual odometer motor in the speedo itself was previously good, I don't know. These are all scrapyard parts. But I've grabbed three different speedos - what's the odds that they are all bad?

I've two functional speedos W/o odo movement.

[agent]

I have three clusters, zero had working odometers. I just put my original cluster back in after installing the Garagistic (Moto) kit and it's working great.

[nando]

the SI board has nothing to do with the speedo or odometer

[mrgraphics]

FLG - I have new gears. I transfer them each time to the "new" speedo when I try it.

I'd really like to get one that works, because as the years go by I'll get progressively more paranoid about how much life is left in the timing belt without some mileage reference.

Does anyone know of a way to test the odometer - In other words, how to apply voltage to the odometer motor when I'm in the junkyard to see if it works before purchase?

[agent]

Does your radio work? Have you checked fuse #12?

[mrgraphics]

Yup - Everything works - all electrical. Everything but the odometer.

[nando]

same cluster housing/motherboard? I'd suspect a cracked solder joint or some corrosion issue. the function of the odometer is completely contained within the speedo.

[scottinAZ]

check to make sure that your stepper motor is running freely. the small 10 tooth gear attaches to this shaft. if it is not free, your odometer will either work slowly or not at all. otherwise check the thread on motometer speedometer calibration, and it will show you how to bench test a speedo. not something that can be done in a junkyard, but you would be able to get it functioning at your workbench.

[mrgraphics]

scottinAZ - I'll look into that. Looks like I need to do some benchwork instead of simple swaps.

nando - Yes, I replaced the entire cluster on the last pass.