Odometer, Speedometer and mpg meter only working occasionally, how to fix?

[Prost]

My odometer, speedometer and the mpg meter (dunno what to call that, the one below the RPM meter) are not working when the car is cold...it will work occasionally when it warm up, anyone know how to fix that? Do I need to rebuild the whole thing?

[N2MYE30]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=272374

Not exactly your issue but its a start.

[McGyver]

^yeah, SI board batteries

[Prost]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=272374
Not exactly your issue but its a start.

I think this is my issue...how hard is it to replace it myself?

[TurboJake]

Easy peasy

[Gregs///M]

Odometer and speedometer are not interfaced with the SI board. So you will have to troubleshoot those separately.

Consider re-flow of solder on the cluster main board. However, change your SI board batteries first.

[Prost]

My mechanic said that there is a metal "wire seal" thing on the odometer/speedometer thing (similar to the wire seal on electrical meter at home to prevent temperating), since my E30 has low mileage, should I break the seal and check for problem? On the other hand, it probably show that the low mileage is true reading and not something to make up by the previous owner...:p

[e30slidewayz]

replace SI batteries, check solder joints, check ground nuts... many many write-ups on these procedures with images

[Prost]

replace SI batteries, check solder joints, check ground nuts... many many write-ups on these procedures with images

No need to replace the battery...my mechanic will take out the housing from near the rear differential and clean the sensor for me, most likely a dirty sensor...the wire seal is not something there to prevent tampering...