Cluster RPM meter/needle strange behavior...

[darkcolor.666]

On my 89' 325i coupe, the RPM needle used to bounce up and down randomly. The car drives fine and idle fines, it passed smog check fine (in CA). So i replaced the fuse in the fusebox that correspond to the cluster, and the needle is going up and down like it suppose to. Though when in idle, the needle sits at 0. When i gas, it will move up. But what's weird is the needle moves very slowly. It never seems to go above 1500 RPM. For example, when i m on 3rd gear going about 40mph, the RPM needle is still only at 1000 RPM or so. At 4th gear 50mph it goes about 1000-1500 RPM. Do i have a bad cluster? What can be wrong?

Hope this makes sense. Thanks.

[e30construction]

your tach motor is probly going bad..maybe weak si bats..does your green led strip light up when you turn the ignition to on position?

[jlevie]

My first thought would be a bad SI board.

[darkcolor.666]

I just realize the MPG needle doesn't move either. It's stuck on the far left side.

When I turn the key, all the buttons light up, like brakes, park brake, etc etc buttons light up.

[e30construction]

does the green led lights at the bottom light up..contact greg///m he can help you alot! he can even fix everything that is wrong..im thinking bad si batteries and maybe a failing tach..but contact him hel set you straight

[darkcolor.666]

does the green led lights at the bottom light up..contact greg///m he can help you alot! he can even fix everything that is wrong..im thinking bad si batteries and maybe a failing tach..but contact him hel set you straight

Nope just checked, the green bar doesn't light up

I'm screwed.

[e30construction]

if the green bar doesnt light up then i would def say its the si batteries..ur not screwed it can be easily fixed..gregs///m can fix it for you for a pretty good price..contact him and set something up he may give u a good deal

[Gregs///M]

Thanks for the reference. This definitely sounds like bad SI board batteries.

[noahb]

Can someone tell me What those lights are for? Maybe a link explaining all that? Mine don't work either.

[SmokeE30]

The lights are to remind owners to take the car to the dealership or change their oil. Not really needed but the si board effects more than just those lights so the battery's must be replaced to keep everything functioning how it should in the cluster

[e30construction]

i was just using those light as a reference point..if they dont light up then more than likely the bats are dead..other things will go as well

[dnguyen1963]

Can someone tell me What those lights are for? Maybe a link explaining all that? Mine don't work either.

It's all in the Bentley. Green lights count down the life of the oil (to next oil change). Yellow light indicates oil change is required (turns on when there is no more green). Red light indicates major service interval.