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    Gauge cluster problems

    I bought my car with a semi-functional gauge cluster. The tach and temp gauge did not work or light up, but the speedometer and gas gauge worked.

    I bought a "working" used cluster and installed it. Now all the gauges light up but the tach and temp gauge still do not work. The speedometer still works and the gas gauge now jumps a lot. The green lights at the bottom are now lit all the time as well. (even with the key out of the ignition). None of those lights came on in the previous cluster.

    Now I'm kind of stuck. None of the wires were visibly damaged. Where does the rpm signal come from? and temp sensor? Do you think both of these sensors are broken?

    Also, the odometer wasn't working in the original cluster and is still not working in the "good" cluster.

    Any help is appreciated.

    thanks, Andy
    Last edited by Lof8; 11-21-2006, 03:38 PM.
    S50'd

    Originally posted by TDE30
    What is this faggy shit I have happened upon?
    Originally posted by slammin.e28
    I can always live in a M3. Can't M3 a house.

    #2
    Change the service indicator board. There has got to be a procedure for it on this board somewhere, very common issue.
    Adam Fogg- '88 M3

    Common sense- It's the new 'gifted'

    Comment


      #3
      you think its the SI board in both clusters causing this problem? I was told the new cluster was in perfect order but I guess that isn't guaranteed. Is there any drawback to doing the soldered wire trick to eliminate the SI board? What does the SI board really do?
      thanks
      S50'd

      Originally posted by TDE30
      What is this faggy shit I have happened upon?
      Originally posted by slammin.e28
      I can always live in a M3. Can't M3 a house.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Lof8 View Post
        you think its the SI board in both clusters causing this problem? I was told the new cluster was in perfect order but I guess that isn't guaranteed. Is there any drawback to doing the soldered wire trick to eliminate the SI board? What does the SI board really do?
        thanks
        Anytime the clusters are left to sit for a long time without being run the SI board can go bad.

        The batteries on the board maintain the memory of the service interval indicator. I have no experience with rigging it up some way to eliminate the board.
        Adam Fogg- '88 M3

        Common sense- It's the new 'gifted'

        Comment


          #5
          I just removed the SI board completely on my race car. Does it have to be there for some other function? Did not affect the tach/temp gauges on mine.
          sigpic

          Comment


            #6
            Hey David, were any of your gauges having problems before removal of the SI board. I don't care if the SI stuff works, I just want a working tach and temp gauge.
            S50'd

            Originally posted by TDE30
            What is this faggy shit I have happened upon?
            Originally posted by slammin.e28
            I can always live in a M3. Can't M3 a house.

            Comment


              #7
              The answer isn't simple. I had several issues with this car's cluster when I got it. Every freaking light that could blink was lit up like a Christmas tree. The tach worked when I drove it home, then quit for no apparent reason, and I ended up getting another cluster. However, I again yanked the mini SI board and CHECK bulb from the new cluster and all works as it should. My gauge problem was likely due to the retrofit battery pack installed by the PO in the original cluster.
              sigpic

              Comment


                #8
                thanks for the info. I'll try pulling the SI board out of my extra cluster and see how it goes.
                S50'd

                Originally posted by TDE30
                What is this faggy shit I have happened upon?
                Originally posted by slammin.e28
                I can always live in a M3. Can't M3 a house.

                Comment


                  #9
                  check the FUSES or whatever they are called, some of them may be damaged

                  Comment


                    #10
                    fuses inside the cluster?
                    S50'd

                    Originally posted by TDE30
                    What is this faggy shit I have happened upon?
                    Originally posted by slammin.e28
                    I can always live in a M3. Can't M3 a house.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Lof8 View Post
                      fuses inside the cluster?
                      I am also trying to fix my speed/odo/cluster problem and in the 3 clusters that i've tried I havent' seen a fuse. There is a fuse that powers the cluster but if your cluster is getting power then it's not a fuse....

                      Where is c101 plug/connector that people mention ?
                      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

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Lof8 View Post
                        I bought my car with a semi-functional gauge cluster. The tach and temp gauge did not work or light up, but the speedometer and gas gauge worked.
                        The SI board on this cluster is no good.

                        Originally posted by Lof8 View Post
                        I bought a "working" used cluster and installed it. Now all the gauges light up but the tach and temp gauge still do not work. The speedometer still works and the gas gauge now jumps a lot. The green lights at the bottom are now lit all the time as well. (even with the key out of the ignition). None of those lights came on in the previous cluster
                        The SI board on this cluster is also no good. The gas gauge is a seperate problem. Either the grounding nut is loose or the gauge itself is bad. Use the other cluster and you will need a working SI board.

                        Originally posted by Lof8 View Post
                        Now I'm kind of stuck. None of the wires were visibly damaged. Where does the rpm signal come from? and temp sensor? Do you think both of these sensors are broken?
                        The RPM signal is fed form the ECU. The temp reading is fed from a sensor on the t-stat. It is highly unlikely your probelm is related to either.

                        Originally posted by Lof8 View Post
                        Also, the odometer wasn't working in the original cluster and is still not working in the "good" cluster.
                        The cluster in our cars are very, very problematic. You have several issues with both of the clusters, unfortunately. I feel your pain as I have been there. I spent much effort troubleshotting mine and will tell you the following:

                        The SI boards are either bad on both or need the batteries replaced. The odomoeter gears are broken on each. The later E30s have improved batteries, which held up much better. My batteries are original on my '90. I say use the cluster with the working fuel gauge and find a later SI board OR replace the batteries on either board to see the results. This won't be a guaranteed fix because the board itself may be bad...so you have a 50-50 chance. If you can live without a working odo then use either speedodmeter. You'll have to have the gears replaced if it bothers you enough.
                        Last edited by AlpineIS; 11-20-2006, 04:02 AM.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          The only things I care about are the tach, temp gauge, and gas gauge. I'm going to try the SI bypass wire trick and see how it goes.

                          Thanks for the help, Alpine.
                          S50'd

                          Originally posted by TDE30
                          What is this faggy shit I have happened upon?
                          Originally posted by slammin.e28
                          I can always live in a M3. Can't M3 a house.

                          Comment


                            #14


                            check this out
                            S50'd

                            Originally posted by TDE30
                            What is this faggy shit I have happened upon?
                            Originally posted by slammin.e28
                            I can always live in a M3. Can't M3 a house.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Shit, I guess the battery-less SI board and board-jump technique only work for '86 and prior. This stuff is retarded.

                              I thought about making my own cluster out of aftermarket gauges w/ just a tach, water temp, gas, and oil pressure. Is it tough to figure out which wires send these signals?

                              If some new batteries dont cure my SI board, something drastic may have to happen
                              S50'd

                              Originally posted by TDE30
                              What is this faggy shit I have happened upon?
                              Originally posted by slammin.e28
                              I can always live in a M3. Can't M3 a house.

                              Comment

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