Anyone know....?

[jerods87e30]

Today my 1987 325es suffered a mishap. After I pulled slowly off of a dirt road and onto pavement, my gauges, everything except the speedometer quit working and resumed the "turned off car" position. I hit the plexiglass and the RPM started to work for a few seconds, then sat down again on the zero. I know that they still work and I don't need to replace the instrument cluster, but don't know how to fix the problem. Obviously driving really sucks without RPM (especially when downshifting), and the gas level and engine temp is unknown. Any good, experienced, bimmer-crazy enthusiasts out there that can diagnose that for me??? Would really help me out lots. Thanks

-J

[ian e30 318is]

Now if you get a ticket, you can tell the police your speedometer doesnt work. hah. this happened to my buddy a little while ago. i think a wire came disconnected behind the cluster so maybe check that. not quite sure though. sorry.

[JasonC]

I'd pop the cluster out and see if anything came unpluged.

[jerods87e30]

I think that might be the case...I was on a very washboard-bumpy dirt road that was intense on my car altogether. Does 1 wire control the RPM indicator, gas level, and engine temp (with a separate wire(s) for the speedometer)?

[delatlanta1281]

I am pretty sure thats it, what was the last thing you worked on.

[Mike325]

Check your fuses too. I know it sounds wierd because the guages worked when you hit it, but this stuff has happened to me and the fues controling it was blown.

[cobra86]

Check fuse #10, it should be a 7.5 amp fuse as i recall. The same thing happened to me in my '86 325es, replace that fuse. If it pops again, pull up your shift boot and wiggle out the reverse light switch wire. It has probably worn through the insulation on the wire, and it's shorting out. If the wire looks fine, get under the car and see if the wire has fallen and hit the driveshaft.

When you find it, just tape over it or replace the wire. I would check this before pulling your cluster.

I bet your heater doesn't blow any air, either? It's the same fuse.

[Mike325]

That was my problem. My friend took a sharp corner at 45 mph and the cluster went out. Then I noticed that the wires for the reverse lights were cut in half by the drive shaft.

[matthew-mayhem]

sometimes the sauter on the wire can breeak and have a conection when you hit it, yea just pop them off and see.

[jerods87e30]

cobra86, you hit the nail on the head! the blower doesn't blow any air, regardless the temp I have it set to. When I turn on my car, the RPM starts to work for maybe about 2 seconds at most, then decides to "sit back down" on zero. YOU guys are right, either its the wire in the center console or the fuse, probably the fuse though

thanks everyone for all the help