<e30> re: instrument cluster problem/question

[Christopher Pawlowicz <chrisp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jake Abramson asks
>I am having trouble with my dash instruments.  The temp guage wanders, gas
>guage works when it wants to, and tach is completely dead.  Oh and i think
>the speedo is off a few MPH,

my knowledge is from an '89 325i so it may or may not be applicapable to
your 318i.. *but*

the gas gauge and the temperature gauge have a couple of connections to
the circuit board.. and the middle connection is made by a bolt which sticks
out and a nut which is threaded onto it. (connection to ground)

If the nut is loose, or *missing* (like mine when I pulled the cluster out
to see why the gauge was screwy), weird things happen. Check to make sure
your nuts are tight :)

the TACH: this has to do with the service indicator light board and the
ni-cad batteries. (do 318i have this?).. step one: batteries don't hold
charge anymore.. lights come on all the time or act weird, can't be reset.
Step 2: batteries die completely and tach, OBC, speedo, don't work.
Step 3: batteries start to leak acid which starts eating circuitry. Anything
 can happen.

check the FAQs on how to replace


hope this helps

chris pawlowicz
'89 325i
'74 2002

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