M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Electrical => Topic started by: Wizard on September 30, 2010, 08:23:50 PM

Title: Only Speedo working
Post by: Wizard on September 30, 2010, 08:23:50 PM
Only thing that is working on my instrument cluster is the speedo..
When ignition is turned on the only idiot light I get is the ABS warning light...No other bulbs initiate. When I first start the car, the tach will initiate for about 5 seconds then drop to 0..Fuel and temp gauge do not move. No service indicator lights either.
First I thought the SI board took a dump..Swapped out cluster with working one....Still the same exact problem..Only speedo works...
Usually pretty good with this crap as I had the car around 7 years now....This one has me stumped...

Also not sure if it may be related, but blower motor is not working and the A/C and recirc lights do not come on when pushed..Not really sure if this happened at the same time the cluster failed or not..Just noticed that problem today..

Any ideas?????

91 318is..
Title: Only Speedo working
Post by: DesktopDave on September 30, 2010, 08:40:41 PM
I'm at a loss, never seen anything like that.  Did you check the grounds under the dash above the pedal cluster?  I wouldn't think it's a fuse since you still have the speedometer.

Blower motor not working at all?  Or just on high?  I'll take a look at a wiring diagram & see if I can figure anything out.
Title: Only Speedo working
Post by: dvmotorsports on October 01, 2010, 03:10:00 AM
I have the exact same problem. I also have a thread about it. I've swapped in 3 or 4 clusters. Mine is clearly a wiring problem. I just have to figure out where and why.
Title: Only Speedo working
Post by: Wizard on October 01, 2010, 09:03:04 PM
DAMN DAMN DAMN....It was a friggin blown fuse...#10...Wasn't blown in the middle like they usually do...Was near the top and couldn't see it in the poor light...That will teach me to check them with a tester like I usually do...
That also fixed the blower motor not coming on...
Title: Only Speedo working
Post by: DesktopDave on October 01, 2010, 09:45:43 PM
Glad to hear it's solved.  Stock BMW fuse, or replacement?
Title: Only Speedo working
Post by: Wizard on October 02, 2010, 08:25:42 AM
Replaced replacement fuse with replacement....lol
Title: Only Speedo working
Post by: dvmotorsports on October 04, 2010, 11:35:10 AM
Wow, for some reason my problem was the exact same. I just automatically figured that the fuse was good since the speedo worked and the ETK said the entire cluster was on #10. Clearly it's not.

I still have to swap in a new fuel gauge though. The cleaning of the ground nut did not work.