Author Topic: dash lights flickering (Read 5314 times)

enildeR · « **on:** March 08, 2010, 11:33:03 AM »

I got in this morning to start the car, and after the engine started, I noticed that the Parking Brake, Brake Fluid, ABS, and the Batt were lightly flickering. I rev'd the engine, thinking it was the alternator starting to die and putting out little power at idle, but it only made the flickering dim. It was still there, but barely noticeable.

Once it was idling again, it was still flickering. It was more like a pulse than random flickering. I don't remember whether it was still doing it by the time I parked at work.

Any ideas?

BlueBMW · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2010, 07:23:20 PM »

Isn't that usually a sign of a failing SI board in the cluster? If you get a chance, pull the cluster and look at the batteries on the SI board and see if they are corroding all over the board.

enildeR · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2010, 11:46:30 PM »

Well, I drove home today, and I noticed something that may be related. The fuel pump whine lessens in tune with the pulsing of the dash lights. This all stops when I bring the engine to around 3k. I think the alternator is starting to go, or something else is up. You could even start to hear the difference in the engine. Seemed as though it didn't have as strong enough spark, as though it was only running on the battery and getting nothing from the alternator.

4banger · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2010, 12:23:07 AM »

pull the hot cable off the battery.if it dies alt is toast.

BlueBMW · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2010, 06:31:38 AM »

I always thought you pulled the negative off not the positive... should work either way though

enildeR · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2010, 12:04:57 PM »

Do we suffer from the same batt/charge light bulb problem as other E30s? I've been reading that if the bulb goes out, it won't charge. I'll have to check when I get back from work to confirm, but I recall only three lights coming on when I turn the key to the ON position. I believe there are usually four.

4banger · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2010, 02:56:06 PM »

Quote from: BlueBMW;89138

I always thought you pulled the negative off not the positive... should work either way though

nope hot side.

enildeR · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2010, 09:10:23 PM »

Yeah. I went home during lunch, stuck the key in, turned it to on, and the batt light does not come on. Either the wire is bad or the bulb is out. That's seriously retarded if it is actually the bulb, or batteries. Take apart the dash just to fix this? Man. Whatever german engineer that signed off on this, let alone come up with the idea, I want to stab in the face with a pencil.

enildeR · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2010, 03:06:26 AM »

So... It turned out to be the voltage regulator. The brushes were really worn down.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/enilder/4430874819/

BlueBMW · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2010, 06:40:00 AM »

Glad you got it fixed! That shouldn't have cost too much either.

enildeR · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2010, 12:12:14 AM »

Not too much. There was a german auto service shop down the street from where I work. They had the part for $48. Considering that a dealer wanted ~120 for it, and ~365 for a completely new alternator... It was an easy decision.

There was a thread about this part and a link to the part for $23: http://m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7175
But I needed to get it fixed asap, so I couldn't wait for shipping. Think I'm going to order one for safe keeping. That, or buy one of those new brushless alternators lol