Author Topic: Accidentally jumped wrong pins for oil light, now half my dash lights don't work (Read 2211 times)

codyb · « **on:** August 18, 2012, 11:11:24 PM »

I accidentally jumped the wrong pins on my 91 318is trying to reset the oil indicator light.

I jumped pins 13 and 16, and turned the ignition to ON. Figured out I messed up, and then jumped the correct pins, and reset my oil light.

I went for a test drive and turned my lights on. Now my dash lights for my tach and temp gauge do not light up, although the gauges do work. The speedo and fuel gauges light up fine.

Should I replace the bulbs or what do you think I may have messed up?

bmwman91 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2012, 11:21:57 PM »

I am not kidding here...

Smack dash on on the right side of the cluster where it rises up at like 30 degrees. Not too hard, but firm. On almost every E30 I have ever been in, that little maneuver is needed to make the backlighting for those gauges work.

codyb · « **Reply #2 on:** August 19, 2012, 01:05:08 AM »

Quote from: bmwman91;114865

I am not kidding here...

Smack dash on on the right side of the cluster where it rises up at like 30 degrees. Not too hard, but firm. On almost every E30 I have ever been in, that little maneuver is needed to make the backlighting for those gauges work.

Tried that... didn't work

All the fuses look good...

DesktopDave · « **Reply #3 on:** August 19, 2012, 08:44:49 AM »

Pull the dash cluster...check the bulbs, connectors & the gauge circuit board. I pulled a cluster from a parts car and noted a burned trace on the main board, maybe something similar happened to you?

I suspect all e30 dashes are the same. I can send you a spare board if you need one & can't find one locally.