Author Topic: Temp gauge no worky.... (Read 5387 times)

Lord Jax · « **on:** April 26, 2007, 04:46:27 PM »

Since I've bought my car the temp gauge has never worked. When I start the car it jumps a little but otherwise it sits in the cold position without moving. And my oil light is always on, but I have an oil psi gauge so I know there is oil.

Do these things have a common link? Maybe a bad sender or fuse?

Tonyb · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2007, 09:09:09 PM »

Mine had a loose ground. Pull out the cluster and check the connections

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2007, 06:53:13 AM »

Same here. There is a bolt on the back of the cluster that grounds the fuel and temp gauge. Tighten it and put some threadlock on it and it should work great.

e9nine · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2007, 07:55:20 AM »

Hmmm it could be a few things here.

If your temp gauge doesn't move at all or stays very low, it could be a bad sender.

If the temp gauge moves slightly and stays cold, it could be a thermostat.

If the oil pres. light immediately comes on when you start the car and never goes off it's a bad senders.

If the oil pres. light starts of dim and gets brighter as the car warms up and the temp gauge stays cold or swings into the red it could be a case of a swapped senders (i.e. s.one has swapped wires.)

G.luck

Lord Jax · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2007, 09:27:44 AM »

Quote from: e9nine;24638

Hmmm it could be a few things here.

If your temp gauge doesn't move at all or stays very low, it could be a bad sender.

If the oil pres. light immediately comes on when you start the car and never goes off it's a bad senders.

G.luck

Thanks I think it's the senders. I just put a new thermostat in, and it wasn't working before or after. I'll pull the cluster out first and check the grounds.

Where are the senders for the Temp and Oil? Sorry I'm still new at this.

e9nine · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2007, 10:16:58 AM »

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AJ93&mospid=47318&btnr=11_0506&hg=11&fg=30

Oil Pres.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AJ93&mospid=47318&btnr=11_1505&hg=11&fg=15

ECU Temp and Coolant Gauge Temp Sensors.
Take not they are sometimes switched around!

For each connection, make sure to note which sensor and plug is single prong as you plug them together. I have forgotten which is 2 prong and single prong but it's intuitive and easy to figure out.

Swapping them out takes some tactic though. NO write ups that I am aware of. Be patient.

G. Luck

Lord Jax · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2007, 11:41:03 AM »

How do I know if the sensor/sender is bad? Should I just replace them with new ones right off the bat?

Same question about the oil pressure switch

e9nine · « **Reply #7 on:** April 27, 2007, 12:10:23 PM »

Quote from: Lord Jax;24653

How do I know if the sensor/sender is bad? Should I just replace them with new ones right off the bat?

Same question about the oil pressure switch

Testing a sender is a process too lengthy to document. Sorry. It's generic across the board so just google it and you're bound to get some results to point you in the right direction.

G.luck

Tonyb · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2007, 01:39:20 AM »

Just check the obvious first. (Ground and contact points)

ejectorbed · « **Reply #9 on:** November 06, 2007, 04:09:58 PM »

Got the very same problem.
What was the solution?