Author Topic: cluster problems (Read 4477 times)

SoupieMelody · « **on:** June 13, 2009, 06:14:57 PM »

My cluster lights were blown. On thursday i removed the cluster and replaced the bulbs... now everything is back together, i now driving and realized my temp gauge and tachometer is not working, the only thing working is the gas gauge. how may i go about solving this?

DesktopDave · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2009, 07:05:43 PM »

I thought that was a symptom of bad SI board batteries. My I have a few on order right now...I'll let you know how the install goes. I think ours have the little permanent lithiums instead of the older style NiCad's.

I repaired an e34 cluster with capacitors too, but I haven't seen any evidence that this works on the e30.

SoupieMelody · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2009, 07:09:14 PM »

thanks dave. Its crazy though that as soon as i replaced the bulbs and put the cluster back in the dash that they both stopped working. I'm pretty sure i was careful not to break anything as i am pretty good with my hands

SoupieMelody · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2009, 07:09:56 PM »

i just bought this 1991 318i and just fixing these little problems one by one to make it a daily driver

DesktopDave · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2009, 08:18:41 PM »

Me too...mine arrived the same way! I've had a few other BMWs along the way.

JP 91iS · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2009, 12:53:33 PM »

Also tighten down the ground nuts. 8mm I think - one at each side of the cluster on the back.

(and you can get your SI batteries here: http://www.tselectronic.com/dantona/comp7.html)

DesktopDave · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2009, 09:12:47 PM »

That's a few dollars cheaper than the place I found...but the batteries are easy to replace. If only removing the cluster was easier...that's a lot of digging to get at those stupid batteries!

keflaman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2009, 09:48:39 AM »

You may want to check is to ensure you didn't put the wrong two screws along the bottom of the cluster when you installed it. Here's a picture of the left hand side of the cluster where I'm talking about. Mine were stripped out, so I drilled them and installed a plastic insert. The other screw is located directly under the speedometer.

http://www.m42club.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=38&pictureid=215

Any screw longer than 10mm (3/8") will go into the SI board and damage the runs along the edge as shown in the red circles.

http://www.m42club.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=38&pictureid=213

IIRC, I had the same problems you described regarding the speedometer.

HTH.

Jorgeconrico · « **Reply #8 on:** August 10, 2009, 06:26:57 AM »

My tach is finicky and after doing some reading I believe the problem to be the SI batteries. I looked at the link JP provided and was wondering which batteries to buy or if they would all work. Do I need to soder the new batteries back into place? Thanks

JP 91iS · « **Reply #9 on:** August 10, 2009, 08:36:13 AM »

Pretty sure you need the ones with 2 at one end and 1 at the other (2 of them)

Sanyo CR14250SE-FT
3.0 Volts / 850 mAh
3pin PC mount ( 2 pin + and 1 pin - )

Jorgeconrico · « **Reply #10 on:** September 02, 2009, 07:50:23 PM »

Good deal, i just ordered two of them and managed to get the cluster out, along with the SI board. I guess i need to solder the new ones in. Does anyone have any experience doing this in the past? Any tips/tricks? Thanks in advance.