Dash fault
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: BMW 5 Series
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with any issues on the BMW 5 Series (E12, E28, E34, E39, E60 & E61)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=867
Printed Date: 14-May-2024 at 19:54
Topic: Dash fault
Posted By: SUPER5
Subject: Dash fault
Date Posted: 17-February-2003 at 21:15
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I own a 1989 [ g] 530i se. It has been off the road for 3 mth, in that time the battery went flat, after I charged the battery I found that the digital miles readout was lit at all times. This is what flattend the battery, its still on ! Any ideas ? ------------- WITS END |
Replies:
Posted By: Nigel
Date Posted: 18-February-2003 at 22:22
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I've looked this one up in the manual, no direct reference to your problem, but you can do a self diagnostic check, so it says, by: with ignition off, hold check button located on right side of instrument cluster, whilst holding it down, turn the ignition on, then release button, it will then do its self test and display a load of code to you. Might be worth doing to see if it clears your problem ------------- Best Wishes Nigel |
Posted By: SUPER5
Date Posted: 19-February-2003 at 19:28
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I have done this quite a few times without any joy ! I have found that after the battery has been reconnected all is fine, I can stop and start and the light stays off. When the car is left for a few hours the light comes on. I have also found that it dosent clock any miles when the light is stuck on. Thanks for the reply John ------------- WITS END |
Posted By: Nigel
Date Posted: 19-February-2003 at 22:13
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Sorry I cant be much more use, may be an idea to try the instrument cluster from a similar car, where do you live?? ------------- Best Wishes Nigel |
Posted By: SUPER5
Date Posted: 20-February-2003 at 19:59
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Stanley Co.Durham. ------------- WITS END |
Posted By: Nigel
Date Posted: 20-February-2003 at 21:55
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miles from me I'm afraid, give Scott a ring at alan cowley bmw spares, he's a nice helpful chap, and may do you a sale or return, not sure, but worth asking ------------- Best Wishes Nigel |
Posted By: Nigel
Date Posted: 20-February-2003 at 21:58
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sorry mate, I didnt put his number on, its 01536 723587, I've only met him once, but he sorted me out with the bits I wanted, nice scrapyard too, he may have seen the fault before, and be able to advise you on what to try ------------- Best Wishes Nigel |
Posted By: charlesjs
Date Posted: 20-February-2003 at 23:09
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If I may offer a suggestion ref the display: I've had a similar problem on my Volvo (don't laugh). I can drive 100+ miles in a day all ok and then if I pop out later in the evening, switching on the headlights will cause all the dials to stop reading and also the analogue clock to stop. After about 5 mins warm-up time the problem resolves itself and all the gauges re-start working and the clock carries on. In my case it appears to be a dubious earthing (endemic to many Volvo 7 series) which reveals itself under cold conditions (not vibration related) and has only been there for about a month (owned the car 18mos now) So I would suggest that the flat battery is not the issue, perhaps there is a dodgy earth for part of the circut to the rear of the dashboard that's causing the problem. Perhaps being laid up and therefore left colder for a while (over the winter period) exacerbated the problem? I may be wrong, however, if so, my idea may point others in the right direction. Good luck. P.S. Does the display strength of the digital readout change when the car lights are switched on? If not then it may be getting a voltage feed from the "wrong source", causing it to be permantly lit? As I said, other people more close to the tech issues of E34's may pour cold water on my idea but ... Good luck
------------- Charles Stevenson 535i manual 1988 (By 'eck it's quick) 735iSE Auto 1991 (Beats Viagra for getting the blood flowing) |
Posted By: Iain H
Date Posted: 21-February-2003 at 06:17
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http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e34/main.html">http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e34/main.html
You might take a look at the above sight, it gives detailed fault finding procedures for the E34 speedo, good luck.
Iain H27 E30 cabriolet 1989 ------------- Hartge H27 Convertible http://community.webshots.com/photo/91116965/99362743lbLlEb - My Link |
Posted By: Nigel
Date Posted: 22-February-2003 at 09:14
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Ian What a smashing site, thanks for posting that.What I liked about was how easy it is to select your car. I've had a BM for a year now, and tend to refer to "E" numbers like the rest of the anoracks, but when I first had mine and needed help it threw me, E what mate, no, mines an F redg 525i etc lol
------------- Best Wishes Nigel |
Posted By: SUPER5
Date Posted: 08-March-2003 at 20:07
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Hi Everyone Ive been offline for a while coz I keep getting free AOL. But now Im back. Thanks for all the advice ! The story so far :- Got the car MOT,d , Took it to work on a sunny monday morning and all hell let loose. Put 20 quid in the tank, got 100 yards and it took a wobbler. Loads of white smoke then it cut out ! Got a recovery truck to take it back to the garage. Its still there and he hasnt looked at it yet. AND IT STILL HAS THE DASH FAULT. Thought i would ride it out to see if it would just go away with a good thrash. Car must sound to you like its a bucket but actually its not and I love it. Well pissed off from the north east.
------------- WITS END |