instrument panel disappearing

[andreyiv]

Running the ground to something else is a good idea if that is the only thing all of those have in common. BTW where did you get an electric diagram that tells you what wires run where, I have a little power lock problem and it would help a lot if I had a diagram with that type of info.

 

[bmwperson]

Haynes repair manual has it in the back, altho i dont like the instructions in the book, sometimes they`re kinda unclear. i paid 15$ for the book so i guess its worth its money.

 

[andreyiv]

Thanks, I will check it out. I bought the chilton book and I don't like the diagrams at all, it probably shows you everything that is there but tells nothing about it's position in the car.

 

[lifewithbmw]

Altermator

You alternator is probably going out of power. How many miles do you have on the car?

You will have to replace it.

But first check fuses and relays!

 

[bmwperson]

60k so i dont really know if its the alternator.

 

[bmwperson]

i checked all the fuses, there are no relays that go to the instrument cluster. Ill post a little diagram when i get home( have to scan it ). The weird thing is that even after the cluster shuts off, other parts of the car work fine, radio, AC, ilumination on the cluster/abs light(have to fix it soon). only 4 parts that have the same common ground go down every time.

 

[lifewithbmw]

re

60 K even tough the alternator may have deffect. And also your wiring can be damaged in some part or burned>

 

[bmwperson]

anyone knows where "E12 - behind RH footwell trim" grounding point is?

 

[lifewithbmw]

If I remember it should be under the driver side under dash panel.

 

[bmwperson]

can i see it without taking much off the car?

 

[lifewithbmw]

little

Yes if you just loosen up the underdash and pull down you should see it on the side.

 

[bmwperson]

very cool, thanks for the info. PS if the alternator would be going bad, wouldnt that affect the whole car? not just the instrument cluster?

 

[lifewithbmw]

Alternator

Its hard to say. But it can affect only certain thing. The best is to have it tested. Its not expensive.

 

[Tigas Bud]

Okay, I asked about the problem with my coworkers '92 525i . The voltage regulator which was interconnected as an integral part of the alternator was bad. All the dash lights went out. He had a replacement rebuilt put in and it's voltage regulator caused the dash lights to pulse really fast. The third (new BMW somewhere near $1000) alternator brought it all back to normal. This was about 3 years ago.

 

[lifewithbmw]

Alternator

Like I said It may be the alternator and you can get brand new Bosch for about $350 but you have to check if your car has an Valeo or Bosch alternator.

It is expensive thing but its very important.

 

[bmwperson]

The problem with mine is, that only the tachometer, odometer, trip counter, RPM shut off, everything else stays there. I think its either the ground cable that doesnt contact well or the mainboard in the instrument cluster is just messed up( i contacted a few people who had exacly the same symptoms as i do, all of em replaced the instrument cluster and then everything worked ok for them. )

 

[bmwperson]

i took the underdash down + the kicker the cable runs down somewhere under the carpet, dont know where it goes, i tapped into it, and took a ohmometer shows 0.00Ohms so the ground is there. Ill be replacing the panel soon.

 

[bmwperson]

I have another theory why this doesnt work. Today the day was cold, air humid and the cluster worked fine, yesterday it was hot and dry and my panel wasnt working too well. So i actualy have 2 theorys why this is happening.
1st The motheboard inside the panel is old and the connections ( smds, chipsets, whatever else are old too ) since they are made out of a different metal they contract and expand differently which makes em either work or not.
2nd The E12 ground ( the actual place where it connects to the metal maybe its rusted and in some cases oxide(something) ;> works like a diod passing the current only in certain conditions.

I know im crazy ;>

 

[caruscant]

same fault!!

Hey, I got the same fault, didi u ever ge a fix for the dash turning off and on again??

Cheers

 

[bmwperson]

Like I said, I crashed my car before I got a chance to get it fixed. Id say ground the E12, see what happends, I took the cluster apart, It doesnt have too many things that can go wrong with it, but you could replace it.

--
Tom