Instrument readings

Post Sun Sep 04, 2005 7:45 pm

Hi
First off you guys are the tops just had a weekend sorting the 318is out wipers not parking, retro fitted OBC, central locking not working, all sorted thanks to the tech articles section.
However I have a problem with the temp and fuel gauge,

1. The fuel gauge seems to take a long time to register how much is in tank I can start it up and it reads 1/4 tank now I know there's more in, by the time I get to top of my road it's reading 1/2 which is were I think it should be.

2. the temp gauge only ever reads just above the first mark (about 1/4 of th way up). new stat, new rad and fan is working ok.

Any ideas guys?

Mick

Post Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:22 pm

Two unusual faults here.
First thing is to make sure the brass nuts holding the two gauges in place on the back of the cluster are tight.
Second thing would be to try a whole new cluster if you can borrow one.
If that doen't cure things, then a new brown temperarure sensor on the engine should put the temp gauge right. If the fuel gauge is still acting up, then it's possibly a problem with the sender unit(s), but what exactly I can't imagine.

Post Sun Sep 04, 2005 10:21 pm

slight hijack, are the cluster for the 1985 M10 1.8 the same as the ones for the 1989 M40? Just wondering as I have an M10 one spare and was going to mod it then swap.

Post Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:38 pm

Jos wrote:slight hijack, are the cluster for the 1985 M10 1.8 the same as the ones for the 1989 M40? Just wondering as I have an M10 one spare and was going to mod it then swap.

If it's got the coding plug on the front bottom edge of the cluster, then they are interchangeable.

Post Mon Sep 05, 2005 10:56 am

Cheers Brian, as usual the font of all BMW electrical knowledge comes through good again!