Service lights
Moderator: martauto
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flatfourfun
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 55
- Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Tayside
I have just reset my service lamps (Short the two pins). I had to do it twice, once for the lights and the second time for the clock symbol / inspection. The problem is that now only 4 greens illuminated. Also, I bought the car with 2 greens, but was on yellow within 1000 miles. Are these all symptoms of si failure or just needing new batteries?
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Templ8e30
- E30 Zone Addict

- Posts: 2801
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire
Sounds suspiciously like a dying SI board
I'm changing mine today for a known good spare, the inspection clock comes back on every few weeks even though the green countdown lights are ok. This board had new batteries a year ago.
The new boards have small lithium batteries instead of AA Nicd's and seem to be more reliable.
Cheers,
Iain T
I'm changing mine today for a known good spare, the inspection clock comes back on every few weeks even though the green countdown lights are ok. This board had new batteries a year ago.
The new boards have small lithium batteries instead of AA Nicd's and seem to be more reliable.
Cheers,
Iain T

2007 Mazda 6 2.0 estate
Political Correctness - A concept based on the idea that its possible to pick up a turd by the clean end !
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chief
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 324
- Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: farnham , surrey
sorry to but in on this one guys , i think i may have the start of a similar problem.
but i don't know what a si board is
sorry i'm just a basic diy mechanic
thanks
but i don't know what a si board is
sorry i'm just a basic diy mechanic
thanks
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Steviec
- E30 Zone Camper

- Posts: 1489
- Joined: Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Loughton, Essex
Same here, but I just put up with the lights. Think of them as early xmas decorations. lolchief wrote:sorry to but in on this one guys , i think i may have the start of a similar problem.
but i don't know what a si board is
sorry i'm just a basic diy mechanic
thanks
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Templ8e30
- E30 Zone Addict

- Posts: 2801
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire
The SI board sits inside the instrument cluster, It connects to the instruments and uses algoritms to work out when your engine needs a service.
It uses Rpm/engine temperature/Mpg etc to work this out.
The board has 2 batteries soldered to it, older boards have 2x AA batteries and newer boards have 2 Lithium 3 volt batteries and are more reliable.
The batteries die over a period of about 10 years and start giving problems with the lights and certain instruments.
The older AA batteries can be replaced by unsoldering them and fitting new ones from Maplin or RS (they have a little tag on each end) but it's probably easier to get a replacement board.
To change it you need to remove the instrument cluster from the car then undo the 10 or 12 screws from the back. Split the cluster, the back half has the instruments and the front half has the SI board and the instrument surround. Undo 1 screw and remove the board.
Once refitted the SI will need the lights resetting.
Hope this helps.
Iain T
It uses Rpm/engine temperature/Mpg etc to work this out.
The board has 2 batteries soldered to it, older boards have 2x AA batteries and newer boards have 2 Lithium 3 volt batteries and are more reliable.
The batteries die over a period of about 10 years and start giving problems with the lights and certain instruments.
The older AA batteries can be replaced by unsoldering them and fitting new ones from Maplin or RS (they have a little tag on each end) but it's probably easier to get a replacement board.
To change it you need to remove the instrument cluster from the car then undo the 10 or 12 screws from the back. Split the cluster, the back half has the instruments and the front half has the SI board and the instrument surround. Undo 1 screw and remove the board.
Once refitted the SI will need the lights resetting.
Hope this helps.
Iain T

2007 Mazda 6 2.0 estate
Political Correctness - A concept based on the idea that its possible to pick up a turd by the clean end !
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chief
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 324
- Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: farnham , surrey
now i know
thanks
thanks
