Obc stalk and gong

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 10:29 am

Found out the obc stalk button does not seem to work, the obc is working and the rest of the stalk functions correctly, just pressing the obc stalk button does nothing, what would be they things to check ?

Also, how do i test if the gong is working and get it to make a noise ? /when should it make a noise ?

Appriciate any help,thanks

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:20 am

Check that the stalk is actually connected to the computer. If you have a multimeter, you could use it to check that the continuity buzzer sounds or ohms read close to zero when you press the button.

The gong should sound if the outside temperature drops to +3 degrees Celcius, or if you have set the speed limit warning:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ction_Book

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:44 am

Thanks mate , I found the obstructions and have just set the date and time and set it to miles/mph rather than kilometres. The stalk now seems to work

, noticed it needs more a "click" tap type of pressing in rather than a softer touch

1st time I've had an obc so need to familiarise

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 12:23 pm

Any idea why the "speed" button is not accurate ? I noticed when driving it was not on the ball , and now it shows 11.4 mph sat still !!!

Can't find anything about resetting or calibrating it ?

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 12:50 pm

Do you have the right OBC coder plug? 4 pot or 6 pot?

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 1:13 pm

Yes have a 6 pot plug , but that wouldn't have any bearing on the speed button would it ?

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 1:55 pm

OBC gong sounds once when the signal pin is earthed. Some gongs have a second socket, and the gong sounds continuously when the signal pin in this socket is earthed.
I think you may be misunderstanding the function of the 'speed' button. You set it to a speed of your choice, and then the gong sounds when you exceed that speed.
Useful to set it to 80 MPH or so on the motorway.

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:03 pm

Thanks Brian

I thought, and from googling - the obc should display the speed of the car when traveling ? When I was going along yesterday it was at a higher speed than I was going and it was changing

Although when I finish work il set a speed and test the gong

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:15 pm

According to the OBC instruction book

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ction_Book

The Speed button displays average speed, and the Limit button allows you to set a speed at which the gong sounds.

I believe your speedo displays the speed you're travelling at

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:21 pm

Ah average speed would make sense

But- I was looking at various forum threads earlier and people were talking about the obc displaying a slightly lower speed than the speedo and gives a truer speed

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:26 pm

Well the OBC instructions are, literally, there in black and white. Can you link to any of the threads where people are using it as a speedo?

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:51 pm

Here you go have a read, having never used the obc before not knowing how it works and the speed changing as I was driving, I thought it was supposed to show the speed , and some talk in here about it too

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/archive ... 72129.html

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:06 pm

What a convoluted, confused thread! It appears they are pointing out a discrepancy between the LIMIT set on the OBC and the reading on the speedo. An example would be setting the LIMIT to 30 mph, but the indicated speed on the speedo not triggering the gong until it showed 34/35 mph.

There is no way you can use the OBC as a speedo. Believe me (or believe the OBC instruction book).

If you want to work out how off your speedo reads, compare it to a GPS but only on flat roads (they are less accurate on hills due to the 'plan view' way that the satellites operate). There will be a consistent figure of in accuracy. Just factor that into your driving.

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:22 pm

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 7:47 pm

beemerbird wrote:According to the OBC instruction book

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ction_Book

The Speed button displays average speed, and the Limit button allows you to set a speed at which the gong sounds.

I believe your speedo displays the speed you're travelling at

Correct - I'm confusing the two functions. I've found the speed that the limit function sounds the gong to be fairly accurate - much more so than the speedometer, which, as I've posted before, isn't there to show you how fast you're going, but to make sure you're not going faster than you think you are.

Post Tue Apr 08, 2014 7:55 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
beemerbird wrote:According to the OBC instruction book

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ction_Book

The Speed button displays average speed, and the Limit button allows you to set a speed at which the gong sounds.

I believe your speedo displays the speed you're travelling at
Correct - I'm confusing the two functions. I've found the speed that the limit function sounds the gong to be fairly accurate - much more so than the speedometer, which, as I've posted before, isn't there to show you how fast you're going, but to make sure you're not going faster than you think you are.

Precisely, which ties in with my previous post, and backs up the info you found on that other site. It still can't be used as a speedo.