si boards all the same?
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- skidlidsid
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Are si boards all the same, just got a set of clocks off a E reg 320 to rob the si board and just above the check light on the clocks it has VDO written where as mine has MotoMeter.
1990 320i Auto Sterling Silver
- skidlidsid
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Just stripped the new set of clocks, batterys and circuit board totaly shagged, so i might as well put new batterys in my original clocks.
This is a pic of my si board, the batterys are Lithium, is there any way of checking if they are faulty, my original problem is my rev counter and mpg gauges have stoped working.
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This is a pic of my si board, the batterys are Lithium, is there any way of checking if they are faulty, my original problem is my rev counter and mpg gauges have stoped working.
[/img]1990 320i Auto Sterling Silver
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smithy318i
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to check for faulty batteries use a multimeter on V and on A and on Diode settings.
VDO and Moto SI boards have a diffrerent number of pins on the bottom, and as far as im aware, are NOT interchangable.
VDO and Moto SI boards have a diffrerent number of pins on the bottom, and as far as im aware, are NOT interchangable.

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Templ8e30
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Motometer and VDO units are completely interchangeable. I have a motometer SI board (lithium batteries) and rev counter in my VDO cluster that had a knackered rev counter and dead Ni-Cd batteries on the SI board.
Cheers,
Iain T
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 !
- skidlidsid
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Where can i get these Lithium batteries from?
1990 320i Auto Sterling Silver
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Templ8e30
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Are your batteries definately dead ? iirc they should give about 3 volts dc.
I'd try maplins first if you need them, make sure you get 'tagged' cells or you'll struggle soldering them in.
Cheers,
Iain T
I'd try maplins first if you need them, make sure you get 'tagged' cells or you'll struggle soldering them in.
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 !
- Brianmoooore
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All SI boards are interchangeable.
Lithium batteries are 3V each, and are easily tested in situ with a volt meter, but they are unlikely to be your problem.
The electronics on the older type board with NiCds actually runs of the voltage from the batteries, which are charged from the main car battery.
When they fail, not only do they not power the electronics, but they tend to become very leaky (physically and electrically), which short circuits or heavily loads the other circuitry as well, giving a variety of problems.
The lithium powered board runs normally from the main car battery. The lithium batteries do nothing normally, but are just there to provide a "saver" if the car battery is disconnected or goes flat. Even when they fail they don't short out, so don't cause problems.
Lithium batteries are 3V each, and are easily tested in situ with a volt meter, but they are unlikely to be your problem.
The electronics on the older type board with NiCds actually runs of the voltage from the batteries, which are charged from the main car battery.
When they fail, not only do they not power the electronics, but they tend to become very leaky (physically and electrically), which short circuits or heavily loads the other circuitry as well, giving a variety of problems.
The lithium powered board runs normally from the main car battery. The lithium batteries do nothing normally, but are just there to provide a "saver" if the car battery is disconnected or goes flat. Even when they fail they don't short out, so don't cause problems.
- skidlidsid
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Just checked batteries both have 3 volts, so its not that.Brianmoooore wrote:All SI boards are interchangeable.
Lithium batteries are 3V each, and are easily tested in situ with a volt meter, but they are unlikely to be your problem.
The electronics on the older type board with NiCds actually runs of the voltage from the batteries, which are charged from the main car battery.
When they fail, not only do they not power the electronics, but they tend to become very leaky (physically and electrically), which short circuits or heavily loads the other circuitry as well, giving a variety of problems.
The lithium powered board runs normally from the main car battery. The lithium batteries do nothing normally, but are just there to provide a "saver" if the car battery is disconnected or goes flat. Even when they fail they don't short out, so don't cause problems.
So what else can it be?
1990 320i Auto Sterling Silver
- Brianmoooore
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Common cause of rev counter failure is a poor connection at pin 9 (black wire) of the C101 engine loom connector, on the bulkhead just inboard of the fusebox.
- skidlidsid
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I'll check that in the morning, do you check pin 9 with a multimeter or is it a bad connection between the 2 connectors?Brianmoooore wrote:Common cause of rev counter failure is a poor connection at pin 9 (black wire) of the C101 engine loom connector, on the bulkhead just inboard of the fusebox.
1990 320i Auto Sterling Silver
- Brianmoooore
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Bad connection between plug and socket. May not be obvious, as the tacho seems to be upset by the slightest problem here.
- skidlidsid
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I've checked and cleaned the connection pin 9, any way i can check pin 9 for voltage or resistance?Brianmoooore wrote:Bad connection between plug and socket. May not be obvious, as the tacho seems to be upset by the slightest problem here.
1990 320i Auto Sterling Silver

