Mechanic req in Brighton area -URGENT

[Alwyn]

I have a problem: having had my Touring for about a month the speedo has decided to pack up (rev counter is still OK). I was hoping that a quick ferret behind the clocks would identify the problem but no success. I have checked the sensor on the diff and it appears to be OK.

My problem is exaccerbated by my having a hundred and fifty mile round trip on Friday, where I expect that I will be passing at least ten speed cameras...

As I don't fancy my chances at Russian Roulette, if anyone knows a good mechanic in the Brighton area who will not be charging in kidneys and other organs, I would be grateful for contact details. Alternatively, if you fancy having a crack at it yourself, please let me know and I am sure I can find appropriate recompense in my local.

[GBE30]

I know this sounds completely stupid and i do not want to appear rube but, have you checked the fuse?

Do all other gauges etc on instrument cluster work?

Cheers

Gareth
Also in Brighton

[Alwyn]

No offence taken: although I know sod all about cars, I am confused so any help is appreciated.

Most of the lights work: the bulb illuminating the speedo was working intermittently, but when the bulb was replaced was OK. Would I be right in thinking that this would rule the fuse out (although the other bulb promptly ceased serving any useful function when the other was replaced).

Any ideas on a mechanic who is not going to check my blood type before he takes my car???

[orangecurry]

common problem is the wires going into the diff - it was on mine; I couldn't see anything wrong, but replacing the wires (using a plug and wiring to the headlight from a scapped E30 for ease) from the diff to near where it goes into the car body will at least rule it out.

as the man Gareth says, does anything else NOT work on the cluster - econometer-thing for instance?

[gareth]

in the meantime, follow a mate at spot on 30mph in 3rd and remember the revs you're at! do the same for higher speeds in 4th if you often go past higher speed cameras.

ii've been followed by the police before when i had a broken speedo and got pulled over for doing a suspicious lookin 22mph on a clear straight road! over cautious!

[ian332isport]

If you're really stuck, and don't mind a short trip up the A23 (I'm about 4 miles from the Haywards Heath junction), I'll take a look for you.

I'm pretty much free all week during the day.

Ian.

[gareth]

what a terribly nice chap you are ian!

[Alwyn]

orangecurry: I will try and get round to Ian's tomorrow and I am sure this will be high on the list.

With regard to the econmeter: it moves from 0 to infinity when decelerating, but aside from that remains at zero. Is this what you were on about with it not working?

Gareth: the night the speedo went I was driving down the road and noticed a police car moving out from a petrol station. I thought I would be OK as there was a load of traffic behind me, but one by one they all fucked off, leaving the police car behind me. I had no other cars to pace myself on, so was understandably bricking it. Having given it a few turns for them to bugger off I headed into a side street, and thankfully they did not follow. I can't believe that I managed to keep to the speed limit... maybe they were feeling generous.

[GBE30]

Right from a forum search......

Check Fuse Number 12 - 7.5 Amp

Check the connection on the Diff for corroded/brittle wires

A lot of talk about dodgy soldering on the instrument cluster circuit board is also present.

If needed I have a spare speedo clock set from a 325i that we may be able to use to check the operation of the speedo with to eliminate all else.

[Alwyn]

GBE30: good thinking with the spare clocks. I have just called a colleague who also has a spare set of speedo clocks and he is bringing them in to eliminate that one.

[Alwyn]

Problem sorted thanks to Ian's efforts... having checked the sensors, wires, etc... Ian noticed a blown fuse. 30 seconds job to fix.

Thanks for everyone's help.

[gareth]

if only everything was that easy! lets hope the problem that blew the fuse doesn't repear...

might be worth checking the rear lights and boot seal for leaking?

[Alwyn]

I will check them if the problem persists, however as Ian rightly pointed out, having the cables to stereo left lying around (not yet fitted: have yet to identify live and switched live as I don't have multimeter) will give a bloody good chance of blowing the fuse... I guess I will have to pull my finger out and get the stereo fitted ASAP.

[gareth]

that could well be it. some pvc tape on the ends would be worthwhile in the meantime.

[Alwyn]

Already got female bullet connectors on all the power lines, so no chance of a repeat performance... just need to get the bloody stereo working now.