Help-my speedo stopped working

[pmaddy00]

as above-does anyone know how to fix this? Is the sensor in the Gearbox?

Cheers,

Peter

[jamie325isport]

The pick up sensor is in the diff, check the wiring to it first its more than likely broken if not then sensor being replaced should sort your problem.

[Geeman]

Common fault, and easily fixed.

There's a plug in the diff, and more than likely it's corroded or the wires have frayed. A new plug is cheap from the dealers and will probably solve your problem...

[jigjags]

I had same problem and one of the 2 wires into the dif onthe rear axle had snapped....a bit of stripping and a lot of electrical tape later all now working ..!!

[pmaddy00]

Thanx guys-will try this w/end.

Peter

[e30nerd]

Like the other guys have said I have had this problem. I found that it was a broken wire in the plug on the diff. It just happens to be the same shape connector as one of the headlight connectors. (I think the yellow one but can't be 100% sure)

I just went to the scrappers and nipped of the headlight plug and enough wiring loom to allow me to 'chocolate block' it into the existing wire.

[pmaddy00]

Got a new sensor & connector but still doesnt work-any other ideas? Could it be a circuit board? Everything else works fine on the dashboard.
Thx

[Simon]

It could also be a solder problem in the instrument cluster itself, do a search on speedo and have a read through some of the results.

Also trace the wiring back as far as possible, could be broken somewhere over the chassis.

[Turbo-Brown]

Mine also failed to work properly after I chanted the sensor, so I took the speedo apart and re-soldered all the joints and it works all the time now

[jay528ise1985]

The same happened to me - My speedo stopped so I did the usual check of the diff plug. Still didn't work, so I did a bit more research on this site and found that the speedo works on the same fuse as the radio. As I didn't have a stereo at the time I hadn't noticed but it turned out that the fuse had blown.

Fuse replaced; Speedo and EC meter working again!

[pmaddy00]

Thanks guys. How difficult it is-to get that instr. cluster off ? I can see 2 screws there but not sure whether I need to pull it out or there are other srews.
Thx

[jay528ise1985]

It's a piece of p**s - Until you try and get the cluster past the steering wheel!!! It's do able tho.

1st up, remove the trim below s/wheel. Either side of the steering column behind the black trim are two round, silver nuts you need to undo - It helps if you push the trim directly in front of the nuts while you undo them.

Then unscrew the screws in the plastic trim in front of the dials, 2 above the dials and 2 just below the fuel & temp guages - You'll now be able to remove the 2nd piece of trim and will be able to see the actual instrument cluster unit.

Another 4 screws (again 2 above & 2 below the instruments) and you should have released the cluster.

Now the difficult bit... gently ease the right hand (temp guage) side further into, and then pull the left hand side out of the dashboard and you should be able to undo 2 of the connector blocks (Pull the black clip on each connector and then pull the actual connector out of the cluster).

Then do the opposite i.e. left hand side into dash & right hand side out of dash and undo the other connector in the same way.

You should now be able to manipulate the cluster out of the dash & past the steering wheel - It can be done - Take your time and make very sure that you don't snap the two white plastic arms at the top of the cluster that hold it in place (Easily done - Aaaaaagh).

I'm sure if I've left anything out the more experienced zoners will correct me -

[pmaddy00]

Thx very much for the info. Will try this w/end.
Thx again,

Peter

[jonb]

sounds like the s.i board.

remove the back of the cluster. then undo the bracket which holds the s.i board inplace.

the board should just slide out. its easyer if you remove the coding plug from the front of the cluster.

once out, have a look for burnt/corroded patches. if so then throw in the nearest bin. forget about changing the batterys. source a good used(tested) unit. they can be found for around Ԛ£15/Ԛ£20. or just buy another working cluster.

[Brianmoooore]

Never known a duff SI board affect the speedo. Tacho and temp gauge, yes, but not the speedo.

[Turbo-Brown]

Did notice that there'd been a small fire in my instrument cluster at some point, is it a common thing then?

Still seems to work alright

[Brianmoooore]

I found a frazzled resistor on the speedo board once on an E30 with a duff ecomometer. Replaced the resistor, didn't burn again, but the ecomometer still didn't work either. Gave up at that point.

[pmaddy00]

I managed the get an Instr. cluster out and noticed black line/mark on the back of my Speedo (on the circuit board)-as if something has blown or burnt. My SI board looks fine (tested the battery OK). Dont know what to do next, repair or get another speedo.
Thx