search didn't help. trip counter and odometer problem

[filip00]

so, e34 525i has a problem.

when i turn off the car and pull the key out, the odometer and trip counter still work. they don't shut off at all. trip counter is stuck to 000.0 and won't move too. the odometer however, measures correctly.

i tried pulling the number 20 circuit out and it turns off those lights. and putting them back makes it work again, and won't turn off when it should (when the key is out).

normal is - put the key in, turn to position 1, the odometer and the trip counter and the clock turn on. position 2 makes everything else work, and pos 3 is ignition. now whatever position my key is in, the odo and the trip c. are on. and the clock is not.

my friend told me it's 99% the instrument problem. all of the other gauges work fine, the boardcomp, everything. only this is the problem and it's very frustrating to have those lights lit even when the car is turned off and locked on the p.lot.

please help.

[Paul in NZ]

capacitors on the instrument cluster?

[brosher]

or possibly a problem with the reset switch being stuck on?

[filip00]

or possibly a problem with the reset switch being stuck on?

hey brosher,
the switch isn't stuck for sure, i pulled it out and stuck it back in, it's good.

paul,
which capacitors are those? do i have to pull out the whole instrument table out? how do i do it, only unscrew two screws up there, and try pulling it out or...?

thanks.

[Ross]

Just because the button isn't stuck doesn't mean the contacts aren't closed. This really looks like the switch is stuck.

[filip00]

so what do you suggest, how do i pull it out then? because, the problem didn't start when i tried reseting the trip meter, but just yesterday, i got into my car and noticed it was reset and lit. only i have the keys to my car so i don't get it how it happened.

i sure hope it only got stuck, cause otherwise i'm gonna have to pay for the repair...damn.

[shogun]

when i turn off the car and pull the key out, the odometer and trip counter still work. they don't shut off at all

First of all I would check the battery voltage. If it is too low, this can happen.

And if the reset pin is not stuck, the circuit underneath the pin on the motherboard can be damaged from many years of pushing. You can use a circuit writer pen to restore it.
http://www.tedpella.com/16041.jpg
Circuit Repair with handy conductive pens
Conductive Pens
Draws highly conductive silver traces, jumpers and shielding with high precision.
instantly creates conductive silver traces
dries in minutes at room temperature
valved pen tip for easy application
can be soldered at low temperature
speeds prototype and design
choice of tip sizes
Radio shack has it cheap
http://www.radioshack.com/sm-see-all-needs-and-wants--pi-2104395.html
As you are from Croatia and do not have radioshack, look into the online catalog of conrad electronics in Germany
http://www.conrad.com/

Repair of cluster with new capacitors, see below, conrad also has these,
http://bmwe32.masscom.net/johan/dash_caps/dash_caps.html

[filip00]

shogun, thanks a lot for that info! i just need to ask a silly question like...
is it as simple as just to screw out 2 screws that hold the instrument table, to pull it out then, or is there another procedure?

i will try it tomorrow morning, and check the voltage, i'm at work now.

[shogun]

The standard procedure is to remove the steering wheel first, see here
http://bmwe32.masscom.net/sean750/dash_bulbs/changingClusterBulbs.htm
The just the 2 screws on top and you can pull it out, then you have to losen the connector clips at the back. But all described above.

Some people do it without removing the steering wheel.
If one has telescoping steering, pull it out as far as possible. Then losen the 2 screws, pull the housing out, losen the clips on the back, put a towel between steering wheel and cluster front, hold the cluster and steering wheel firmly and then turn the steering wheel with the cluster towards the drivers door.
But that is a bit dangerous, some people have broken the front plastic panel, and that is not available as single item.
So better remove the steering wheel. Just takes a few minutes.
But you need a 22 mm socket
Here the version with airbag
http://www.bimmernut.com/~billr/images/airBagAndBulbs_files/airBagAndBulbs.html

[filip00]

oh thanks! i will remove the steering wheel, i did it before when i changed some momo crappy previous wheel with my current one - the MtechII. my wheel has telescoping movement, but i think i will remove it just to make sure not to break anything.

i will tell you the progress tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, thanks a lot on your help.

[filip00]

okay, so i removed the steering wheel and pulled the board out. i opened it, but i was unable to find the problem. the capacitors seem okay after inspection. so what might be the problem? anyone knows sth more specific?

thanks.

[fujioko]

The capacitors can be visually “ok” that is to say they look good, however the caps could have failed internally.

Since a handful of caps are generally cheap and your e34 appears to be 16 years old.. perhaps it would be wise to change them.

They will eventually go bad anyway (if not already)

[filip00]

i finally got some time and removed the steering wheel and pulled the instrument panel out. opened it and tried everything, nothing helped.

but yesterday, after 150km the panel wasn't working, i stopped at the car wash to see it is working! i was so happy, of course i immediately tried shutting off the engine, and the lamp went off too! woohoo!

but...of course. after doing a few km's, it broke again, and is again stuck to 000.0, and is again lit, even though the car is sitting on the parking lot, turned off and locked.....

damn.