[Fixed] Help needed : total instrument failure
04-04-2012, 05:38 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
[Fixed] Help needed : total instrument failure
Hi folks,
My instruments decided today is a good day to die and while I think I've covered the obvious, I probably missed something. Here's the situation.
Started the car after lunch and noticed that the oil pressure gauge didn't move at all; it indicates as off. Tapped on the glass a few times and it moved a bit, but continued to read way below normal. Engine sounds perfectly fine and with a little rev the oil pressure builds up, but seems to be 50% low (if normal is top of the scale under load then it's in the middle under load now). Then I noticed the tachometer, fuel level, and oil level are also at the bottom of the scale.
What doesn't work
- Speedometer reads as off
- Tachometer reads as off
- Fuel reads as off
- Oil level reads as off? (never got really warm, so difficult to tell w/ sketchy gauge to begin with)
- Oil pressure reads 50% below normal
- No warning lights when turned on
- No warning lights while running (parking brake, rear wing)
EDIT
- Brake lights don't work
- Can't raise rear spoiler
- CCU doesn't work
What does work
- Turn signal indicators
- Instrument lights
- High beam indicator
- Clock works (not warning lights)
- Fog indicator light works
- Car starts, drives
- Headlights, fog lights
- I checked fuses (12 and 18), both fine.
- I checked the grounding strap behind the fuel gauge, looks ok; nut is tight, not pinched, cut, etc
- I checked the connections at the back of the gauges and all appear tight (didn't disconnect and clean)
Sounds like ignition switch to me. Is there anything else I should try first? Any way to confirm the ignition diagnosis, and if it is that is there anything I should be aware of safety-wise? I still need to get home
Thanks!
-mb
My instruments decided today is a good day to die and while I think I've covered the obvious, I probably missed something. Here's the situation.
Started the car after lunch and noticed that the oil pressure gauge didn't move at all; it indicates as off. Tapped on the glass a few times and it moved a bit, but continued to read way below normal. Engine sounds perfectly fine and with a little rev the oil pressure builds up, but seems to be 50% low (if normal is top of the scale under load then it's in the middle under load now). Then I noticed the tachometer, fuel level, and oil level are also at the bottom of the scale.
What doesn't work
- Speedometer reads as off
- Tachometer reads as off
- Fuel reads as off
- Oil level reads as off? (never got really warm, so difficult to tell w/ sketchy gauge to begin with)
- Oil pressure reads 50% below normal
- No warning lights when turned on
- No warning lights while running (parking brake, rear wing)
EDIT
- Brake lights don't work
- Can't raise rear spoiler
- CCU doesn't work
What does work
- Turn signal indicators
- Instrument lights
- High beam indicator
- Clock works (not warning lights)
- Fog indicator light works
- Car starts, drives
- Headlights, fog lights
- I checked fuses (12 and 18), both fine.
- I checked the grounding strap behind the fuel gauge, looks ok; nut is tight, not pinched, cut, etc
- I checked the connections at the back of the gauges and all appear tight (didn't disconnect and clean)
Sounds like ignition switch to me. Is there anything else I should try first? Any way to confirm the ignition diagnosis, and if it is that is there anything I should be aware of safety-wise? I still need to get home
Thanks!
-mb
Last edited by mattjb; 04-05-2012 at 02:29 PM. Reason: spent some more time diagnosing
04-04-2012, 09:37 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
Pull relay R11, and insert a fresh standard '53' relay .... or pull the identical relay from the horn, etc for a swap ( or test the R11 in the horn location) .... or jump terminals 30 to 87 on the R11 socket.
If that does not cure the problem, then I suspect that the "Central Informer" module is cooked .... it is located above the ignition key, in an aluminium case about a cigarette pack size.
If that does not cure the problem, then I suspect that the "Central Informer" module is cooked .... it is located above the ignition key, in an aluminium case about a cigarette pack size.
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Enso (07-08-2020)
04-05-2012, 02:28 PM
#3
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Pull relay R11, and insert a fresh standard '53' relay .... or pull the identical relay from the horn, etc for a swap ( or test the R11 in the horn location) .... or jump terminals 30 to 87 on the R11 socket.
If that does not cure the problem, then I suspect that the "Central Informer" module is cooked .... it is located above the ignition key, in an aluminium case about a cigarette pack size.
If that does not cure the problem, then I suspect that the "Central Informer" module is cooked .... it is located above the ignition key, in an aluminium case about a cigarette pack size.
Thank you Garth, you just made my day!
-mb
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04-07-2012, 01:11 PM
#8
Rennlist Member
MB,
Glad it worked out for you ..... in my case, it was only the fuel gauge level that was porked - which turned out to be a dead track on the central informer PC board: wished it had been the relay , as you have to crawl under the steering wheel to grope for the latter.
Glad it worked out for you ..... in my case, it was only the fuel gauge level that was porked - which turned out to be a dead track on the central informer PC board: wished it had been the relay
, as you have to crawl under the steering wheel to grope for the latter.
