Member Since: 31 Dec 2015
Location: Graveley
Posts: 33
Binnacle - 'Lights Out - All Out' problem
Sometimes the entire dashboard (binnacle) just goes off on my 2007 D3.
The only thing that keeps working all the time is the parking brake light.
It will be all working, then the speedo, tacho, temp, fuel, message centre, odometer all go off.
Might stay off for a second or an hour. Then it will just pop back up and perhaps
will show no fuel, and no messages - or the message centre might have a corrupted
display and the clock will have stopped. Indicators don't sound (do work) no headlight
indicator - they do work too.
Might work for two weeks then pop. Doesn't seem to be temp, inclination or moisture
related, and it's not a bump that knocks it all off or back. Not the dimmer either.
I've taken the fuses out and check them and sprayed with contact cleaner.
I'm guessing it's a power/earth connection to the binnacle - any ideas?
14th Jan 2016 9:02 am
d3mechbelfast
Member Since: 09 Aug 2015
Location: Belfast
Posts: 45
Check the plug at the rear of the clocks
15th Jan 2016 2:38 pm
GriffMG
Member Since: 31 Dec 2015
Location: Graveley
Posts: 33
Do I need to remove the dash to do that, or perhaps (being a D3) I only need to lift the body off the chassis to get to the lead?
15th Jan 2016 2:43 pm
GriffMG
Member Since: 31 Dec 2015
Location: Graveley
Posts: 33
Well, that was exciting.
Found a video on how to get it out, you need a Torx drive with a knuckle and one or two clips do break.
No cuts or bruises yet.
Instrument Pod is on the kitchen table, the back is off it and it looks ok - no scorches or 'at a glance' solder issues.
The connector to the harness is really quite secure, looks like about 50 pins and it's clamped in place so
you can see that can't be loose.
The PCB, however, is quite loose inside the IP itself, I don't know if that is deliberate or not, but if I was making something like this I would make sure it couldn't move, to avoid wear on the copper tracks.
So, in the absence of anything sticking out like a sore thumb I'm going to use a tiny bit of silicone sealant on the periphery of the board when I reassemble it and pop it back in the D3.
16th Jan 2016 11:59 am
GriffMG
Member Since: 31 Dec 2015
Location: Graveley
Posts: 33
Click image to enlarge
16th Jan 2016 12:00 pm
GriffMG
Member Since: 31 Dec 2015
Location: Graveley
Posts: 33
Put a little Blutac on four points before reassembling and sprayed the socket and plug with a bit of WD40 - no sign of moisture anyway, but thought I should something while I had it all apart!
Back in the D3, all seems to work - but it was intermittent, so we'll see I guess.
Here is the connector
Click image to enlarge
16th Jan 2016 1:31 pm
GriffMG
Member Since: 31 Dec 2015
Location: Graveley
Posts: 33
Well, SWMBO says it is no better for being mollycoddled last weekend.
Going to rinse and repeat with proper electrical contact cleaner - as I am sure it is behaving differently, even if it's not actually fixed.
22nd Jan 2016 2:08 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18452
I seem to recall this being an issue from the early days, sometimes a wiggle of the dash lamp dimmer control springs them back into life.
I think the fix is a new lighting switch? 06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
22nd Jan 2016 2:15 pm
GriffMG
Member Since: 31 Dec 2015
Location: Graveley
Posts: 33
Definitely not the dimmer that works fine and doesn't seem to affect the IP at all.
22nd Jan 2016 2:19 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18452
Sorry, I skim read your first post
If the EPB lamp always works then this suggests that the ignition 12V supply is being cut.
The EPB lamp is switched on the basis of CAN messages and is not hardwired.
As the EPB lamp normally (on a properly working cluster) remains on after you turn the car off, the circuit which listens to the CAN messages and illuminates it must be powered by permanent 12V and as this still works, the permanent supply must be fine.
The ignition supply is Fuse 68 behind the glovebox, 5 Amp rated.
This supplies the cluster on a green wire to pin 15 of the cluster connector, and is also wired to the passenger airbag "off" warning lamp on the switch panel above the radio.
So as part of your diagnostic you could run with the passenger airbag switched off, so the lamp is lit in normal operation. If it also goes off when the cluster goes off then you have a supply issue from the fuse.
If it does not go off it means a wiring fault between the splice in the green wire where it splits in two and the cluster itself, or an internal issue with the cluster such as a dry solder joint on the connector socket on the PCB at pin 15.06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
22nd Jan 2016 2:48 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18452
If the cluster is currently not working, then switching the airbag to off and then turning the ignition on will illuminate the airbag lamp (or not).06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
22nd Jan 2016 2:51 pm
GriffMG
Member Since: 31 Dec 2015
Location: Graveley
Posts: 33
Thank you, that is very helpful.
I will investigate further, particularly the fuse.
22nd Jan 2016 3:06 pm
GriffMG
Member Since: 31 Dec 2015
Location: Graveley
Posts: 33
errr... how is anyone supposed to change those fuses?
I can barely see them, never mind extract one.
How on earth do you get one back in without loosing it..
23rd Jan 2016 2:04 pm
GriffMG
Member Since: 31 Dec 2015
Location: Graveley
Posts: 33
Ok, it's not so bad.
Watched enough 'wheeler dealers' to work it out - used a strap to pull and hold the two harnesses that
come down in front of the fuses and then some very long nosed pliers to get the fuse out.
With it out, I put the key in the ignition - I wasn't expecting that! The hazards came on and the ride height selected off road mode... all kinds of lunacy.
Anyway, the fuse seemed to have a tiny bit of resistance on my multimeter so I cleaned the spades with a sharpening stone, sprayed it with WD40 and put it back in.
Driven about 5 miles without a lights out - so we'll see.
Thank you Martin for your help.
Last edited by GriffMG on 24th Jan 2016 4:01 pm. Edited 1 time in total
23rd Jan 2016 2:47 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18452
Are you running with the passenger airbag off?06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
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