95 Instrument Cluster

[1996 328ti]

I changed every bulb in the instrument cluster.
Shouldn't more lights be on?

Also the locking mechanism of the small connector on the left side partially crumbled. I hate to silicone it. Anyone good reading wiring schematics to figure out the connector?

[1996 328ti]

I've been thinking about this more.
Can I swap my 96 6 cylinder cluster just to see if the lights come one?
A tech told me it could be an ECU problem in that it's not going into self-test mode.

[1996 328ti]

I pulled out the cluster again to inspect traces.
I don't see anything common to the lights out.

I pulled the ECU since I'm not getting a CEL fault.
I was looking for corrosion. The ECU looks good. Both sides of the board.
There is some rust under the battery compartment though.

Could still be a bad cluster. Could be a bad ECU. Could be anything.

[1996 328ti]

Anyone know if I can swap my 1996 6 cylinder cluster for my 95 just to test?

[teetime4one]

It should work. I don't see any differences.

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by teetime4one

It should work. I don't see any differences.

I'll give it a shot tomorrow.
If that doesn't solve it I think it might be the ECU.

[1996 328ti]

Swapped clusters and sure enough, my 95 cluster is bad.
Also noticed my ABS light on.
Once I replace the cluster, that's the next thing to fix.

Bad news is I cracked the glass of my 96 cluster.
I should have removed the steering wheel.
I was too lazy fighting daylight.

[1996 328ti]

Can I pull the coding plug from one cluster to another in a 95?

[John Firestone]

If the cluster has one. I think coding plugs, however, are from 9/96 onward.

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by John Firestone

If the cluster has one. I think coding plugs, however, are from 9/96 onward.

Hopefully I'll find out soon.

[John Firestone]

Older cars also require an adapter cable if you swap in a 9/96+ cluster: to keep from lighting the A_B_S indicator. The cable grounds another pin.

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by John Firestone

Older cars also require an adapter cable if you swap in a 9/96+ cluster: to keep from lighting the ABS indicator. The cable grounds another pin.

Thanks.
That's what I have been reading.
I am glad I read that because I thought the Club Sport now had an ABS problem. Most likely it was because I swapped a 96 cluster.

[John Firestone]

As you can read (I hope) from my scribbling, I was surprised by the shortness of the adapter lead and the damage its insulation displacement connector did to the wire.

It was part of a warranty repair. If I were to do it, I would buy just the wired contact and splice it in using solder and heat shrink, perhaps with a little added wire.

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by John Firestone

As you can read (I hope) from my scribbling, I was surprised by the shortness of the adapter lead and the damage its insulation displacement connector did to the wire.

It was part of a warranty repair. If I were to do it, I would buy just the wired contact and splice it in using solder and heat shrink, perhaps with a little added wire.

Like all manufactures, wiring can always be slightly longer. I think that's the problem with the passenger seat mat. Which reminds me. I also have a SRS fault.

[J!m]

You got good advice so far with regards to the cluster.

As to the passenger matt, I did the little resistor trick several years ago and it has been working like a charm.

I might have the information on it (I SHOULD have it) and if I do I'll post it up. I probably found it here, but it may have been another BMW site.