Dash wiring

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T.Hanson
Posts: 1696
Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:39 am

Dash wiring

Post by T.Hanson »

e24, 630 but hopefully family enough.

Fuel level gauge goes hinky. Pulled the in tank sender, cleaned to look fine and operable. Touching the wiring behind the dash, speedo, tach box, gets the fuel needle to jump.

Pulled the box, multi plug, to see the plastic circuits, etc. Ground wires ? Bolt to frame looks clean, unmolested but I'll do it anyway.

Any suggestions on what to wiggle, look for ? I don't see anything will blow up if I have the battery hooked up, turning on the ignition to see if lights, etc. work but I may be wrong.
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Mike W.
Posts: 2889
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:12 am
Location: Sonoma County

Post by Mike W. »

After 35 years the sending unit can look fine, but have some corrosion on on contact surfaces which give erratic readings. Also I can't emphasize grounds enough, run a new, seperate ground from the engine to the body. 12 gauge or better.
Mike W.



02 525ita. Wife's, aka grocery getter
02 530i. New to the fleet, 3 pedals.
03 QX4, AKA the Datsun. Finally got the 4WD vacationmoble to stop smoking.
07 Xterra. Still on the DL, a purchase from hell.
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Lenny D.
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Location: New Orleans (Metry!), LA
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Post by Lenny D. »

This is what finally worked for me. There are other posts that address this topic that I've made before, but the link has finally solved the problem. No more erratic fuel gauge and it goes to the red zone faithfully before the light comes on.
HTH

'80 528i
T.Hanson
Posts: 1696
Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:39 am

Post by T.Hanson »

Great! Thanks! Almost began reassembly, not seeing much dirty, etc.

Can't turn the key with steering wheel off. Must be the shaft lock, afraid to go horsing, breaking little plastic things.

My insanity makes no sense. The car is stripped inside. I took the engine apart to the bones, cleaned, learned, it runs great. Now the dash, learning wiring, or at least what the rats have done that needs routing, organizing.

While the decision to fix the rust has been made. Never happen. Buy a rust free 633 and play parts choose and swap.

Climb the mountain because it's there. Fix the gauge because it's erratic. How high is up ? Never trust a naked bus driver.
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