Instrumentation operates intermittently

[seandaly]

Hi all, it's me again!

The tach, mpg, coolant temp, odometer, and fuel gauges operate intermittently in this '86 325 I recently acquired. It's really kinda funny to watch the gauges, because one will drop out for a while, then come back, and then another gauge will drop out and eventually come back. The only gauge that hasn't dropped out yet is the speedo. Sometimes the odometer rolls over, sometimes it doesn't. I guess it needs a rest every once in a while. The fuel gauge works most of the time, but sometimes it just goes *sproing!* straight up, like maybe a pretty woman just passed by, then it settles back down.

Anyway, whenever I get around to looking at it, I'm guessing I should be looking at:

A. Changing the lithium battery
B. Possibly replacing the SI board
C. Check all connections
D. Might need to replace appropriate senders/sensors for gauges

Does this sound about right, or is this one of those "they all do that" problems that you guys know exactly what the answer to it is?

Thanks for you help! (BTW, I'll probably be asking a *LOT* of questions here as I work on this car, hope that's okay! )

[All wheels rolling]

There are two plugs on the back of the instrument panel. Sometimes the wires in the harness comes loose and you may wnat ot check those out. There are 4 screws that you'll have to undo to get the panel out.

Preston

[gotKRAUT]

i agree...mine did this two...it was a combonation of loose connection and litium batterey..check em both...the batterey was a nightmare hah...

[97alpineM3]

First off... yes.. those are the first things you want to do to hopefully fix the problem.... you hit that on the nail..

Secondly.. we are all here to answer and question each others problems.. Its good to have you...



Les

[seandaly]

Thanks for the help guys! I'll check it out soon and report back.