E46 electrical problem? can anyone help?

[R1 Indy]

well ive had an electrical problem with the E46 328CI for the past couple of months, and now want to get it sorted. the symptoms are:

speedo doesn't work.
milage doesn't go up.
the MPG swingometer doesnt work.
T.C light, handbrake light, and ABS light are perminatly on.
T.C and ABS does not work.
fuel gauge is a bit flickery.


now ive got myself a bluetooth obd2 adaptor which ive plugged in, and using an android app on my phone called "torque" which should tell me any fault codes, and allows me to see all the data from the ecu.


now it is saying there are no fauld codes.

but its telling me data from the ecu thats not working on the dash IE:

my speed
current/average/ MPG
trip milage
plus loads of data that the dash doesn't usually display anyway.


now this is making me think that its not just a faulty wheel sensor?

could this be a faulty instrument cluster?


so can anyone help me on this?

cheers

[E30M3SE]

Torque only reads engine codes, so if it not engine related it will not find anything, you need to get all codes read by a 'proper' code reader.

[Baz Tench]

Sounds like a faulty instrument cluster to me, or the main plug at the back of it...

[WeirdNeville]

Sounds like instrument cluster wiring/earthing fault to me.
Get the panel under the drivers dash out and have a good poke around.

[john_p]

ABS sensor would certainly cover everything except the fuel gauge, which might be just coincidence or perhaps the wiring runs through the same place ..

Best put it on a proper code reader which will soon tell you what's going on.

[R1 Indy]

oh didn't realise it only picks up engine faults. i take it i can get some software to put on the laptop that would pick up non engine faults?

but also if it was a faulty wheel sensor, why would this stop the speedo Etc working, when the ecu knows?


this makes me think it could be the instrument cluster.

but also why would a fualty instrument cluster stop the abs/TC working?

[john_p]

A faulty wheel sensor will stop the ABS working (brake/TC/handbrake) not sure about speedo/odometer, but if so probably the MPG gauge too ..

[scott10005]

Hi, the rear left abs sensor is where the cluster gets its speed signal from.
If this sensor is faulty it would cause this symptom. I would recomend replacing the sensor.

[R1 Indy]

scott10005 said:

Hi, the rear left abs sensor is where the cluster gets its speed signal from.
If this sensor is faulty it would cause this symptom. I would recomend replacing the sensor.

thanks, does the cluster get its signal seperatly than from the ecu then?

as i am getting a speed reading from the ecu when moving.

[scott10005]

What ecu and what you reading it with?
sorry, re-read your original post,yes the engine control unit gets the information from a different sensor. So the device you are using is reading the road speed from the engine control unit not the cluster.

Edited by scott10005 on Monday 21st March 14:10

[R1 Indy]

excellant, thanks.

that kind of makes sence with it being that sensor, as i had a brake fluid leak at the rear passenger side when it stopped working, so the fluid probably killed the sensor.

although i supose i could try cleaning the sensor first.

[R1 Indy]

well ive just tryed to clean it, but it wouldn't come out, gave it a pry with a screwdriver and it completely crumbled.

so will need a new one now anyway.

hopefully that was the problem.

[R1 Indy]

Scott have a

bought a 20 quid sensor off ebay, fitted, and now everything works as it should.

only downside is the mileometer is now working again

[jwarrens84]

Get DISV57 on the case to read your error codes.

I’ve got a similar issue where my speedo wasn’t working and neither the mileometer. I fixed that by doing instrument cluster test.

My next issue is my speedo is very optimistic, about 15% over. Plus the previous owner removed the DSC & ABS bulbs.

At first I thought this was down to the previous owner running the incorrect tyre sizes.

DISV57 is saying my front O/S ABS sensor is at fault, which is strange as the rear N/S does the speed signal.

Hope you get it sorted :-)

[Alucidnation]

Seriously???

You would like to think he has got it sorted, eight fking years later.

[cobra kid]

Alucidnation said:

Seriously???

You would like to think he has got it sorted, eight fking years later.

Quite an odyssey.