Help wanted: Dodgy gauge cluster!

[Dafinalone]

Hi,

I just bought a black S1 Rallye 1994. Fantastic little machine

It’s a spotless car in all respects with a few exceptions. The primary one is the oil pressure or temperature gauge (don’t know if its temp or pressure) in the left side of the gauge cluster?

When I switch the key to ignition the needle flies up and all the way out of the gauge and the background illumination is lit. When I start the engine, the needle falls to the bottom of the gauge and stays there, even after 50 km’s of driving. The illumination in that part of the gauge cluster turns of as well when the engine is started.

Is this a known problem for them to have, and is there a fix?

I suspect some sort of short circuit in the gauge cluster. But I am not a specialist in car electrics.

[MHR1294]

Originally Posted by Dafinalone

Hi,

I just bought a black S1 Rallye 1994. Fantastic little machine

It’s a spotless car in all respects with a few exceptions. The primary one is the oil pressure or temperature gauge (don’t know if its temp or pressure) in the left side of the gauge cluster?

When I switch the key to ignition the needle flies up and all the way out of the gauge and the background illumination is lit. When I start the engine, the needle falls to the bottom of the gauge and stays there, even after 50 km’s of driving. The illumination in that part of the gauge cluster turns of as well when the engine is started.

Is this a known problem for them to have, and is there a fix?

I suspect some sort of short circuit in the gauge cluster. But I am not a specialist in car electrics.

The gauge on the left is for coolant temperature. If it's behaving as you say, it could be a faulty cluster or a wiring short somewhere. Check the plug on the coolant sensor on the side of the cylinder head. it is blue.

If it's the gauge on the right side of the cluster.

When ignition on, it lights up bright and the needle indicates oil level. When the engine is started that light goes out and it indicates oil temperature. So if it's sitting on the bottom, you have no signal.

It's common for the wire on the back of the sump (for oil temp) to snap off. that's probably what has happened.


Are the dials standard? They've not had new faces or anything like that where a previous owner may have had the needles off?

[Dafinalone]

Cool, Its the gauge on the right that behaves strangely. I didn’t know that it was a ”two function” gauge, so I guess the initial sequence where the needle goes to the top of the gauge to indicate oil level is just fine?

A faulty sensor or broken wires around the sensor would explain that the needle stays on the bottom of the gauge while driving. But does it explain the background lighting as well? It does not seem like anything has been tampered with, with regards to the gauge faces or needles.