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533 Idle and Gauge Cluster Problem

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
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Bleed Green
Posts: 11
Joined: Jul 10, 2019 12:23 PM
Location: Northern Virginia

533 Idle and Gauge Cluster Problem

Post by Bleed Green »

I’m hoping for some advice on solving a perplexing problem that started on my trip hope from the Vintage.  I’ve searched the forum and have not found a similar situation. 

CAR:  1984 533i with a m30b32.  The mods include auto to manual swap, SuperSprint headers and exhaust, and an AC Solutions kit. 

PROBLEM: Stopped at a store 10 minutes after leaving the Vintage.  A few minutes later when I restarted her the idle was very high and the RPM, Temp and Fuel gauges in the cluster did NOT work.  The idle has always been high (in the 1000-1100 range) but this time I’m guessing it was about 1500-1700 and stayed steady.  I turned the car off, popped the hood and checked for anything loose or obviously out of place.  Everything seemed fine, so I started her again, and it was NORMAL – idle 1000 and gauges worked.  

Everything was working wonderfully during the next leg of our journey.  An hour or so later we briefly stopped again, and as before, started her and the idle was very high (1500-1700) and the cluster gauges did NOT work.  After a few minutes I started her and again everything went back to NORMAL. 

I did not turn her off again until I reached my son’s house about an hour later.  This time, and until now, the car remains at very high idle and the gauges do not work.

THINGS DONE:

Since the Vintage
1)      Bench tested ICV and appears to be functioning (tested between 10-11 ohm, but actuated fine with 12v power supply)
2)      Checked connections on back of gauge cluster.
3)      Installed a Programa rebuilt ECU (008).  This did not solve the problem.

Prior Repairs
1)      Cluster repair by Programa (6+ months before this problem)
2)      Install new old stock Idle Control Module (1 year ago, hoping to solve elevated idle).

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!
Mike W.
Posts: 27513
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: California Whine Country

Re: 533 Idle and Gauge Cluster Problem

Post by Mike W. »

For starters your TPS is not adjusted correctly, normally it cuts fuel over about 1300 RPM if the pedal is not being pressed. But that's not the problem. But then again, it could be as simple as something binding and keeping the butterfly slightly open. But with the throttle closed, it should not idle at 1700, the ECU should cut fuel, at least it does on both L jet preceding 533 Motronic 1.0 and after it with 535s having Motronic 1.0a.

I would look for something sticking in the throttle area/throttle cable/pedal, or a cracked hose and a vacuum leak.
Bleed Green
Posts: 11
Joined: Jul 10, 2019 12:23 PM
Location: Northern Virginia

Re: 533 Idle and Gauge Cluster Problem

Post by Bleed Green »

Thank you for the suggestions on the idle issue Mike W.; I will look at them.  Any thoughts why the cluster stopped working when the idle problem started?  Thanks again!
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