So....after having thought I'd solved the gas-gauge-hangs-at-1/4-until-the-yellow-light-comes-on-then-whack-the-dash-to-see-it-drop-to-empty problem, I finally have the solution. While I could make it work for awhile, I could not get reliability from the fix (see the FAQ). Now I do.
The last attempt produced a really twitchy needle after awhile. So I removed the assembly from the cluster, plugged it in while sitting in the driver's seat and started grabbing, twisting. I narrowed the twitching down to the ribbon cable. The rivets that attach the cable to the plastic housing and that connect the ribbon cable to the stud that plugs into the gauge itself are just a press fit. Carefully applying solder to the rear mount and the ribbon has fixed this annoying problem now for over two months. (I buy $5 worth of gas just to watch the needle faithfully move through 1/4 mark to the orange area! )
Nice work Lenny. I played some games like that one time on an E21 and it's temp gauge. I didn't go quite that far, I think I crimped it or something like that, it's been a couple of years. Yeah, it's maddening when corrosion gets in someplace like that where you can't take it apart, you can't tighten it, you're kind of stuck. Until creative people come along
Mike W.
1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
Thanks, Mike, I played heck with this thing for way too long. And yes, I am easily amused (still doing the happy dance)...I can't believe it's actually fixed.... You know, something as insignificant as the GAS GAUGE
So I guess the creativity from my musical career paid off this time, although me and solder go waay back.
edit: wanted to say this in the first post, forgot, and forgot again 'till now - yes, I did the other side (temp) as well.
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