No Speedo, Tach or OBC display

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bobw
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No Speedo, Tach or OBC display

Post by bobw »

Turned bike ignition on today and there was no display on the OBC. I thought the battery had died, but I could hear the fuel pump. I hit the starter and she fired right up. I had head and tail lamps, horn and signals all worked. I turned the bike off and back on with the same result. Drove up the street and noticed no tach or speedo either. I love all the gagets, but you don't need them, so off we went for a short 60 mile ride. Bike ran great, stopped for gas, lunch and kicking tires at a local shop. After each stop, the bike started and ran like a top, just nothing on the gauge cluster and OBC.

Called dealer for an appointment next week, but any thoughts here. Only other points of interest were the gas gauge acted up on the last ride about a week ago, didn't register, then did, then stopped for good. Had a 6K service last month with no problems noted and bike is at approximately 8K now on an 07 r1200r.

Cheers all.

Bob
WILDPIG

Re: No Speedo, Tach or OBC display

Post by WILDPIG »

NOT SURE IF THE R12 HAS A POTENTIMTER OR NOT I KNOW ONE MODEL DOES AN THAT IS A 100% ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF POTENTIMETER FAILURE. BASICALLY MORE BMW ELECTRONIC FAILURES. HOPEFULLY YER UNDER WARRANTY CUZ THEY AINT EVEN CHEAP.
bobw
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Re: No Speedo, Tach or OBC display

Post by bobw »

Thanks for your input and yes, it is still covered on 3/36. It's weird in that it's like the whole cluster was unplugged. I am riding this weekend and I'll keep my fingers crossed until it's diagnosed.

Cheers

Bob
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celticus
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Re: No Speedo, Tach or OBC display

Post by celticus »

I suppose it does unplug. Have you checked for a loose connection at the plug? That's the first thing I would do. If its OK there try to follow the wire to the next likely looking junction.
Mark
What is happening to my skin?
Where is that protection that I needed?
Air can hurt you too
bobw
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Re: No Speedo, Tach or OBC display

Post by bobw »

Thx Mark

I gave everything (not much to check) a "push/pull" test and also couldn't see an abrasion or obvious pinch to the harness. Nothing was touched from parking the bike in the garage between rides. I'll give it another/better inspection after riding this weekend and may unbolt some bits so I can wiggle wires around through a wider range of motion.

If I find a secret handshake process or code to make this happen, I will let you high mileage riders know how to do this and you could keep your bike "under" 36K :badgrin:

Safe travels everyone!

Bob
bobw
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Re: No Speedo, Tach or OBC display

Post by bobw »

Updated for repair info.

Touring Sport BMW was great. They had a full plate, but made room for me to ride over for a quick diagnostic so parts or ? could be ordered to be installed at a later date. It worked out that the BMW area rep was at the shop when I arrived and both he and the shop mechanic poked and proded her while I enjoyed a ring side seat ("never saw this before"). There was a fault code showing no communication with the systems. They used the computer and an ohm meter to check everything. Bottom line was after seeing nothing else wrong it was assumed the unit was bad and a new one would be ordered, but when they plugged it back in it worked perfectly. All the mileage and other data was/is stored in the main ecu and the gauge pack also has some type of storage capability. Everything is fine (other than gas gauge) and it appears the pfm (pure flipping magic) must have leaked out and the computer gods got cranky. It is good to know that these things will run with a disconnect from the can bus. I enjoyed the ride(s) without the distractions from the cluster read outs, but seeing too many police cars w/o a speedometer was getting risky, not that I speed :^o :badgrin:

I'll get the gas gauge fixed next week and she will be "perfect" again.

Safe travels

Bob
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celticus
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Re: No Speedo, Tach or OBC display

Post by celticus »

Bob, Where did they unplug and replug it? That knowledge might come in handy.

Mark
What is happening to my skin?
Where is that protection that I needed?
Air can hurt you too
bobw
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Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:11 pm
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Location: Morganton, NC

Re: No Speedo, Tach or OBC display

Post by bobw »

Hey! Mark

The backing plate/cover/bug catcher comes off and you can then see where the harness and plug is routed, a bit like a phone line underneath the telephone base. They cleaned and tested each prong and also under the seat at the diagnostic plug, battery etc, etc. It is possible some gunk on a connector, static cling or the simple "re boot" of the cluster being unplugged/plugged and fault cleared made them cry out in unison "It's ALIVE, It's ALIVE!!!" We laughed about it being better to be good or lucky and just decided not to test fate and enjoy the gift of PFM being restored by can bus. The rep made a bunch of notes for future generations so no more Villiage Virgins would be offered in Sacrifice to The All Mighty Can Bus should this happen again (not sure the shop guys liked the thought that fewer Virgins may be involved in future work plans though). Obviously BMW is aware can bus can be "a challenge" at times and there are only so many Virgins a BMW rider can find these days......... On a side note, I asked if a lightning strike could cause enough electricity to scramble the little grey cells? The mechanic said they had one owner of an older K bike that was on a battery tender when his house suffered a direct strike. Everything in the house was fried and the bike was eventually considered a total loss due to electronic damage :cry: and cost to repair.

Safe travels

Bob
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