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1987 BMW 7 Series 735i 4D Sedan Base

1987 BMW 7 Series 735i 4D Sedan
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August 27, 2009, 1:00 pm

Elizabeth H
 

Question: how do i fix these electrial issues

have a 88 bmw 735i...the gas gauage neddle stopped working, also, the digital mileage and information is now simply blinking... if i do not drive the car often, the battery goes dead, this is new.... yikes can you help?


August 28, 2009, 12:40 pm

Tyler O
Expert Mechanic

The battery could be something simple (like an old battery). How long are we talking here? If it's over a month, it's pretty normal. If it's a matter of days, you might need a new battery or you might have a parasitic draw from something. If you have a multimeter you can check this, and pull fuses until the draw stops to determine the system with the problem.

As far as the gas gauge not working, it could be a failure of the sending unit, wiring or dash gauge. Usually it's the sending unit so check that first.

The digital readout would probably need to be replaced, check with salvage yards. You might be able to find a used replacement part, but it probably wont be cheap.


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