Instruments - Speedometer Needle Vibrates
Service Measure Instruments
M62 200 04
March 11, 2002-2006
Subject
R50, R53; speedometer needle vibrates
2002-2006 Mini Cooper (R50) L4-1.6L (W10) Page 116
Complaint
Speedometer vibrates for five seconds when the engine is started.
The fault occurs intermittently.
Vehicles concerned: R50 and R53
Cause
1. Calibration process (design issue)
2. Software problem
Measure
Cause 1:
To avoid there being an imprecise zero position, there are two possible calibration processes for the speedometer needle:
a) Brief recalibration
All needles (including speedometer needle) drop once to the lower stop.
This takes place automatically when the ignition is switched back on after the K-bus has been in sleep mode.
b) Long recalibration
Speedometer needle vibrates or fluctuates for approximately 5 to 10 seconds. This takes place under following conditions:
- If the power supply to the instrument cluster has been disconnected.
- After a battery disconnection
- After a fuse for the instrument cluster has been replaced
- Blown instrument cluster fuse (it is assumed that the speedometer functions correctly when the ignition is switched on despite the blown fuse)
- Temporary drop in the instrument cluster voltage to less than 8.5 Volt Both of these processes are normal for the instrument cluster.
Cause 2:
If the fault cannot be explained by the calibration process described above, do not replace any parts.
