Beater to Keeper, if I can figure out the cluster

[wrestlerdad]

Everyone,
In my last post I mentioned that I bought this e38 740il to be a beater / loaner car. I've driven it for a couple weeks and done some work (mostly cleanup), added new tires and brakes and to my surprise this is a great car. So now we're thinking of letting my son have it, but before I do that I want to fix everything humanly possible. The cluster I think has some issues, to wit:

Speedo is non-functional
MPG Gauge is non-functional
Odometer is non-functional

The tach, fuel gauge and temp gauge work fine. What are some points of failure / items I should check to get the cluster working correctly? Thanks as always for any input, it's great to learn from those that have walked the road before me.

wrestlerdad

[Aitch]

Sounds like one or more wheel-speed sensors might be out? Is the ABS or traction control light illuminated?

[wrestlerdad]

Yes, actually both.

[Mayorchuck]

That's often the drivers rear wheel speed sensor. You can swap it with the passenger side to see if you get the speedo back. I believe the passenger side controls the cruise control. You might even find the drivers side dirty enough to be the issue.

[wrestlerdad]

Great info folks, thank you so much! That's a much easier fix than I anticipated.

[carnut1947]

My speedo/odo would quit every other afternoon. Turned out to be a faulty ABS module. Got one at a wrecking yard from the same year of car and had it programmed to the car. Having it programmed cured the ABS/BRAKE warning lights and restored the speedometer.