Tach and speedo gauge needles drop when opening door

[Oli77]

Did you guys know this? :blink

I only noticed after installing the chrome gauge rings (+2 HP).

When I open the driver side door, the gauge needles drop down (~ 1 sec) and back up.

Normal, or a sign that I took my cluster apart maybe?

[danewilson77]

Cabin air pressure drops > Needles fall.

[az3579]

Mine doesn't do that, nor has any E46 that I've seen...

Sent from my Droid Charge - 4G LTE FTW

[AUSS1E]

Does it do it at 100mph also or just at a stop?

[danewilson77]

Mine doesn't do that, nor has any E46 that I've seen...

Sent from my Droid Charge - 4G LTE FTW

My comment above was directly related to the pilot thread and was completely facetious.

So....every E46 you've ever been in...you've made it a point to look at the speedo and tach as you opened the door? Are you sure....or just saying you haven't noticed?

Oli....I will try to make it a point to check this today.

[az3579]

So....every E46 you've ever been in...you've made it a point to look at the speedo and tach as you opened the door? Are you sure....or just saying you haven't noticed?



I have a quirk of looking at the instrument cluster as I pull the door handle. It is not possible for me to miss it if it is happening.



Sent from my Droid Charge - 4G LTE FTW

[danewilson77]

I have a quirk of looking at the instrument cluster as I pull the door handle. It is not possible for me to miss it if it is happening.



Sent from my Droid Charge - 4G LTE FTW

OK BP....

[llll1l1ll]

Is it just after you shut off the ignition? The MPG gauge in both my E30s would always twitch after I shut the car off.

[Oli77]

Weird then! I don't think it used to do it (but I never checked really).
I only noticed after taking the cluster apart.
Could be air pressure as Dane implied.

[zj96sc]

are we talking about at speed? at rest wouldn't they be on the needle stops?

[danewilson77]

are we talking about at speed? at rest wouldn't they be on the needle stops?

Car is idling?

[zj96sc]

oh, hah, yeah, i guess that's a pretty obvious case.

I say we need a better statement of condition from Oli.

[kayger12]

Which gauge, specifically, are we talking about?

Ahh. Nevermind, missed the title.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[Oli77]

Car is stopped. Keys are in my pocket. I walk to the car, open the front driver door and as I do, the needles drop down...and then come back up.

Key is in my pocket the whole time, not idling, not driving at 2 or 100 MPH.

Voila.

[danewilson77]

LOL.....wow.

[danewilson77]

Just went and got a sandwich. Zero needles move when I open or close the door, from inside or outside of the car.

[kayger12]

Just went and got a sandwich. Zero needles move when I open or close the door, from inside or outside of the car.

+1. Well, not the sandwich part, but you know what I mean.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[Oli77]

Thanks for checking Dane and all that looked into it.

I guess this makes my car "special".

[Ryans323i]

Maybe you have an autobot, Oli, and that's his way of saying hi.

[zj96sc]

On my lunch break I realized we don't have needle stops. so how bout them apples.

I did open my door at about 30mph and no movement. I forgot to check while off.

[mikeyb74]

I've noticed the needles on mine doing that at times as well.

[danewilson77]

I've noticed the needles on mine doing that at times as well.

Lol....

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[gr330zhp]

I get zero needle movement :dunno

A little off topic, but idk why I felt this video would be good here :rofl


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17XBW5OZdOM

[Oli77]

I've noticed the needles on mine doing that at times as well.

Ah ah. I'm not the only one. We're special Mikey!

[Oli77]

I get zero needle movement :dunno

A little off topic, but idk why I felt this video would be good here :rofl


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17XBW5OZdOM


I LOLed, l i t e r a l l y.

[webster]

i noticed my needles doing the same thing today. randomly looked at them as i got into the car coming out of the gym and i definitely saw them dip slightly as i opened the car door. i immediately tried to replicate the phenomenon and i couldn't. so i'm thinking it must be a pressure thing?

[gr330zhp]

I LOLed, l i t e r a l l y.

:biggrin

[danewilson77]

i noticed my needles doing the same thing today. randomly looked at them as i got into the car coming out of the gym and i definitely saw them dip slightly as i opened the car door. i immediately tried to replicate the phenomenon and i couldn't. so i'm thinking it must be a pressure thing?

Most of our seals are probably so bad....that it doesn't happen. In OP's case.....his seals are probably good to go.

[zj96sc]

why would air pressure make dash needles move?

[danewilson77]

why would air pressure make dash needles move?

Apparently does....based on what's happening. Why else would they move when the door is shut? I know my sunroof moves up a lil, when I shut the door.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[zj96sc]

My guess would be sudden onset of electrical draw from the interior lights coming on. Would also explain why it does not happen again when you try again because the lights are still on. No reason air pressure changes should move the needles, they are not controlled by any pressure differential.

Sunroof makes sense.

[danewilson77]

My guess would be sudden onset of electrical draw from the interior lights coming on. Would also explain why it does not happen again when you try again because the lights are still on. No reason air pressure changes should move the needles, they are not controlled by any pressure differential.

Sunroof makes sense.

Agree.

[mikeyb74]

Can't have anything to do with pressure because when I've noticed mine dipping it's been with the windows down or up.

[Oli77]

Apparently does....based on what's happening. Why else would they move when the door is shut? I know my sunroof moves up a lil, when I shut the door.
HTC Thunderbolt+TT

I don't think its air pressure (or altitude) Dane, cause it happens with windows open.


i noticed my needles doing the same thing today. randomly looked at them as i got into the car coming out of the gym and i definitely saw them dip slightly as i opened the car door. i immediately tried to replicate the phenomenon and i couldn't. so i'm thinking it must be a pressure thing?

Also, you have to wait for the lights in the cabin to come off if you want to see happen a second time. Twice in a row without waiting for the lights to come off does not work.


My guess would be sudden onset of electrical draw from the interior lights coming on. Would also explain why it does not happen again when you try again because the lights are still on. No reason air pressure changes should move the needles, they are not controlled by any pressure differential.

Sunroof makes sense.


Like you I am for an electrical thing.

By the way, my CD player turns too (if there is not a CD inside). Love it

[GT172I]

Uh yeah can't really see how reducing the air pressure would somehow suck the needles down...

Also a few weeks ago in a brand new rental (<3000mi Impalla) I noticed the same thing but it was after I'd already opened the door and was on the way to the seat. Put it out of mind as a weird rental car thing, I know neither of my 330's do it.

[danewilson77]

Uh yeah can't really see how reducing the air pressure would somehow suck the needles down...

Also a few weeks ago in a brand new rental (<3000mi Impalla) I noticed the same thing but it was after I'd already opened the door and was on the way to the seat. Put it out of mind as a weird rental car thing, I know neither of my 330's do it.

Uh yeah....I thought it was just popping them up.......really quick....then they were returning to their normal resting place.....those needles vitually have zero resistance, and I believe operate on magnetism.

I think Zj has it nailed.

I'm good with the electrical theory....so let's move on.

[webster]

hey guys, i'm no scientist, it was just a guess. electrical explanation makes more sense, i'll go with that.

[mikeyb74]

I'm not going to worry about. I have larger issues to deal with.

[danewilson77]

Yup...I think Oli has a fairly good idea what's causing this anomly now.

[Ryans323i]

Autobots dammit!

[johnrando]

Autobots dammit!

:rofl

[Oli77]

Got it: field of magnetism with transpalmic particle transfer through the door handle (from my hand), into the heart of the auto "bot motoren werke" .

[TheFinanceGuy]

Not to revive a really old thread or anything, but I really do find this interesting. I caught mine doing it on video. Not that hard to catch it actually. It will do it upon waking up.


http://vimeo.com/100984133

[Oli77]

Yeaaaaah!!! I don't feel so alone anymore. That's exactly what mine does. We're special maybe.

[Avetiso]

They all do it. At least from what I can tell.

[Oli77]

Now you tell Dario! I had to wait 2 years to hear it from the car whisperer.

I still like Ryan's the autobot theory.