Programa SI Board Install Issues

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Dmckim
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 12:54 pm
Location: Buffalo

Programa SI Board Install Issues

Post by Dmckim »

Working on my friends 1983 633csi.

Had issues with the SI lights and temp gauge, so I ordered a battery-less SI Board from Programa. Also replaced the odometer gears while the cluster was out.

After re-install of the cluster, I am getting a flashing yellow triangle and no reading from the tach. The car will start however.

Do I need to drive it a bit or use do a reset on it to get it to work, or do I have another issue I should be chasing. I don't want to take it apart again if I don't have to.

Thanks
Dale
Buffalo, NY
1980 633CSi
1987 325is (sold)
2001 740iL Sport (sold)
2007 328xiT (Sold)
2014 320dT (Sold)
Current: 2023 Jetta GLI M/T
2007 GMC Sierra,
1972 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible
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hornhospital
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Re: Programa SI Board Install Issues

Post by hornhospital »

Have you tapped the brakes and then pushed the reset/test button on the light test panel? That _should_ extinguish the orange triangle. Can't help with the tach other than suggest the connection is bad. I believe the tach is driven by one of the single wires that plug into the cluster.
Ken Kanne
'84 633CSi "Sylvia"; '85 635CSi "Katja";'85 325e "Hazel Ann"; '95 M3 "Ashlyn"
Dmckim
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 12:54 pm
Location: Buffalo

Re: Programa SI Board Install Issues

Post by Dmckim »

I did do that. But, it was throwing a low coolant light as well. Not sure if it is really low of coolant (possible), bad coolant sensor or a board issue. Hoping the flashing yellow was going because of the low coolant issue.

I ordered a Peake tool, and will reset the SI. I am hoping this takes care of it.

Any other thoughts out there are welcomed.

Cheers,

Dale
Buffalo, NY
1980 633CSi
1987 325is (sold)
2001 740iL Sport (sold)
2007 328xiT (Sold)
2014 320dT (Sold)
Current: 2023 Jetta GLI M/T
2007 GMC Sierra,
1972 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible
Dmckim
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 12:54 pm
Location: Buffalo

Re: Programa SI Board Install Issues

Post by Dmckim »

Still need some help from you guys on this one. Got back into the car today. Tried the reset with the Peake tool - no change.

I was able to get the coolant light off by jiggling the sensor on the overflow bottle.

The yellow triangle is on solid, but not flashing.

I took the car around the block, and I have no tach, no speedo, and the temp gauge didn't move. The mileage/economy gauge would bounce intermittently.

Seems like too much going wrong to just be a loose connection (would have to be a few!)

Thanks,

Dale
Buffalo, NY
1980 633CSi
1987 325is (sold)
2001 740iL Sport (sold)
2007 328xiT (Sold)
2014 320dT (Sold)
Current: 2023 Jetta GLI M/T
2007 GMC Sierra,
1972 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible
Dmckim
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 12:54 pm
Location: Buffalo

Re: Programa SI Board Install Issues

Post by Dmckim »

I put the old board back in, and everything came back to life, albeit with Service Level Indicator lit again

I emailed Programa and they told me I needed to ground out one of the pins on the board to reset it. Not sure why this wasn’t in instructions, or why Peake tool reset didn’t work.

Not looking forward to pulling cluster for the 4th time for sure!
1980 633CSi
1987 325is (sold)
2001 740iL Sport (sold)
2007 328xiT (Sold)
2014 320dT (Sold)
Current: 2023 Jetta GLI M/T
2007 GMC Sierra,
1972 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible
Dmckim
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 12:54 pm
Location: Buffalo

Re: Programa SI Board Install Issues

Post by Dmckim »

Just to close the loop on this, ProGrama said I needed to short out one of the pins to ground to reset the board. That did the trick.
1980 633CSi
1987 325is (sold)
2001 740iL Sport (sold)
2007 328xiT (Sold)
2014 320dT (Sold)
Current: 2023 Jetta GLI M/T
2007 GMC Sierra,
1972 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible
new kid
Posts: 79
Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 5:05 pm
Location: United States

Re: Programa SI Board Install Issues

Post by new kid »

I had one I took apart about 15 times before finally getting it to work. ](*,)
Moon-Man
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2017 10:22 pm
Location: Barrington, Illinois

Re: Programa SI Board Install Issues

Post by Moon-Man »

Dmckim,

When you grounded the pins, were you able to do it without taking the cluster apart? If yes, where did you establish a ground at?

I see the pin called out by the programa instructions, but want to make it a routine job.


Thanks.
Dmckim
Posts: 107
Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 12:54 pm
Location: Buffalo

Re: Programa SI Board Install Issues

Post by Dmckim »

Just responded to your DM.

I took a small piece of wire and put it into the pin on the ribbon connector, and then grounded it to the negative side of the battery. Cluster had to come out to do it.
1980 633CSi
1987 325is (sold)
2001 740iL Sport (sold)
2007 328xiT (Sold)
2014 320dT (Sold)
Current: 2023 Jetta GLI M/T
2007 GMC Sierra,
1972 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible
Moon-Man
Posts: 35
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2017 10:22 pm
Location: Barrington, Illinois

Re: Programa SI Board Install Issues

Post by Moon-Man »

Thanks, I finally got the cluster back out and soldered a wire to the ribbon cable pin. Grounded it to the steering lock lever voila, it reset. Back to 4 greens, and no lights on when driving!
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