Having some dash/electrical issues now & then when I start my '88 740 sedan:

Car will start normally but the row of dash warning lights that usually come on for a second won't light and the gauges will not work. The clock is fine, and the overdrive light will be on (even though gearshift is in 'park' and the button on the side hasn't been engaged).

On the few times this has happened, the gauges will suddenly come on after a few minutes.....or after driving a short distance.....and the overdrive light will go out. The car starts, runs, drives normally when this has happened.

I'm only talking half a dozen incidents in the four months I've owned the car.
Hoping to pinpoint what or where my garage should check; the car has been in for other work but would not do this while they had it (of course! )

Thanks for any ideas!

 

intermittent electrical problems are the hardest things to find and fix. guessing what might be wrong wouldn't be very productive, you need to get in there with a volt meter when its exhibiting the bad behavior and check for all the usual suspects (bad connections, bad grounds, etc).

 

Most likely due to the circuit board in the back of the instrument cluster... I'd REFLOAT the solder points--they crack with time and lose contact. Or get another board, or the whole pod, they are very cheap theses days, used, of course.