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instrument cluster cut out ...

B

BrApple

No Life But CEG
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Joined
Dec 23, 2001
Messages
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Gales Ferry, CT
well the SVT guage cluster I put in my SE did something weird tonight, when i was coming from a stop not far from home the guages stopped working. at first I thought that the car stalled out on its own, has happened twice recently but it was still running. anyway the tach and speedo where not working, alternator was not charging the battery as my volt guage read 12 volts .... no warning lights on the cluster. When I got home about 5 minutes later I pulled every last fuse and none where bad ... start the car back up and the warning lights lite as normal and the tach worked correctly. Volt guage was only reading 13 volts thought ....

any thoughts? cluster going bad? possible short?
 
Plug your scanner in. If the voltage is comparable, you know it is a wiring (short) or alternator issue.

If the voltage is "normal" on the scanner but low on the cluster, you know it is a bad cluster or connector or wiring to connector (short).
 
Check battery voltages directly with a voltmeter. See if it really is low. Should be above 13.8 charging, 12.6 or so at rest engine off.
 
alternator is new, has been running great for 2k miles. I'll check the voltage on the battery but it seemed to start working fine again after I check all of the fuses ...
 
update ...

the battery is very healthy, it didn't get below 12.4 volts when I load tested it by turning the lights on for 1 minute

the alternator after drive for awhile was reading 13.8 across the battery. I believe the old alternator was reading the same. I also confirmed this with my xcal2 while data logging. I also noticed that often the voltage dropped with higher rpm by alittle. at idle with everything on, high beams, a/c w/fan on high the voltage dropped to about 12.8

now for the weird part. on one third gear pul to redline the gas light came on then turned off. I had 3/4 of a tank of gas. Then a bit later after coming to a stop at a light I got a blinking air bag light ... but it wasn't the real airbag light which is on the right of the dash and that turns on when I start the car, then turns off. This one was all the way to the right. It would blink about 5 times the turn off then repeat. It repeated about three times before stopping.

I have also noticed at times the the voltage will drop when coming to a drop then recover. DOes this sound like the wiring fix for the alternator is needed?

so is the cluster going bad maybe?
 
Last edited:
Tony2005 said:
I suggest you check the connector (male and female ends) first.
Click to expand...


I pulled the cluster over the weekend and the connectors where fine, I did notice anythign funny with the curcuit panel attached to the back of the cluster. I replugged everything in and the wires looked fine.
 
BrApple said:
I pulled the cluster over the weekend and the connectors where fine, I did notice anythign funny with the curcuit panel attached to the back of the cluster. I replugged everything in and the wires looked fine.
Click to expand...
Now for the other end of the wiring harness (the PCM? end).
 
Tony2005 said:
Now for the other end of the wiring harness (the PCM? end).
Click to expand...


I'll double check it tomorrow but I just swapped the pcm out two months ago or so and I remeber tightening the bolt down.

the ground from the harness is still attached as I check that tonight.
 
well I ran the car last night and when I started it up I was getting 14.3 volts across the battery. The car sat from the previous night until I got home from work. Took the car for a drive and when I got back about 20 or so minutes later the voltage across the battery was 13.8 volts again.

seems to be temp related to me ...
 
FavoriteMystaque said:
The alternator volts will drop as car runs and recharges the battery, so it does not overcharge.
Click to expand...


yes but shouldn't it pick up so that the voltage remains between 14 and 14.7 volts when you runn accessories?

well as check I check the voltages on my 95 with 189k on what I believe is the original alternator, battery was 12.5 volts, idle was 13.8 volts and with everything on it hit about 12.8 ....

now I guess its normal but the alternator could be weak .... and for the last 2 years I ahve not seen my voltage gauge change this much ...
 
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