Instrument Panel Problems

staffordva · November 2003

My 1997 bravada will turn over but there are no instrument cluster readings. After jiggling every electrical connection under the hood, eventually instrument cluster activates (or relay warms up?) and engine fires right up. any suggestions ?

zitface · October 2003

Out of the blue my instrument and running lights went out. I thought.. oh it is a fuse. (which from my past experiences has been the case) All fuses look good and I see nothing obvious wrong.
Can anyone provide some input as to what else to look for?

Thanks.

Mr_Shiftright · October 2003

Well the only thing that controls both of those functions would be the headlight switch.

swschrad · October 2003

but it would be useful in your case to scare up a wiring diagram of the appropriate circuits and start chasing continuity.

just for the randy hell of it, what year and model ford ya got, because there are boarders with manuals out there....

Mr_Shiftright · October 2003

yeah, but....when you turn the light switch to the first position, what goes on? Right...running lights and instrument lights. I think the answer is jumping up and down and waving its hand here...

(the eternal optimist).

Do you use a relay on dinky instrument lights?

swschrad · October 2003

so that's a real good place to start looking, I agree. quite possibly, worth replacing that switch on spec just because they almost got pushed into a recall on those switches, like the ignition switches.

but if that doesn't do it, you're back to slogging along with test lights.

zitface · October 2003

These boards are the greatest thing since sliced bread! Thanks for the responces on my problem. I figuered I would take a look before I ordered a switch. (surprisingly was easy to get too) What I found was a hot lead in the upper corner of the harness plug was not seated well. The corner of the plug was broken or melted so it did not push the pin in all the way. I did a little improvising and 'poof'.. all fixed. Not often we get off this easy with no cost. Thanks again.

swschrad · October 2003

the symptom of failure on the ford switches recalled in the past few years has been excessive heating caused by a crappy closure of the block-cut switch elements. some have started fires (I am specifically referring to ignition switches here.)

based on the history, I'd change the thing out and not look back.

glad you have your fix... but I'd consider it a temporary fix, and change the switch.

Mr_Shiftright · October 2003

Yes, and never use the word "poof!" when you are describing what you did to an electrical system

swschrad · November 2003

one at a time, of course... put a little dielectric grease on each connector finger... and then mate-open-mate the connectors several times to scrape light tin oxide corrosion off and coat the metal with the dielectric grease.

if that doesn't do it, or if you see some really colored connector fingers instead of metal-looking, scrape 'em down with a penknife, then repeat 1st paragraph.

platinum3kt · November 2003

10 mins before my alternator went out in my 1999 Olds Alero the temp gauge needle started going up and down and then it reversed. So now that I have a new alternator, I thought every thing would go back to normal, but it didn't. The temp gauge needle sits on the otherside of the H and C. Whats the solution?

karnane · November 2003

I have the newer 2001 Passat. Seems like my Running lights have poofed. I took it to the VW dealer and they claim that the light casing needs to be repaced since it has a crack in it. They gave me an estimate of over $465 for replacing the light. This car has never been in an accident. So, how could the casing crack? Secondly, shouldn't the extended warranty cover this type of failures?

swschrad · November 2003

and the long end points way out to inaction junction 180 degrees away? that's not good. that's a dead gauge and sure enough. will require removing the IP, removing the wiring board from behind it, and then replacing the gauge in many instances.

if the gauge is stuck between H and C and doesn't move, it could be a dead gauge or a dead function out of the engine control computer.

I don't like the sound of this. there MIGHT be some hope... a blown ground wire or a dead fuse.

swschrad · November 2003

I should think the b2b part of the warranty should cover this. probably a stress crack or maybe a rock flew up and hit it.

budbrur · June 2004

My 2000 Accord's dash lights stay on (brake, door ajar, battery). Also, there is a water leak somewhere that causes the driver's floor panel to get soaked whenever it rains. Can anyone tell me where i might locatate the source of the leak and if it could have something to do with the dash lights. I just had a new aftermarket alternator installed last week.

marts · July 2004

I'm thinking about buying a 1978 Chevy Caprice with the 350 cubic inch V8 with the 3 speed auto. However it has a non functioning speedometer.
A component in the gearbox has failed and the currant owner has been quoted £400 plus for the remedial work.
Is there an alternative method to measure speed with accuracy, without huge cost.
Someone suggested fitting a Tachometer (Rev counter). Any suggestions?

alcan · July 2004

The only components of the speedometer are the nylon drive gear on the transmission output shaft, driven gear and housing, cable, and speedo head. I can't imagine any component repair costing the price you quoted, unless the drive gear has failed and it has the THM 200 transmission. That one doesn't have a separate extension housing and requires trans removal and disassembly to access the speedo drive gear.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2004

You might have plugged drains in the fresh air cowl (under your wiper blades). Over the years crude can build up in there, forming a gooey plug of organic matter that gets through the screening. This can be blown out with compressed air, but you have to take the cowl piece off to access it.

If your car has a sunroof, the front sunroof drain could also be plugged. If you open the roof, you can see these drain holes.

Either of these conditions could cause a wet floor when it rains. The fresh air cowl drains could conceivably affect the dash lights in some way but I don't think the plugged drain in the sunroof could.

chester1 · August 2004

I do not have an owners manual and my ABS and brake light is on. Do anyone know why this may be? Thanks

alcan · August 2004

How about some basic information such as make, model, year?

chester1 · August 2004

Sorry, I posted on the Durango board and they moved my post. Its a 99 Dodge Durango SLT 4/4. The ABS and the parking brake light just came on. I replaced the ECM last week and had it flashed so I don't think thats the prob Just not sure. Thanks

alcan · August 2004

No problem, Chester. The ABS light on usually indicates that the controller has detected a fault in one of it's monitored circuits such as wheel speed sensors, pressure modulator solenoids, etc, so the first step would be to have it scanned for stored trouble codes. Also, a low fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir can sometimes trigger the light so I'd start with that simple check.

Mr_Shiftright · August 2004

Can't some ABS units be scanned themselves by a scanning tool?

alcan · August 2004

Not sure about the Durango but with most scanners it's a matter of choosing which system to check; engine, trans, body, ABS.

gudge · October 2004

I have a 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora. The tachometer recently started jumping all over the place. It will read accurately one moment and then bounce around. I put in new plugs and plug wires hoping this would help. However, the problem remains the same. The car runs fine but the bouncing gage is annoying.

swschrad · December 2004

particularly, check your instrument panel grounds. the tach signal usually comes from the engine computer now, and the engine will run like a bad lawn mower if that's the real derived speed from the sensor picking up the ticks each time the crankcase pulley turns. so if it's just the tach that's sick, you likely have a bad harness connector to the dash or a scummy ground connection to the body that needs to be taken apart, derusted and shined up, put back together with multi-tooth lockwashers and a little grease between every single metal-to-metal connection.

pippen · January 2005

Hi, never been here before, but sems liek a very helpful and informative site, I have a 86 blazer, in wich i have recently had to replace teh ehater motor, and not even 2 weeks later, the motor seems to have gone again, only this time my instrument lights have gone with it (although my warning lights still work - seatbelt etc.) everything else is functioning properley,I'm currenntly in the process of scraping all my grnd wires, and checking some basic wiring connections.. the fuses are fine..

anyone have any idea on what this might be, and how to get it fixxed asap.. (its like -30 outside, i havent been able to drive fora few days now.. )

grrr · January 2005

I replaced the trailer towing plug. Still shorts. Shorts almost every time Left or Right. Hazards, cruise, wipers, work fine. I'm wondering if the multifunction switch is the culprit It's a spendy part so do not want to simply start swapping.

samstruck · February 2005

Hello. I own a 99 Ford Ranger. The other day my left turn signal stuck. Then the day after that I lost my interior panel lights and my tail lights. When I use my left hand turn signal now. It flashes like I have my emergency lights on.

I replaced the headlamp (light) switch, and checked all of my fuses. I don't know what to do and I don't want to take it in if it is possibly something that is an easy fix. Can anyone help me out?

Thanks

samstruck · February 2005

Well. I changed the bulbs of my turnsignals and replaced the turn signal flasher relay. I also found a burned out fuse in my power box in my engine and replaced that as well. I have my dash and tail lights again. BUT when I use my left turn signal, my interior panel lights and my blinker lights flash at the same time. Any ideas?

alcan · February 2005

Check for a bad ground at the left signal light sockets.

wesbarnes · February 2005

Can anyone tell me how to replace a burned out light bulb on the heater/AC blower switch? I can't get my hand behind the dash and I was wondering if the replacement is accomplished by removing the switch handle and the backplate. Appreciate any help you could give me.

stickguy · May 2005

My daughter took a gouge out of the plastic screen on my Scion (the piece that covers the CC display). I don't want to start replacing panels, so my question is:

Does anyone know of a product that can fill in scratches in plastic to make them less noticable? I recall seeing something on TV designed to repair glasses lenses, but hpe there is something that would work on IP plastic.

Any suggestions?

Mr_Shiftright · May 2005

You might try a product that is used to clean convertible top windows or motorcycle visors, but I'd sure test it first on a tiny corner of the panel. But if it's a gouge you can "catch" with your finger nail, that's a lotta filling to do and I don't think a simple light abrasive will work.

I bet there is a specific product out there, probably in the Electronics industry rather than automotive.

You might even cruise a few aircraft maintenance sites.

halser · May 2005

I have a 1997 Pontiac Gran AM with a factory Cassette/radio. What is the best way to change the light bulb for the led display. The power window attempts to go down but stops part way. After a few moments you can press the button again and the window will go the rest of the way. It also works the same way on the way up. Could this be the switch or the motor.

Mr_Shiftright · May 2005

Does the window always stop in the same place up and down?

halser · May 2005

No. Sometimes the window will move partway and after you wait a few seconds and press the button again the window will move more.

Mr_Shiftright · May 2005

Oh, okay. My guess then would be a dirty switch. See if you can pop it out and clean it with an electronic cleaner or have someone do this. It should be easy and it's worth a shot.

rgrevals · June 2005

On the way home from a long trip after a couple flickers, I suddenly lost the headlights & running lights, the horn, interior lights & gauge lights, and the power locks all at the same time !!?? Since it was dark I stopped & picked up 2 new headlight bulbs--nothing--Home now--I just changed the headlight switch--still nothing ?? The flashers, turn signals, brake lights all still work and fuses look fine ! Anyone know if that one headlight relay could possibly control all this ?? :sick: Has to be ordered so I figured I'd ask..Good thing the days are long now !! :shades: Thanks in advance for any input

dutchess1 · July 2005

I have a couple of instrument panel lights out and cannot seem to acces the back to replace them.
Also have tried from the front. any ideas.

cripalden · July 2005

Does anybody know why my 2000 gtp instrument cluster might be only flashing zeros? I have had the car for a year and can only remember a few times that it actually gave a proper reading for boost or mpg.

also, the tracion controll seems to not work either. could it be that all i have to do is replace the module (information cluster above the radio)?

chris

jkirk · July 2005

Just got a 1994 Grand Marquis. Speedometer works fine. Odometer and tripodometer do NOT work. Is this cable fed, or electronic (sensor)? Any ideas on what to check for? :confuse:

swschrad · July 2005

you're gonna like this. unlike the old days, it is considered the height of design to force you to remove the dashboard or the instrument cluster to replace the bulbs.

had a 90 ranger, cousin to your mazda, and on that series of truck, I had to pull the shifter to low, remove three or four cowling screws, and the center and left air outlets, as well as two screws under the dash. now the dash forward molding on the drivers side would sorta lift out, then up, and then up-and-out to be put in the passenger seat. take the speedometer cable off the back of the dash and pull the two wiring harness connectors, take five bolts out of the front of the speedometer area, and lift the speedo/gauge section out. put it face down on a towel, and replace something like 19 wedge bulbs with new ones, so I wouldn't have to do it again. rinse and repeat to put it back together.

you also have a different design, so these rules don't apply.

that's how it's done, and so now you'll understand why it's closer to $500 than to $300 to replace dash bulbs at the dealers. for somebody who does it several times a week or month, this is probably a couple hours work.

considering the airbag is like two sticks of dynamite right in front of your nose, do you want to do this yourself?

queenstar · July 2005

HELP!!! Last week the "Low Fuel" lite on my 1990 Chyrsler New Yorker came on, I had a FULL tank of gas too! It will not go off. Also I should mention that my Speedometer works fine but the Odometer and tripodometer do NOT work either. What should I do replace the whole thing with a new one or is it a simple problem of a fuse or something?

mrphillies · September 2005

My '99 Accord with 132,000 miles is great. Suddenly today the red dashboard lights for battery, brake light, and open doors all went on at once while driving down the highway. They are now on every time I start the car, which runs fine. Anybody have an idea what is wrong? All lights and electronics work fine, and the battery is brand new. Thanks.

swschrad · September 2005

one, the battery has a dead cell, and you're barely running. that is easily checked with a battery load test... get the charging system tested too, these are twin issues in that one acting up can mess up the other. second, there is a body module that does all sorts of collected tasks in the car, and it either has a bad signal coming to it, has a bad ground leading from it, or is failing. that could be quite a diagnostics list to check the module out.

jerry22 · October 2005

the dash lights on my 1997 Rodeo are completely dead. headlights work fine, everything else seems fine, but instrument panel lights went out about 3 weeks ago. my best guess from reading these posts is to check the fuse box. only fuse I found for that panel was in engine bay, and is a solid black square fuse - I can't tell if it's blown or not. any other suggestions to check before I buy a new one?

swschrad · October 2005

or two words: test lamp. if you can pass electricity through the fuse or circuit breaker, it isn't broken.

thirsty_waters · October 2005

My instrument panel lights and parking (running) lights went out as well as the shift indicator light on the floor shifter. All fuses appear to be good. No other problems that I have identified so far. Can't imagine that the lamp bulbs all blew at the same time, so must be something else. A short somewhere or What? Anyone having any ideas as to the problem or how to trouble-shoot, please contact.

alcan · October 2005

Any hints as to MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR?

dbetz · October 2005

My 98 Accord just had the same problem occur today. What was your problem?

Instrument Panel Problems

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles