Gauge Cluster (Tach) not working

[stonea]

My gauge cluster isn't working. First off my Spedo or Odometer doesn't work, but I'm guessing that can be fixed with new gears. My fog light thing doesn't light up, but I'm guessing that thats just a bulb. The part that stumps me is my Tach. A new one came with the car when I bought it, but when I swapped it out it didn't work at first then it did, but was off. It said idle was at 4k. Then it finally started to work, but then it shortly didn't. Any ideas of what the problem could be or how I could fix it.

Thanks in advance.

-Stone

[dnguyen1963]

Check your SI board/batteries. One or both could be dead.

[stonea]

Is this a common problem, because both gauge clusters didn't work and had the same problem. I thought it had to do with something outside the cluster because they both didnt work. Did I just get unlucky in the fact that both of my clusters didn't work/had bad SI boards?

[jlevie]

A cluster with old batteries won't tolerate being without power for very long. If the replacement cluster sat on the shelf for a while the chances of it's batteries still being good are pretty slim.

[fronton]

Is 5 days for a cluster on a shelf long enough to hose the batteries? If just the tach isn't working can that still mean the SI batteries? Does the small green single pin connection have to do with the tach? or is it speed signal?

[Gregs///M]

Is 5 days for a cluster on a shelf long enough to hose the batteries? If just the tach isn't working can that still mean the SI batteries? Does the small green single pin connection have to do with the tach? or is it speed signal?

5 days yes for batteries that are original. Non working tach only can still be dead SI batteries. The small green connector on the rear of the speedo is for cruise control speed signal.

[fronton]

ah, thanks for the cruise clarification

[stonea]

Well I think I'll just bite the bullet and get a new cluster. My odometer and spedo don't work so I'll have to get new gears and SI batteries so it make more sense to me to just buy a new cluster.

[dllance]

My tach and temp gauge just died and two of the service light came on all at the same time. any ideas??

Thanks,
Darren

[Gregs///M]

My tach and temp gauge just died and two of the service light came on all at the same time. any ideas??

Thanks,
Darren

Dead SI board batteries

[dllance]

thank you sir

[boosted_E30]

Check your #12 fuse

[e30construction]

instead of buying a whole new board u could have greg rebuilds yours and keep it all original

[timofeylbelarus]

my tach and my temp gauge don't work while everything else works fine, i pulled the SI board out and checked the voltage on the batteries and it read 2.93 each, is that good?

[Gregs///M]

my tach and my temp gauge don't work while everything else works fine, i pulled the SI board out and checked the voltage on the batteries and it read 2.93 each, is that good?

No, good is 3.25V, bad is 3.0V or lower.