Dead Gauge Cluster

[markd248]

Currently my tachometer, Economy Gauge, and Temperature Gauge are all dead. I'm having trouble figuring this one out, here's what happened:

My tach and economy went dead in December, so I diagnosed this as a SI board issue. I pulled the board and kept driving the car. After pulling the cluster again a few weeks later (to fix the odo gears) the temperature gauge died. So I've been driving the car like this for a few months without the right half of the cluster working. I recently purchased a new SI board with fresh batteries. I installed that today and still have all of the same issues. No SI lights when the key is on the accessory position either.

So far I've replaced the fuses (21, 10, 6, and 2), the SI board, and SI board batteries. Any ideas?



Also, my interior lights and radio recently stopped working on the same day. I figure this is unrelated, but might not be. Thanks in advance.

[Gregs///M]

Try checking or replacing fuse 12, its for the antenna and radio, OBC, and speedometer/indicators. Also double check fuse 10, and 21 while your in there.

Be sure your coding plug is seated into the face of the cluster and there are no bent pins.

[markd248]

Fuse 12 was replaced when I did the others, I forgot to mention that. All fuses in the fusebox are 100% good.

The coding plug was seated and there were no bent pins. Any other ideas? I'm guessing it's something with the wiring between the fusebox and the cluster, do people have better ideas of where to start looking?

[Gregs///M]

I would check for power at the back of the cluster then.

The following wire should have 12V when ignition is on.
C2 (white plug) - Grn/wht,
C1 (blue plug) - Grn/wht, red/grn

In addition, all brown wires from the cluster harnesses should show continuity with chassis ground.

Also check this thread to make sure SI board is not damaged

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?p=3676570

[markd248]

So in a strange turn of events the temp gauge, interior lights, and radio all work now. I didn't do anything different yesterday.


The tach/mpg gauge is still dead and the SI lights come on intermittently. Generally turning off before I turn the car over. This is one of your refurb'd boards Greg, so I'm assuming that it is not the culprit. Could it be a dead tach gauge? Is there a certain pin I should be directing my attention to? Also, how do I test the pins in the plug? It's too thin.

[Gregs///M]

To test the wiring at the plug, you will have to strip back some insulation or probe through with a sharp probe.

I would also verify the fuse 10, 12, and 21 did not blow again, which a wiring short can cause. Make sure those are new fuses and not old 20+ year old ones. Fuses can develop micro cracks which can expand with heat and current causing intermittent power.

Also might be worth it to check that the SI board was not damaged by using the incorrect screws on the face, if you put the trim panel on. This is a very common damage.

Worse comes to worse, you can send your cluster to us to be tested as a whole. Just pay return shipping and I'll test and evaluate free of charge.