Cluster Issue

[IceyVert]

So I’ve had an intermittent issue with the speedo not functioning and the brake lining light going on or off. A smack on the dash or hitting a bump would cause both to go away or come back on.

I recently swapped my steering wheel and figured I would pull the cluster. First off I noticed my battery ground wire was super loose so I actually thought that was the issue. Anyway I pulled the cluster, checked the brass nuts and didn’t notice that anything looked off. I plugged it all back in and now I have zero speedo and the brake lining light is on. Smacking it or hitting a bump has no effect. Any other wires or things I can check? I’ll prob pull the cluster tomorrow to pull the bulb but I would like to have a working speedo!! Odo and other lights and gauges work fine. Thanks!

[Gregs///M]

Since you smack the dash and it works sometimes, its most likely a failed speedometer circuit board or main circuit board. Circuit board failure is especially common with VDO clusters but do happen on the MM versions as well.

The brake lining light is powered by a transistorized circuit, meaning the cluster will need to be refurbished for this to work again. Maybe consider having the entire cluster refurbished, it will fix those issues. Also, if you leave the cluster unplugged from the car or your main starting battery dies, those 30 year old SI board batteries will never survive and soon your tach, temp, MPG, SI lights and OBC will fail and your SI board will cause a parasitic drain on the starting battery.

Above all, your cluster is tell you that its near time to have it rebuilt. Using any other used cluster will just have the same issues or worse.

[IceyVert]

Thanks! Looks like a cluster refurbish is in my future!!!