Help! Instrument cluster going batty
03-08-2010, 10:14 AM
#1
DTR 1st Sergeant
Thread Starter
Help! Instrument cluster going batty
This is an area I know nothing about.
It started with the oil pressure gauge. Every once in a while, right after startup, I'd hear a "ding" and the check gauge light comes on and oil pressure needle goes to zero. Sometimes it came right back up, other times I had to shut off the truck, restart and all is good.
Then, driving along and the alternator gauge goes to zero and I get a CEL for overvoltage at the battery. The alternator is doing fine, as one can tell from the headlights (no dimming). So this happens not too often, but in clusters where it will go off an on several times in short order, then not have a problem for days.
Now, my speedo acts like it is on crack where it jerks back and forth, usually about 5-10 mph then settles to normal, works fine for a while then does it again... back and forth... it's good, it's not good.
So, what gives here?
It started with the oil pressure gauge. Every once in a while, right after startup, I'd hear a "ding" and the check gauge light comes on and oil pressure needle goes to zero. Sometimes it came right back up, other times I had to shut off the truck, restart and all is good.
Then, driving along and the alternator gauge goes to zero and I get a CEL for overvoltage at the battery. The alternator is doing fine, as one can tell from the headlights (no dimming). So this happens not too often, but in clusters where it will go off an on several times in short order, then not have a problem for days.
Now, my speedo acts like it is on crack where it jerks back and forth, usually about 5-10 mph then settles to normal, works fine for a while then does it again... back and forth... it's good, it's not good.
So, what gives here?
03-08-2010, 11:32 AM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: South Alabama
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The first place I'd start looking is grounds. Especially the cluster grounds. It could be the cluster controller going out but since it works normally sometimes I'm betting on a loose connection.
03-09-2010, 11:34 AM
#6
DTR 1st Sergeant
Thread Starter
Btw, it is now getting worse. Speedo is jumping from dead zero to 75mph even though I am doing about 35-40. Then it is fine for a while and starts up again.... gremlins!
03-09-2010, 11:37 AM
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Cape Coral, FL
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The tach on my 06 does that jumping around stuff. Seems to like taking off about 500 rpm and then jumps back to normal. It's constantly bouncing around no matter what the actual rpm is. I just learned to ignore it for now.
Trending Topics
03-09-2010, 07:50 PM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 2,731
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Batteries that are not functioning properly can cause funky things to happen at times, tho.
Does it occur in certain situations, i.e. particular speeds, bumpy roads, headlights on/off, etc?
03-10-2010, 11:44 AM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Midlothian, TX
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know you said the batteries were good but i have seen many weird instrument cluster gremlins come from bad battery or batteries. The truck would actually start fine too.
03-11-2010, 02:55 PM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 2,731
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's difficult to troubleshoot electrical gremlins over the computer from the other side of the country, but...
I'm guessing chafed, nicked, and/or loose wire connection somewhere in the dash.
or a defective instrument cluster.
My second thought, which you may or may not have tried already, could you possible have any aftermarket electronics interfering with something?
If nothing else, it's a free bump for 'ya.
I'm guessing chafed, nicked, and/or loose wire connection somewhere in the dash.
or a defective instrument cluster.
My second thought, which you may or may not have tried already, could you possible have any aftermarket electronics interfering with something?
If nothing else, it's a free bump for 'ya.
03-13-2010, 06:04 AM
#15
Registered User
Get on car-parts.com and grab a used junk yard cluster for about $75-200 bucks. If it works, great (but your mileage won't match). If it doesn't then throw the cluster back up on craigslist for what you paid for it...