[s-cars] Re: Instrument Cluster elec problem?

[Eric Rechlin]

Beer, Jerald S. wrote:
> I am trying to chase down what appears to be a short in the instrument
> cluster (IC). This started recently and randomly would occur. It now
> occurs all the time.  When the running lights or headlights go on for
> the first time, the high beams come on also. If I shut off and turn
> on, headlights or running lights come on properly, but both turn
> signal indicators remain lit on the dash, and the computer screen
> for mpg, etc has no lights.

I assume you mean the indicators aren't working properly, not the lights 
themselves.  Another symptom is that when you use the turn signals, both 
indicators might flash in an alternating manner.

This is a common problem on the instrument clusters.  One of the ground wires 
is very weak near the upper edge of the IC.  If you follow the traces to the 
indicator lights that don't work properly, you will see they all go through 
the same ground trace.  I had the same problem, and I solved it by adding a 
little solder where the connection seemed weak.  Using a multimeter might 
help.

If you don't feel like soldering, a temporary solution that I found is to give 
the dashboard a good whack just above the IC.  That'll solve it for a little 
while, but building up the ground connection with some solder is a better 
solution.

Regards,

Eric Rechlin