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Gauges and Dashboard


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Pyrcide
User

Jul 28, 2013, 4:30 PM

Post #1 of 12 (2035 views)
  post locked   Gauges and Dashboard  

1999 Pontiac Grand Am
133000 mileage
2.4 L 4cyl

Gauges and Accessories not working at all... This problem started shortly after taking it to the shop for a broken exhaust. Sometimes they come on 3 to 4 minutes after starting the car... now they seem to not want to come on at all... All gauges... dashboard lights still work though. Checked the fuses... IPC. BCM. ACC... Still nothing... any suggestions or help would be great.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 28, 2013, 4:52 PM

Post #2 of 12 (2028 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

Have you made any voltage measurements?





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Pyrcide
User

Jul 28, 2013, 6:25 PM

Post #3 of 12 (1997 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

I do have a volt meter... but I really don't know where to start.... this seems to be a common problem in these cars, and most likely a simple fix... I just don't know what that fix is yet...


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 29, 2013, 3:49 PM

Post #4 of 12 (1964 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

Best place to start would be checking for voltage at both sides of the fuse(s) that powers the instrument cluster.

Check for power at the 10 amp IPC/HVAC BATT fuse and the 10 amp IPC/BFC ACC fuse in the left hand dash fuse panel with the ignition turned on or engine running when the gauge are not working.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jul 29, 2013, 3:53 PM)


Pyrcide
User

Aug 7, 2013, 2:56 PM

Post #5 of 12 (1924 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

I believe it is a wiring problem behind the fuse block or an ignition switch problem... Somedays they turn on right away, some times not at all, or just go out or come on intermittantly while driving. It does seem though, if you run the wipers or heater, it seems to kill the gauges almost instantly... Wipers will still work, but heat/air control panel will not if the gauges go out. It starts pointing me in the direction of the ignition switch. Let me know what you think. Thank you


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 7, 2013, 4:15 PM

Post #6 of 12 (1918 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

Assuming and testing are two different things. Testing will probably give you better results than assuming. Have you checked power at those fuses when the problem is occuring?





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


Pyrcide
User

Aug 8, 2013, 7:14 PM

Post #7 of 12 (1905 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

I will do that, it is more off than on... but rather sponatenous... A quick qeustion though... if anyone knows. The exuast broke at the engine manifold, not too long after we bought the car... a lare bundle of cable wire runs underneath the exaust, when it broke, it fell hot, and looks possibly to may have melted some through... is this a possible culprit... let me know.. thanks again


Pyrcide
User

Aug 14, 2013, 6:50 PM

Post #8 of 12 (1883 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

so far things check out... it an obvious electrical problem with the cluster panel, anytime I flip on the heat of defrost - bam the gauges go out... this problem has to be narrowed down... someone im sure has experienced it or knows about it


Pyrcide
User

Aug 20, 2013, 6:13 PM

Post #9 of 12 (1859 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

Know one has ant ideas on this matter? Any help is aprrecatied


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 20, 2013, 6:33 PM

Post #10 of 12 (1858 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

We don't repair cars from past experiences. We systematically track down issues through wiring schematics.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Pyrcide
User

Mar 5, 2014, 10:22 AM

Post #11 of 12 (1650 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

The car is fixed, It was the ignition switch as I had assumed. I had it taken to a shop, because working on cars in -12 degree weather isn't something I am fond of. Thanks for everyones input, Consider this case closed.


(This post was edited by Pyrcide on Mar 5, 2014, 10:25 AM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Mar 5, 2014, 10:45 AM

Post #12 of 12 (1645 views)
  post locked   Re: Gauges and Dashboard  

Question closed as solved.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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