Thread: instrument cluster problems...

tonight i was driving my car and all of a sudden the instrument panel starts to flicker and i am hearing a clicking noise, then the light and everything just stopped working (instrument panel/cluster) the car runs fine obviously but the clutster isnt working for some reason. neither are my turn signal lights.

with my acc on and engine off the light for the clock is on but the clock isnt on.

anyone have any ideas of whats wrong?

if there was a clicking it may just be a relay...

yeah like a clicking noise coming from the lower left where all the fuses are at leasst thats where it sounded like it was coming from.

they also come on and off from time to time.

the rear tail lights go off when this happens also

sound like relay?

Start with fuses as usual then jump to relays if that doesn't solve the problem try another cluster from a friend.

i checked all the fuses and they are all good. now onto relays whats the best way to check relays?

also if it were a bad cluster would it effect the turn signals coming on or the rear tail lights? i would think if it were a bad cluster it would effect just the clutster icould be wrong tho

also, when the light come back on, and the clicking noise is there, i am getting the brake and battery light on

i noticed my voltage on my turbo timer was saying 10.9v to 11v could this be a ALT problem?

i also noticed that my heater isnt blowing and my hazards arent working basicly no dast lights or acc are working.

the car starts and runs fine, and i get headlights but no taillights or anything

is there a relay that effects all of the thingsi have said?

I'm willing to bet it's a fuse somewhere. Likely could be one under the hood as well. Sounds like something shorted in the dash and (naturally) blew a fuse. The question is what one. Remember, test each one for continuity. Looking at it won't always tell you if it's bad. If you doubt a fuse at all, for any reason, just replace it to rule it out.

On the B15's, the tail lights and cluster lights use 1 fuse. Located under the hood. I think it was just called the tail light fuse?

edit: Did you recently do any install of a car stereo or mess with your stereo?

Once, In my 92 B13 both of my battery terminals hit the hood at the same time causing the harness running off of my alternator to catch on fire. While this was happening my cluster was "clicking" and after my tach did not work. I pulled the cluster and the back was burnt. I replaced my harness and my cluster and all was fixed. Sounds to me like something shorted out and possibly destroyed your cluster. Check your alternator and all wiring around that first. Also, even though your car runs on a 12v system and has a 12v battery the alternator should produce around 13.0-13.5v but no more than 14v or your battery will boil. Hope this helps.