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Electrical Gremlins

Where my mileage should be it says ERROR instead of the mileage and also says SERVICE below the speed. It's been like that since I bought the car, anyone know what I can do to fix this? The previous owner said that the cluster had been taken out before to replace the bulbs.
On another note, the speed indicator didn't used to light up, but it has been lately. The other two info displays still don't light up, but the center one does now. I was told the bulbs needed to be replaced, but I guess that's not the truth with the center. I guess I'll find out if it's the truth for the others when I get around to pulling the cluster. Another thing is that sometimes I can start the car and the oil pressure gauge doesn't work. The oil icon blinks like there isn't any oil pressure, but restarting the car fixes this. The equalizer doesn't work, but lights up (although this doesn't bother me that much as the radio still functions). You can also hear some kind of electrical interference (short?) through the speakers when you turn the ignition over and when turning on or bothering anything electrical in the car (IE: Rolling the windows up or down). This occurs until you actually turn the radio on, then nothing but music and the sound of static when turning the volume  (short), but you don't hear the interference anymore. Everything in the car is stock btw.
Everything else works fine, dash lights, radio, clock, PS, power mirrors, but the things I mentioned are bothering me. Any help or ideas are greatly appreciated.

Devin
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Electrical Gremlins

Reply #1
im surprised no on has jumped on this one yet.  My diy link has cluster troubleshooting steps for the full digi cluster to help get you started. Ill make some time to dig in tomorrow.

the service light is easy,, just hit trip set / reset buttons at the same time until you hear a few beeps.  Hold buttons until the beeps stop.  This is a reminder to service your car.

your going to have to pull the cluster and verify connections are made perfect as well as verify bulbs are good.  There is a step by step in my diy link for this as well but like they say, pictures are worth more.  You will probably cure most of your issues with bulbs,, the error code in place of the Mileage, ill have to look that one up because it doesnt seem familiar to me.

For the EQ issues,, the top button often fails to turn on the EQ. Many of us have found out the eq works if you hold the button in.  temp fix is to stick or wedge a piece of toothpic in between the button and the case to keep the button pushed in all the time.

Electrical Gremlins

Reply #2
Quote from: jcassity;252942
im surprised no on has jumped on this one yet.  My diy link has cluster troubleshooting steps for the full digi cluster to help get you started. Ill make some time to dig in tomorrow.

the service light is easy,, just hit trip set / reset buttons at the same time until you hear a few beeps.  Hold buttons until the beeps stop.  This is a reminder to service your car.

your going to have to pull the cluster and verify connections are made perfect as well as verify bulbs are good.  There is a step by step in my diy link for this as well but like they say, pictures are worth more.  You will probably cure most of your issues with bulbs,, the error code in place of the Mileage, ill have to look that one up because it doesnt seem familiar to me.

For the EQ issues,, the top button often fails to turn on the EQ. Many of us have found out the eq works if you hold the button in.  temp fix is to stick or wedge a piece of toothpic in between the button and the case to keep the button pushed in all the time.


Kinda forgot about this thread. I tried holding trip set/reset buttons at the same time, but it didn't seem to do anything. I guess I could try it once again, but I've tried about 3 times and I've got nothing so far. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, leave it to me to screw up one of the easiest things on the planet. Haven't had a chance to pull the cluster yet due to time constraints. I think the EQ may be dead or unhooked, can't be sure until I pull it. Did you ever figure anything out on the mileage/error deal? I've been both sick and busy lately so the only things I've really accomplished are changing the oil, replacing the air filter, and cleaning the cat a little. Still bent on cleaning the engine, any suggestions?
As always, thanks for the help.
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Electrical Gremlins

Reply #3
I saw no reply , figured you went away.  I have my shop manuals up in my office and I will see what is up with the Error in place of mileage.  This will be a new one on me.  no one has asked this question before.

Electrical Gremlins

Reply #4
Yeah, I've been pretty busy for the past month or so. But now I'm back on top of the cat! Hopefully I can find a fix for it, but it's not as important as just getting it to display something other than error. I wouldn't mind knowing the mileage, but if all is lost in that venture I'd like to atleast reset it somehow.
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Electrical Gremlins

Reply #5
chassis electrical Part 1 of 2 vol B

chapter 33-05-46
Troubleshooting step SJ0

Per your symptom, Error displayed with a service light on............

Action-replace speedo module.

this is one of those "your scewed" problems.  Having the service light on has nothing to do with simply hitting trip set / reset apparently.  Its a combined code so the service light combined with error means replace module.

Many of us have spare modules but when you replace your module, you might inherit the letter "S" dead middle bottom of your replacement.

You can always go to my diy link and follow the diagnostic steps for the speedo itself. I'll bet you just need to replace it.