Rep Power: 0

I have intermittent "on & off" problem with the temperature, speedometer, tacometer, mileage counter and petrol gauge. When it is "on", everything is working fine. When it is "off", the gauges are "down" and mileage meter = blank. When it is "on" again, the mileage meter shows last registered number.
Other indicators like "door ajar", "seat-belt", etc are always working.

The service center advisor insists that the panel needs replacement with a new one. He checked my panel that there is power supply but panel not working. When he removed my panel and put in a temporary panel to test, the temporary panel works. When I asked if it means the "on&off" problem will be resolved once & for all with the new panel, he said "most likely unless it is some obscure wiring problem". He can't tell which gauge is faulty; said my panel problem is a very rare problem.

Anyone faced this problem ? How was it fixed ?

 
Rep Power: 811

what kind of car? most newer cars ive seen turn off completely and drop all the needles down.

 
Rep Power: 0

The "on&off" problem occurs when the engine is on & and I am driving. That's why it is irritating. Suddenly, you don't see yr speed, RPM/petrol at "zero" and mileage = blank. It comes back "on" by itself. There is no noticeable "trigger" like if it goes "off" when I turn on the radio or something like that. And apart from a new battery replacement (a few weeks before this On&off problem), I have not touched the electricals in the car.

 
Rep Power: 811

almost sounds like a loose wire in the harness, or a bad ground. unplug the connectors and examine both the gauge cluster pins and pull the wires to see if any are loose.

 
Rep Power: 0

I took my car to an auto electrician and give him your advice to check the harness, etc. The auto electrician still said that he is unable to find the problem and insists it is the whole instrument panel faulty. He asked me to replace it. And the intermittent problem which used to be "off" for a few minutes/seconds and "on" by itself again is lately getting worst. It is like "off" more than "on". When it is "on", I see a flash with the mileage number (still last "on" correct number). Then <10seconds later, it is "off".

Pls help give more advice. Is it really that the whole instrument panel is faulty OR still fixable problem ? I don't understand if the whole panel is with faulty circuit, why is it still tracking mileage number (last "on" number), all needles working well ? It is so frustrating when driving...

 
Rep Power: 307

If re-seating the connectors on the cluster module did not solve the problem... Then, I would have to agree with what he said. The fact that the test cluster works o.k. is also a good informative test idea that he performed.

You can get one from a junkyard (match year, body style and trim level for plug and play) The problem will be the mileage shown will be from the other cars total mileage, Could be lower could be higher.

 
Rep Power: 0

I've had this problem.
It's the cluster.
Buy yourself a new one.

 
Rep Power: 0

Where would you recommend I buy the new cluster from, other than the dealer?
Are they easy to install?

 
Rep Power: 811

ebay. pretty easy yeah. just be sure to find one with the same mileage as your car. and coupe/sedan have different lighting at night.

 
Rep Power: 0

I have a 2004 special edition (Canadian) with a 5 speed and have a very similar problem to what you described. The only difference is that the panel does not come on when I start the car, have never had it drop off while running. Did replacing the instrument cluster solve the problem? I have been hoping it is just a loose connection as it will sometimes come back on when driving and if I smack the dash above the instrument panel it will often come back on. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 
Rep Power: 182

I did a cluster swap.
From DX to LX 03-05.

Still has the same issue, but a bit different, it's more frequent, all warning lights seem to be working.
When the cluster is not working and by doing a cluster self diagnostic test, it works but only the working instruments.

As opposed to the old cluster, whenever it wouldn't work, self diagnostic test wouldn't work at all.

It seems to be a recurring issue with these clusters so probably it's the cluster itself isn't new, 200k kilometers on it, one from a recycling yard.