At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.
My tachometer, fuel, and temperature gauges go dead while driving with no apparent cause. I had an aftermarket direct input iPod jack installed at Best Buy prior to this problem starting. It doesn't happen with any regularity, so no pattern to speak of. If i shut the car off for a few seconds, then restart it, they work fine for a while.
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
Temperature-Related Issue:
Some Scion xB owners have reported similar issues during cold weather. When the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the cluster may exhibit flashing behavior, and the fuel gauge and tachometer might stop working.
A common theory links this issue to the engine control unit (ECU) being affected by the cold. Once the car warms up, the flashing typically stops, and the gauges resume functioning.
Faulty Wiring or Connections:
Check all the wiring connections related to the instrument cluster. Ensure that there are no loose or damaged wires.
Inspect the wire harness near the battery area. Sometimes, a loose cold air intake (CIA) can rub against the wire harness, causing issues.
Verify that there are no fault codes stored in the ECU that could be affecting the cluster.
Moisture or Condensation:
Moisture inside the cluster can lead to erratic behavior. If you suspect this, consider removing the cluster and cleaning it thoroughly with an electric cleaner.
Pay attention to any signs of corrosion or water damage on the circuit board or connectors.
Faulty Cluster Unit:
If other troubleshooting steps don't yield results, it's possible that the instrument cluster itself is faulty.
Some Scion xB owners have resolved similar issues by replacing their clusters with units from a junkyard.
VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) Issues:
Plug a good scanner into the OBD II port and configure it to report the vehicle's speed as detected by the VSS.
If the scanner shows 0 MPH while driving, the VSS might be causing the speedometer to malfunction.
Remember that diagnosing and fixing electrical issues can be complex. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, consider seeking professional assistance from a qualified mechanic or an auto repair shop.
Sounds like the sending unit has an intermittent short to ground. Unhook the the wire from the sending unit, and see if the needle stops jumping around. If it quits jumping around, replace the sending unit. If it still jumps around, you have a bare spot somewhere on the wire and it is hitting ground which will cause the needle to jump. Cut out the bad part of the wire and splice in a new section. That should fix it.
ffixkick.com see sensor test page. if the tachometer in dash is dead, then you lost power to the dash. check fuses. if the they failed 1 by one, then maybe they did? there are 2 easy tests to find the cause. coolant http://www.fixkick.com/sensors/tests/Guage-coolant-test.html
connection on the back of the dash needs cleaning if you push on the dash and it all works then this is the fault. sometimes hitting it works just fine for awhile but not to hard.
This problem is due to a failure of the electronics that drive these gauge displays. What must be done is to have the instrument cluster removed from the car and sent out to a factory approved repair center for repair and upgrades. This is a common issue on the van
check the fuses. they are under the back seat just pull up on the lower part of the back seat and it will come out. fuse box is on the drivers side. check to see if water is getting in that could be the cause.
Check fuse No. 9 (10A) in the driver's side kick panel fuse box. But if your other gauges are working (speedometer, tachometer, low oil light, etc.) then it is possible that when you jumped the battery you inadvertently reversed the cables and created a reverse voltage. This will impact some of the vehicle electronics. If you feel this might be the case, you should test the cooling system temperature sender to see if it failed. If it did, you should suspect that the fuel gauge drive circuit located in the instrument cluster is also failed.
×