Dashboard dials and gauges ceased working- Phase 1

[chris blue]

Driving yesterday, and noticed petrol gauge was zero, then noticed temperature gauge was zero, and rev counter and Speedometer dials not working

Indicator and the lights are working and illuminated on dashboard- and its not speed gearbox cable problem (Ive checked) as that would not cause the gauges to fail

Saving searching for ages on here and google, anyone give me a heads up on the problem?

Otherwise, its fuse checking time i spose

I did notice that when i turn the sidelights on, the dials twitch for a split second, but dont come on.

Old cars are great fun. great noise, but the problems do start mounting up......

TIA

 

[chris blue]

So- if anyone has a similar problem in future:

1. Have completed the dash dial check process and all dials dead as Dodo
2. Indicators, immobiliser light, and Headlamp on warning lamps still work, so ruling out Grounding earth issue atm
3. Checked for fault codes- none, although i only have a basic HHT
4. Checked all passenger door fuses- all look OK after visual check- wonder which one does dashboard gauges

TO DO:

Check engine bay fuses, especially 60A jobs
Remove top dash, remove instrument cluster and replace

POINTS:

When i turn the sidelights on, you can hear a relay click, and the speedo and rev counter pointers jump about a millimetre. Its the only movement I can get out of them. Makes me think the dials are still working and its lack of power supply. Am i wrong in that guess?

 

[Bluebeard]

My Ph1 dials (in a 182 converted Mk1) did this and it was my gearbox earth strap. It actually did it again this morning I need to buy a new one.
but I undo it, quick flash with a wire brush and back in and it’s golden. Worth a shot.
I do have a spare set of Ph1 clocks if you want to try them?

 

[Clio_fool]

After googling for a couple of seconds the general fix I found was a replacement dial cluster.

 

[chris blue]

After googling for a couple of seconds the general fix I found was a replacement dial cluster.

Ha!

Yes, thats the final thing to try. £30 ebay. But then It would be a bit stupid not to check everything else first anyway, it could be the UCH N'est pa?

 

[chris blue]

My Ph1 dials (in a 182 converted Mk1) did this and it was my gearbox earth strap. It actually did it again this morning I need to buy a new one.
but I undo it, quick flash with a wire brush and back in and it’s golden. Worth a shot.
I do have a spare set of Ph1 clocks if you want to try them?

If it was earth strap, wouldnt the immobilser, indicators and headlamps not work too?

But i will check it out, Thanks

 

[Bluebeard]

If it was earth strap, wouldnt the immobilser, indicators and headlamps not work too?

But i will check it out, Thanks

My whole dash went mental. Temp gauge was reading backwards, rev gauge was erratic, Speedo stopped working etc.

 

[chris blue]

Checked the earth strap from gearbox to chassis. Looks fine and solid. Dont know whether its worth removing to clean it up, but seems solid as said
Located passenger side, front of gearbox as you look from radiator down to front of passenger wheel arch.

Have removed the top dash (3 top torx screws by air vents running along base of windscreen, 2 more either end of dash above fuse box lid, and had to remove the steering cowling 3 long screws from underneath, which you then remove to see 4 torx holding the instrument cluster in place

Disconnected 2 DIN plugs from bhind the cluster and replaced- didnt achieve anything
Beginning to wonder if its the UCH/ECU or a fuse/relay I havent found

Now to decide whether to splash out on another instrument cluster, then just to find thats not the problem?

 

[Clio_fool]

I'd try another cluster before trying to find another ecu/uch for a phase 1. Wouldn't a uch fault affect other things like lights too?

 

[barnesautos]

There should be at least 5 power circuits to the plugs
3 in 1
2 in other
Have you those ??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[chris blue]

There should be at least 5 power circuits to the plugs
3 in 1
2 in other
Have you those ??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Will get a tester on tomorrow. Thanks

 

[chris blue]

Will get a tester on tomorrow. Thanks

couldnt track down any 12 volt charge, but it was fiddly with me tester.
However, the immobilser light was happily flashing away, then when i pulled the DIN plug the light stopped
Does that count

Will do another check of every fuse i can find (Had problems getting them all out in engine bay) then just risk it and spend on another cluster set

After that- jiggery knows

 

[chris blue]

OK. If anyone has the similar problem of all dials and gauges disappearing:

POST#2 Point 4:

15amp fuse, top left, 2nd down marked STOP
Decided to check every fuse for a 2nd time b4 spending on a new cluster set, and hey, after scrutinising the fuse mentioned, I noticed a tiny little hairline fracture, with a tiny little bit of discoloured silver. That was it- all that hassle it was a sodding fuse I had already checked. It was difficult to see mind. Wish they did a little contraption that you could plug a blade fuse in, you press a button, and a sound happens to indicate it is a good fuse.

Anyway, positives: Didnt spend £30 on new cluster, now have the top dash off and will probably BLACK Plastidip to get rid of windscreen glare (Flocking looks cheap n nasty imo) and also when dismantling the cluster screen, put a bit of precisely cut sticky black tape over the orange SERV light which has been on for 5 years since i bought Clio. LOL.

Other than that, what a bloody wind up for a sodding fuse

Still- £600 to be spent on reconditioning the gearbox next!