Intermittents and Poor Connections - Instrument Cluster

Intermittent failures in electronic systems may be very difficult to detect and accurately diagnose. The instrument panel cluster tests for different malfunctions under different vehicle conditions. For this reason, a thorough test drive is often needed in order to repeat a fault condition. If the system malfunction is not repeated during the drive test, a good description of the complaint may be useful in locating an intermittent fault condition. The following faulty components cause most intermittent problems:
^ Wires
^ Connections

When you suspect an intermittent condition, inspect the suspected circuits for the following conditions:
^ Poor mating of the connector halves
^ Backed out terminals
^ Improperly formed or damaged terminals
^ Wire chafing
^ Poor wire-to-terminal connections
^ Dirty or corroded terminals
^ Damage to the connector bodies

The history DTCs indicate that the instrument cluster has previously detected a malfunction. The reason may be one of the following conditions:
^ The malfunction is intermittent.
^ The system for which the DTC is set for is not currently being operated.

Use a scan tool in order to try clearing the DTCs and manually operating the system that the DTC applies to, if the following conditions occur:
^ The instrument cluster displays history DTCs.
^ The malfunction cannot be found easily.

Read the Diagnostic Aids and Conditions for Setting the DTC in each DTC table for more specific information.

History DTCs help in diagnosing the intermittent fault conditions but do not necessarily indicate a faulty instrument cluster. Most system complaints are linked to the following conditions:
^ Faulty wiring
^ Faulty connectors
^ A component

Perform a thorough inspection of all the related wiring and connectors pertaining to the history DTC that is stored.

The following conditions may result in an intermittent instrument cluster operation using no DIC stored:
^ Any condition which results in the interruption of power to the instrument cluster
^ The battery or ignition voltage out of range (below 9.0 V or above 16.0 V)
^ A loose or damaged ground
^ An open or short on the serial data line