Dash Gauges all stopped working!!

[gramgramfirey]

After filling my 98 GU ST Wagon on the way to work this morning, l noticed that none of the dash Gauges were working.
No speed, temp, tacho or fuel gauges. Also the odometer has reverted back to zero.
Checked fuse, all good. Seems a bit of a coincidence all not working. After market cruise still works, so speed scensor is fine.
Can anyone assist with my dillema...

[04OFF]

check your earths in the engine bay , battery and engine earth strap, make sure they are clean and tight

[MEGOMONSTER]

I think I remember some one putting in an extra earth or changed a position of an earth or upgraded the earth strap to fix a similar problem. But I can't be sure.

[TimE]

Same happened to me a little while ago, it was a blown fuse. Can't remember which one, just check them all.

I had been fidling with the reverse camera wiring and obviously shorted a wire.

[gramgramfirey]

Thanks for your help chaps, but alas, no cigar.
Cleaned all earth connections l could find in rhe engine bay, even added extras.
Checked every fuse in the engine bay and under dash, all good.
Not sure what to check next.

[Yendor]

It should be fuse 28 in the fusebox inside the vehicle. Try swapping this fuse with another fuse.

[gramgramfirey]

Thanks Yendor, will do.
Just been reading the thread from mutnut about testing dash gauges, very intersting but involved.

[gramgramfirey]

That`s the fuse marked "meter"....yep changed that one, still no gauges....:-(

[gramgramfirey]

I think I`ll pull out the cluster and check some of the connections behind there.
Just guessing really, but gotta try something!

[Yendor]

Does your reverse light still work?

Have you checked that you have power on both sides of fuse 28 with the ignition on?

[Yendor]

If fuse 28 is not blown and your reverse light works try this reset then.

Remove fuse 24 for a couple of minutes, refit the fuse then check gauges.

[gramgramfirey]

Thanks for your assistance Yendor, but alas, no good.
Have reverse light ok, removed said fuse for 5 minutes.
Still no gauges. :-(

[Yendor]

Bugger your not making this easy LOL

All I've got left is try disconnecting the battery for half an hour. If still no good then try disconnecting the instrument cluster for half an hour. While the instrument cluster is disconnected check the power and earth to the cluster.

[gramgramfirey]

Yep, lifes a bitch ain`t it Yendor. lol. Already done the battery disconnect with no luck.
At the weekend when l have more time I`ll pull the cluster out and have a sqiz. Cheers for now. Will let you know how l go.

[gramgramfirey]

Pulled out gauge cluster. today. Checked power in, fine. Checked earths, fine. Can`t really see anything obvious.
Ordered a gauranteed S/H cluster to go in.
Hopefully that may fix it.

[gramgramfirey]

Low fuel warning lamp works still...

[gramgramfirey]

Received used cluster. Installed, everything worked except speedo, odometer worked. Odometer reading was different.
Talking to some Ebay members and thought was to change ICs From old to new.
I think the reason why all the gauges stopped was that the power supply failed that regulates the 12 volts to 5 volts to run the gauges. So why not take the voltage regulater from the new cluster and fit to old one.
That way i won`t have to find reason why speedo doesnt work and can leave the ICs in place.
(The Ic apparently holds all info like odometer, radio codes etc)
Talk about a crash coarse in GU clusters.
But, very interesting and I will report on results when done.

[Yendor]

How did you go with this?

[gramgramfirey]

Hey Yendor, haven`t had the chance to do yet. When I do I`ll let you know how it goes.
Cheers

[Yendor]

That'll be great, thanks mate. If possible can you take some photos too :D

[gramgramfirey]

If it doesn`t rain, it pours.
3 weeks after installing S/H cluster.....nothing. All gauges stopped AGAIN.
Yendor, I give up, have sent both clusters to local,(Albury) specialist, Albury Speedo Specialists.
Talking to the owner, Mark, he says this is a common problem.
Hopefully he`ll sort it out for me.
Will Report on outcome.
Very frustrating and thanks for your interest and help.

[mudnut]

Just as a precaution, check your wiring harness from the alternator, fuse panel and battery, to make sure all the connections are good, as a voltage spike could be causing the clusters to fail.

[gramgramfirey]

Mudnut, you are correct. IC burnt out due to power spike.
Going to put better battery terminals and spike arrestors on BOTH Batteries. Hopefully that will solve the problem.
Auto Elec is also doing a mod to the cluster, Ill find out details and post.
Cheers for now.

[gramgramfirey]

Finally Sorted.
IC chip had burnt out. Replaced with more robust chip, recalibrated and checked, reinstalled...all good.
Cost $200 inc tax.
Albury Speedo Services. Mark seemed to be a pretty swithed on guy and knew his stuff. He does a lot of mail in work from all over the place and is willing to help anyone with any dash/speedo problems.
02 6040 1176 0438 407 779
Thanks to all those who offered assistance during my second of need. Yendor and Mudnut, cheers

[mudnut]

Thanks for the feedback. It's fantastic that you were able to get the problem fixed at a reasonable cost.