digital mileage & rpm reader comes on and off - any one know why??

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digital mileage & rpm reader comes on and off - any one know why?? 1996 seabring conv.

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fuegofan
12-16-2004, 10:55 PM
I found the problem, apparently common on this model. On the circuit board behind the dash display there are three resistors soldered so close to the circuit board that they overheat it. After time, the solder joints lose their integrity. The mileage is recorded correctly elsewhere in the vehicle, but the tach and odometer display becomes intermittent.

I easily repaired the board with help from an electronics-savvy friend. I replaced all three resistors (two big 12-ohms and a smaller 13-ohm one). The autopsy showed they were not actually bad, just their connections to the board. I resoldered the replacements farther off the board to allow air to circulate better. The displays work fine now.

It's not difficult to get to the circuit board behind the dash. You have to be gentle and patient in removing the various plastic trim parts. You will need a phillips screwdriver, a proper-sized torx screwdriver and a soldering iron. Cost for 3 new but unneeded resistors from an electronics store (not Radio Shack) was $2. Good luck!

Tried the above fix by simply adding solder to the resistors (it is real obvious which ones they are especially when you see the joints) worked perfectly. Would advise using this fix instead of replacing gauge cluster because you eventually will get the same problem. Better to know how to fix it. Only costs solder.