Electrical problem

Hello all, this is in regards to my g/f's best friends car, i will be taking a look at it this weekend and would like to know where to start. I am a honda guy and know hondas inside out i know nothing about domestics. The problem is the radio and cluster gauges do not work, sometimes they will work for 5-10 seconds after car is started then they die. Car runs fine otherwise. I would think its not a fuse since they sometimes work for short periods of time.
Any ideas?

sine it wont let me edit my post i will post this info here, it is a late 90's alero.

Welcome to AF !

I would check the battery and the cable that runs to the fuse box under the hood. ALso check thiers no corrosion.

Its probly not a fuse or they wouldnt work at all.

If the battery terminal and wires/connections are clean/tight I would think it's a short in the cluster or a bad ignition switch. Here is a link to test the ignition switch.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=715987

Thier's also other helpfull info in the Tips and Maintenance section.

i am having a similar problem with my 93 Olds Cutlass Supreme. the digital dash turns on, but it doesn't work at all. the numbers spaz out all the time and i can never see how fast i'm going, how many miles are on the car, or how much gas i have left. what is the problem? could it have to do with corroded wires from the battery, or something else?