91 riviera dash lights flickering

[shellycom]

1991 Riviera....I haven't found anything in my search coming close to this same problem.

After starting the car, the electrical problem light comes on and the gages and speedometer start flickering.

After the initial flickering of 5-10 minutes, EVERY instrument panel light starts flickering and just stay on...looks kinda like a colorful christmas tree.

If and when the lights aren't flickering, if I hit the trip meter button, that will cause the entire flickering process to begin.

i'm looking for a starting point to narrow down the cause.

funds are low so having a professional check the electrical is not an option at this time.

any recommendations or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

shelly and arty

[TheSilentChamber]

I have a 90 riv with similar problem, seems to be a defect with them. Mine just shows electrical problem all the time- no flickering. No instruments work as well as the air/heat doesnt work. I'v traced the entire wiring harness and such in mine and never came up with anything. Guessing its just a problem with the electronic gauge cluster itself- as I have seen this many many times.

[superman0604]

My mom used to drive a riviera that did the exact same thing. Dont thing there is much you can do. Have you tried banging on it?

[curtis73]

Have any of you tried checking the ground for the dash? The dash is probably controlled from one relay. If its not getting the right voltage the relay will click on and off.

[shellycom]

have not tried banging on it with heavy object yet...will leave that option open for now.

I can use an ohm’s meter to check for the correct voltage I’m assuming. Will my hayne’s manual tell me what the correct voltage should be and which relay controls the dash?

Pardon me if I sound ignorant but I know so very little (basically nothing really) about cars and the forums have helped me to figure stuff out in the past. So thanks to all of you forum guys…and gals too.

shelly

[shellycom]

Originally Posted by curtis73

Have any of you tried checking the ground for the dash? The dash is probably controlled from one relay. If its not getting the right voltage the relay will click on and off.

apparently it's not getting the right voltage because i do hear clicking. but it sounds like one click is near the front passenger side of the engine and about 15 seconds later there's a second click somewhere around the air conditioner cannister. i'm assuming that must be where the relay is located but still need to check. i don't know if this is a coincidence, but the problem started right about the same time the air conditioner was retrofitted. and too the dash lights do get more erratic when i turn the air conditioner on.

concerning the clicking....there's one click then a second click about 15 seconds later then it repeats about every 30 seconds or so.

i will have to have a mechanic check the voltage at the relay. i don't know how to do that.

thanks for the tip. it narrowed down the troubleshooting process by a lot!