Need info on instrument prob on '96 GT

[justin0419]

I've scanned thru the posts and it seems some others are having my same problem. My car is a 96 GT 2-door, V-6, auto, etc. My instrument needles jump around various warning lights will come on while the car is running. It's an intermittent problem. I've checked circuit continuity to the fuse and then to the instrument cluster itself. It's fine. I called an auto electrical shop because I figured there had to be a loose connection on the circuit board in the instrument cluster. I was told that since all the needles were acting up, it had to be something that the instrument cluster had in common...the ground. He said there is some type of junction down by the lower left kick panel under the dash where a lot of different ground wires are located. So now I need to find the common ground wire for the instrument cluster. I either need to know where exactly this junction is and what it looks like OR which wire on the instrument cluster harness is the common ground wire. If someone gives me the common ground wire color or location on the harness, I'll just splice into it and run a new ground somewhere else. Thanks.

[intimida]

before you go hunting for that ground wich i believe is on the transmission. try tapping on the column while the car is running in the area of the ignition switch. they were known for ignition switches losing contact or opening witch would cause all kinds of electrical concerns. also there is a recall on those ignition switches.

[justin0419]

Thanks for the info. I did have the ignition recall work done on the car this past December. It's gone nearly 10,000 miles since then with no problem until a couple weeks ago when my dash started acting up. I will try what you said about tapping on the column while it's running and see if my gauges jump around or not. I guess if that's the problem, I could just take the car back to the dealer to have the work done again.

[intimida]

when the recall is done the ignition switch is only replaced on a as needed basis.so when you had the recall done the ignition switch might not have been replaced. just the relay and harness.

[justin0419]

Intimida,
I just got back inside from messing w/ the car. I hate intermittent probs. I tapped around on the steering column and didn't come up w/ anything. But then, I messed with the ignition wires running down from the lock & tumbler. That seemed to cause the needles to move when I wiggled that wire, but not every time. So now my questions are as follows:
Do you think that wire could be the problem or was something else acting up while I was messing w/ that?
If that wire is the problem (there's 3 little wires bound together), do you think I could cut them close to the lock & tumbler on one end and the plug on the other end and just run new wires between the tumbler and plug?

I did replace the lock & tumbler a couple years ago, but like I said, I just started having problems with it a couple weeks ago.
Thanks for your help.

[intimida]

when you were moving the wires wround you probobly were also moving the contacts in the ignition swith. replace the switch. and no dont cut any wires some of them are for the theft system and work off precise resistance readings.

[justin0419]

Now I'm really mad at my car. I spent nearly $60 today on a new ignition switch for nothing. It still does the same thing. So now I get to take the stupid thing to a shop and get charged who knows how much to diagnose an electrical problem. I despise putting even a penny into making this thing run any longer. This car cannot run for over a month without developing a new problem.

[justin0419]

OK. It was the instrument cluster that was bad. I called all the bone-yards in town. Most wanted around $125 for a new cluster. I finally found one for $65. I put it in, reset the anti-theft sys., and it works like a champ.

[choirboy68]

I replaced the cluster as you did, but having problems with the theft system, ie, can't start the car. How do you reset the anti-theft system? Thanks for the info.

[justin0419]

Resetting the anti-theft sys:
Try to start the car (the anti-theft should kick in and not allow car to start).
Leave the key in the on (engine running) position for at least 10 minutes.
Shut key off and try to restart.
That's all there is to it.

[choirboy68]

Okay, I tried that, but it didn't work. What's strange is that in the old cluster the Theft Sys light doesn't even come on. On the new board everything seems to work just fine, the Theft Sys light comes on and blinks when attempting to start, but waiting 10 or more minutes to reset it doesn't reset it. Any other ideas?