Gauges go out intermittently on 97

[jwernette]

Please help, my Gauges will not work when the temp outside is below 75 degrees. I am an Electrical engineer and know that current flows greater as the temp increases. Now that fall and winter are approaching the gauges never work. The dash lights work fine but the Tach, Speedo, voltmeter, oilpressure all read as if off, however the temp guage will read about 70-80 degrees above norm. I have switched the three relays in the glovebox and no change, granted I just moved one to the other and never put a new one in. I asked the local Mech. and he just say I need a whole new cluster. I find this hard to believe especially with the quote he gave me for a new cluster.

[Mikado14]

I too am an electronics engineer. However, you problem could be two things. Metal also expands and contracts with temperature. You may need to look for a bad ground or a poor pin connection on the back of the cluster plug.

[BlazerLT]

yip, what he said.

Tace all wiring for loose contacts.

[BlackBlazOn]

had the same problem in my 97 LS vortec. just give the dash a good hit with your hand, and the gauges should come to life. oh, and by the way, i'm a mechanical engineer.

[BlazerLT]

lol,

[thejacobhartman]

i had a similar prob on a 2000 cavalier. i used a dental pick on the harnesses to tighten up the connections and it has worked fine since

[Mikado14]

What he said.

I have a whole set of dental picks that get used quite often just for that!