Gages on and off while driving [2000 2.2]

[cloned]

My Car is a 2000, Sunfire, 2.2
So recently I have been encountering a rather annoying issue where my gages will periodically stop working while driving (Temp, gas are the major ones but also my speedometer occasionally). I checked the fuses and they seem ok and the car still runs fine so I imagine its something else but I am not really sure where to start.

In an effort to educate myself I am looking for a place to start to fix it myself. I was hoping to find a decent diagram of the engine area where I might find wiring, etc but I am coming up with very little (or my googlingskills are lacking)

Any initial assistance is greatly appreciated.

 

[svrwthr]

I had/have the same issue too but the car is not currently running. I did take the cluster out and try it in my other identical sunfire and it worked. I put it back in where it came out and everything was on when I flipped the key. But I cannot be positive that it isn't intermittent still until I finish up the work I presently am doing to where it is drivable. But I think it may be an issue with the plug behind the instrument cluster. It is up high in the middle and the dash lays on it. I will get back to you once present work is complete. Maybe others have insight on the issue.

 

[cloned]

I guess I should ask the basic question.

What would cause gauges to periodically stop working besides fuses? I am really hoping to not have to tear apart my dash to get to the Gauge Cluster.

 

[svrwthr]

The guy I work with says the ecm (computer) wouldn't be the cause but I doubt him. The car I have, the person hit a curb or something on the computer side. It could be one of many things. Loose connectors at the computer or instrument cluster, or both. I doubt it's a fuse. Could be a bad instrument cluster. Either way you're going to have to take the dash out. I didn't want to go there either but it is actually not that hard.

- Pop the side door trim out leading down your door to front window.
- Pop the forward dash piece out near the window along the front.
- Unscrew the side pieces on both sides. One is the cover of the fuse box the other is on the other side. That takes a 2x phillips.
- Open the glove box and there are three more phillips screws hold a small metal plate on and the two on the left side of the box. Remove those.
- Now you'll need a torx head, not sure which I just got a cheap Titan screw tip set and it has em in it. There are 4-5 torx head screws along the front near the window, 3 under the metal plate you removed at the glove box, and 1 more behind the stereo cover which then you can pop out.
- Then lastly, there are 2 8mm or 10mm screws on the passenger side toward the window that are reinforcements for the airbag. Remove those.
Push forward on the dash and lift up and the dash comes out nicely.
- Two more phillips hold the instrument cluster in place.

Sounds hard but it is actually fairly easy. I hate having to remove dashes too but after removing this one I am not intimidated by it at all anymore as I once was.

______________________________

 

[rochnoure]

I would check the instrument cluster connection as well as the wiring. If it were the fuse, the gauges would not move at all, there is not good connection to the cluster. You will have to remove the dashboard trims to get to it. svrwthr has included the steps to it. It is very easy compared to other cars.

It is very important that you disconnect the battery and pull out the AIR BAG fuse before messing with the dashboard. Check the connector, you can even test it to make sure it is receiving signal, then follow the wiring to check continuity, I bet one or more wires are broken somewhere, or the connector is bad, do some electric testing to make sure you have good connection.

 

[cloned]

Thanks, guy. Looks like I'm digging into the dashboard this weekend. Until then I'll assume the person in front of me is going the speed limit, hah.