Instrument Cluster Problems: Is It The Fuse?
The instrument cluster is important because it tells everything about the status of your vehicle, from your current speed, to how much fuel you have, as well as the health of your engine and other systems. That's why when the gauges quit working you can really be flying blind without any information on your car's status.
Sometimes the issue can be easily fixed by resetting your instrument cluster or replacing a blown fuse. In this guide, we'll show you how to determine if the problem is a blown fuse, how to replace a fuse, and what to do if you still have issues.
Symptoms Of An Instrument Cluster With A Blown Fuse
If your dashboard has a blown fuse, you'll have one or more of the following issues:
- None of the gauges on your instrument panel work, but the instrument panel lights come on.
- Both the gauges and the lights on your instrument panel are not working.
- The gauges work, but the instrument panel lights don't work.
If you have one of the above scenarios, you probably have one or more bad fuses. However, if your instrument panel is acting crazy but has power, you have another issue. The guide in this link will show you what you can do to reset your gauge cluster if it's acting up.
How To Change A Fuse For The Instrument Cluster
The first step is to consult your owner's manual. It should have a section on fuses with the location and diagrams for the fuse boxes on your vehicle. Most modern vehicles have a fuse box located under the hood and another under the dashboard. The fuses for your instrument panel lights and the gauge cluster should be located under the dashboard or behind a panel near the driver's side door. Once you've located the fusebox, perform the following steps:
- Remove the cover of the fusebox. In many cases, the fusebox cover will have a diagram of all of the fuses.
- Locate the fuse or fuses for the instrument cluster.
- Once you've located the fuse or fuses, use a pair of pliers or fuse puller to remove them. Pull the fuses straight out and inspect them for black spots or gaps in the metal inside the plastic fuse body. If the fuses have gaps or black spots, they should be replaced.
- Replace the bad fuse or fuses with new ones matching the same amperage. Fuses are typically color coded for amperage and also have the amperage number designated on the top of the fuse. Gently push the fuse back into the slot by hand or with your pliers.
What If A New Fuse Doesn't Fix Your Instrument Panel?
If you replace your fuses and your instrument panel still doesn't work, you can either replace it or have it repaired. No matter which option you chose, ISS Automotive will also reprogram the new or rebuilt instrument cluster, including inputting the correct VIN and mileage info from your car.
ISS Automotive has over 70 years of experience distributing and remanufacturing automotive electronic and mechatronic components. We offer a limited lifetime warranty on all remanufactured and repaired electronic products and provide a fast turnaround with free shipping on orders over $99.
Contact us or give us a call at 800-548-1195 if you have questions or would like to know more about our services.