Why Did My Gauge Cluster Stop Working? What Causes Gauge Problems?
Under normal circumstances, a gauge cluster lasts the lifetime of the vehicle. That’s not always the case, though. Sometimes a gauge cluster can fail sooner. What causes this to happen?
We can think of 5 common reasons a gauge cluster fails:
1. Wear And Tear
Image Credit: Richard Lloyd
Like all parts, gauge clusters will succumb to wear and tear at some point. They’re built to last the lifetime of the vehicle. Yet, sometimes certain components will wear out early. For example:
- Burned out indicator lights
- Corroded or disconnected wires
- Stuck needles
- Burned out back lighting (or dark spots)
- Malfunctioning LCD or LED screens (showing faded numbers or letters, for example)
2. Excessive Vibration
Do you take your vehicle off-roading? Or do you drive on rough roads often? If you have a malfunctioning gauge cluster, the excessive vibration may be the cause. Excessive vibration can loosen the connections on the circuit board(s) inside the cluster.
3. Mechanical Failure
Some gauges, like the speedometer, odometer, and tachometer, use small gears. These small gears can wear out over time, leading to mechanical failure of the gauge(s).
4. Voltage Spikes
A bad alternator can cause voltage spikes. When an alternator has a weak input or output voltage wire, it will create voltage spikes. This happens because when the input or output wire has a poor connection, the regulator will turn the alternator on to full charge. This causes the voltage to suddenly rise. In some cases, the windings in the alternator can saturate. When the connection is restored, there's an electromagnetic collapse of the energy. This creates a voltage spike.
When there's a sudden voltage spike, it can damage the vehicle's electric components. That includes the gauge cluster.
5. Blown Fuse
Sometimes the gauge cluster is fine, and the problem is a blown fuse. In that case, you would only need to replace the fuse.
What If Only One Gauge Is Bad?
Do you have only one malfunctioning gauge? There are many possible causes of this. The most common ones are:
- Bad fuse for that gauge only
- Short in the wire
- Worn out gauge (common in older cars)
- Loose connection
In this case, it's likely that the rest of the gauge cluster is fine. It's possible (and cheaper) to have only the bad gauge replaced. We offer mail-in specialty repairs. That means you can mail your gauge cluster to us, and we'll replace the bad gauge(s) for you.
How To Pinpoint The Problem With Your Gauge Cluster
If you want to know exactly what's wrong with your gauge cluster, you can take the following steps:
1. Check The Fuse
Image Credit: ElectricalCarRepairLive
The fuse is the easiest thing to check, so you want to do this first to rule it out. To do this:
- Find the fuse box - it's either in the engine compartment or the kick panel in front of the driver's left knee.
- Check all the fuses for the gauge cluster. In most modern cars, there's only one fuse for the entire part
- Inspect the fuse(s) for any damage like soot or broken metal wires.
If the fuse is bad, chances are the gauge cluster is fine. You would just need to replace the fuse. If the new fuse blows again, then check the wiring leading to the cluster. You may also want to see if there's a problem with the cluster itself.
2. Check The Wires And Connections
It's possible that the wiring and/or connections are damaged. To check the wires and connections:
- With a flashlight, inspect all the wires connected to the gauge cluster. Look for fraying, breakage, or other types of damage.
- Inspect all the connections - look for looseness and any type of damage.
3. Check The Gauge Cluster
If everything else looks good, the problem may lie within the gauge cluster. Here's what you want to check:
- The power at the gauge cluster
- The ground wire for any damage or looseness
- The bulbs and monitors
If you're not sure what's wrong with your gauge cluster, it may be easier to just replace it. It can be difficult and time consuming to pinpoint the cause of the problem. Still, you want to make sure that the problem is the gauge cluster, and not the fuse(s), wiring, and/or connection(s).
Repairing Or Replacing Your Gauge Cluster
Is your gauge cluster the problem? You have two options:
- Replace the gauge cluster
- Repair the gauge cluster
Whichever option you choose, we can help. We carry high quality replacement gauge clusters. We also have a team of skilled technicians who can repair your faulty gauge cluster if you mail it in.