94 855t- odd issue

oceanman · Post by **oceanman** » 26 Mar 2013, 15:30

has this happened to anyone out there?
started the wagon the other day and the dash needles went all wonky- tach read around 3500, spedo-55mph, temp all the way up and fuel level- all the way down. the odo was spinning! i went three miles without moving. tapped the gas pedal a few times to see if revving the engine would fix what was happening- nothing. shifted into drive and everything snapped back to normal. the engine wasn't racing at start-up- sounded normal.

Post by **jblackburn** » 26 Mar 2013, 16:31

Now that is certainly a new one. Maybe you woke it up while it was dreaming.

If it happens again, jiggle the ignition key and see if it makes any difference. Maybe taking it out of park moved it just a hair through the shift interlock.

lk250f · Post by **lk250f** » 26 Mar 2013, 20:02

I would push towards a bad circuit board in your cluster. or a wiring issue. Sounds like ground or output issue. I guess see how much it happens (if it does again) before cracking open the cluster.

Post by **abscate** » 26 Mar 2013, 20:23

Bad ground would explain everything except the odometer...we're you sure you weren't moving??

Post by **rspi** » 27 Mar 2013, 04:38

These clusters have a self test mode that is usually entered manually with the OBD-I port under the hood. Not sure how it would have been triggered other wise. Also, it usually only adds 1/2 mile to the odo.

oceanman · Post by **oceanman** » 27 Mar 2013, 20:04

yes- i am fairly certain i was not moving- unless i went from 0-60 in an instant. the odo and trip meter were steadily ticking away (the last two digits at the same rate on each). i almost wonder if it would be a transmission issue. it's having some shifting issues- holding in 1st way past the time to shift to 2nd and trouble in reverse (on level surface in reverse it will coast back like it should, but when i apply gas the engine revs but there's no power- i think it may be pnp related) i need to check codes again. last time i did the only tranny code was the kickdown switch fault (a heater core/heater hose casualty). i hope it's not a bad ground- even though i am an electrician, auto electrical befuddles me, that and i really don't feel like trying to tackle something like the instrument cluster. i'll post any codes there may be when i get a chance to pull them, and as always- i appreciate all of your replies

Post by **rspi** » 28 Mar 2013, 03:32

What I was trying to say is that the cluster has a test mode that does several things which include the odo clicking off distance, the temp gauge raising to the edge of the hot/red level and the speedo going to 70 mph. If certain readings are not indicated the cluster is bad. My guess is that the cluster is about to fail if it's dropping in that test mode without it being forced into it.

oceanman · Post by **oceanman** » 01 Apr 2013, 19:37

oh...