Possessed dash lights on '97 850 Wagon 200K miles

andrewjllrar · Post by **andrewjllrar** » 02 May 2023, 17:28

I haven't been able to find an answer on this. My '97 850 wagon had a dash that was literally falling apart. The replacement went in, and immediately afterward, I would be driving and the lock system would start pinging to all four doors and the back door. Not all at once, but sometimes just the front, sometimes the back door, sometimes drivers side, sometimes just rear passenger. All in rapid fire while at the same time my dash lights would flicker. Sometimes I could just restart the car, and it would reset and not happen for weeks at a time.

However, immediately after the dash job, my two back doors would not open from inside or out. Acuators, I'm sure--the drivers side rear had been acting up severely before the job. The moon roof also didn't work right as it would go up and down, but not open front back.

The other night, the locks started pinging and dash lights flashing for the first time in a month. This time I had an idea and turned off the lights. And it immediately stopped. Turned them back on, started again. Weird,.

Also I wonder if my faulty PNP switch is contributing since sometimes when I put it into park, the locks click. About to fix that.

I'm also getting a check engine light with the secondary air system--can't remember the code off the top of my head 0414?--but I suspect that's been on a while as the check engine light was burned out and the car performs great.

I am not a wiring or electrical person at all. I have checked the fuses and none are blown that I could see.

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 02 May 2023, 18:28

Is it possible the replacement cluster had an issue with voltage regulation? I'm guessing that or a bad ground would make it do some really 'cool' stuff.

Post by **850 LPT** » 02 May 2023, 18:40

I'm with the bad ground idea. Or perhaps a failing ignition switch, they are prone to break somewhat prematurely and can cause funky electrical stuff.

Post by **erikv11** » 02 May 2023, 23:11

My vote is electrical portion of the ignition switch.

andrewjllrar · Post by **andrewjllrar** » 03 May 2023, 03:51

But if ignition switch, why would it go away when I turn off the headlights?

Post by **abscate** » 03 May 2023, 04:14

Start with a good battery charge, well over 12.5 Volts

Check bus connections and terminals under the fuse box under hood, everything clean and shiny

When the lights pull current through the switch, it can fault or drop the voltage to other logic stuff , which will then fritz

xanthefin · Post by **xanthefin** » 04 May 2023, 10:40

As abscate says.. good battery is good start point.

I saw others too pointing but maybe not on yours but i have had ignition been so that my dashboard is not on even if car is running. If i wiggle it it starts sometimes. Usually at last when i turn ignition off and back on.

For your symptoms i am not sure where start.. maybe central locking i think you have multiple individual problems now listed.

I did go through my 850 wiring how they command.. its very simple with one wire per master.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18758&start=30#p506841

Maybe some master wire (control wire) is touching somewhere ground? (Or ground is floating somewhere could make this system go haywire honestly too).

"my two back doors would not open from inside or out"

Do you have deadlock system? When locks get in this mode they cannot be opened inside or outside... or in super funny case your locks are like in drills in "electronic brakes" when you short both pole of electronic motor.

Anyway my 2 cents. Hope not too hard but if so feel free ignore. Mostly just muttering.