1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Yes, I've had this same problem.
Easy things first: (1)The rheostat (dimmer) is a common source of instrument panel complaints, but if that was the problem, the dash lights should only flicker. And it would affect more than just the cluster, it would be all interior lights... check the archives.
(2)The ignition switch can also cause flaky warning lights and chimes-of-death, but that should also begin to cause stalling at random times. When my ignition switch went, it did lights, chimes, and stalling but did not cause the gauges to behave strangely. Search archives on 'ignition switch' if you want details on all of the fun.
(3)If you just have dash light problems like in (1)there are reports of the wiring harness behind the radio shorting out. (E.g., http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/bb/NG900/index.html?bID=95211)
Your symptoms sound more serious since you've got erratic gauge behavior. (1) and (3) should affect only the illumination. Depending on which circuits in the ignition switch go bad, you may only have warning lights (not gauge misbehavior) in (2). I don't recall any ignition switch posts where the gauges go wacky like this, just the warning lights.
When I had this problem, my instrument cluster was "bad" and replaced with a used one. New clusters are outrageously expensive. The shop had trouble diagnosing it at first so labor added up. Some kind of short or bad connection in the original cluster was causing this behavior. It got worse over time and really annoying because the gauges would cut in and out, I would get SID chimes, and the electrical surges tripped the SRS light a couple of times which requires a Tech II reset. Eventually the shop was able to reproduce the problem by flexing the cluster or the general area (I wasn't there).... See past post linked below and also http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/bb/NG900/index.html?bID=87856
Post back if you have further questions or once you get a conclusive diagnosis or resolution.
Boy this was long, time to get back to work! I hope that I save you a little hassle and diagnosis money; this problem was the most annoying one I ever faced with my car.
Derek / 1994 900 S V6 142,000mi (inst. cluster at 127k)
posted by 152.3.1...
Re: Instrument cluster on the fritz!
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