Instrument Cluster Gauges and DIC Intermittent Not Working

[premiumV]

Hello all, I found a few similar threads on this issue but no fix was reported. All of my gauges are dead at startup plus the data is missing on the DIC. Text is still there but blank lines for the data.

Here are the symptoms on my 1995 Aurora:

Turning the parking lights on fixes everything immediately.

Every once in a while everything works for a split second. Driving over bumps has no effect. The car can be sitting, engine not running, with the same results.

The problem gets better the longer the ignition is on. Sometimes the gauges/DIC will work for a few seconds to a minute or so. Then eventually the problem goes away and everything is fine. It might be related to temperature. We have had some warm days and everything seemed to start working quicker.

When the gauges/DIC recovers for more than a few seconds the chime will sound and I will get an "oil level sensor" warning.

When gauges/DIC are not working there is a very faint fast ticking sound coming from the dash or maybe the chime.


Has anyone ever located S209 and/or knows what it looks like? It's a splice for all of the hots coming from fuse I/P 1. Also S211 which is a ground splice for the instrument cluster and DIC.

Thanks for any help for this odd problem!

[RCA1186]

The ticking sound is usually from the LCM (lamp control module). Usually caused by a faulty, or as you may have seen, "dirty" multifunction switch. I had the problem in two Auroras but only one caused flashing lights so if you don't have flashing lights don't count it out. Considering that turning on the parking lights (via the MFS) fixes things, I think you could have a multifunction switch issue.


I also think you are on the right track, because it does sound like you are missing a ground or something. Could also be a bad solder joint that gets connection again when the metal warms up and expands. Might want to consider cleaning the connections at the PCM with contact cleaner as well as the body harnesses. These are all just shots in the dark though. I can't recall someone having your specific issues.

[premiumV]

Thanks for the response Rob. The ticking doesn't sound mechanical but maybe coming from a speaker type device or the gauge cluster. About 8 ticks per second and so faint that I can't hear it with the engine running. The gauges/DIC will also start working if I turn the parking/headlights on with the twilight sentinel switch on the dash. The gauges, DIC, and oil level module all run off of the I/P 1 fuse circuit plus many other items that are working OK. There are also a few more fuses that go to the gauge cluster which check OK. In the book, I just noticed a data line going into the gauge cluster then out to the DIC. I'm pretty sure that's why the data is missing on the DIC when the gauge cluster is dead.

[premiumV]

This problem got so bad that I had to find the fault. Every available warning started randomly showing up on the DIC including all 4 doors ajar and parking brake on. Many of them activating the chime which drove me crazy! I pulled all of the gauges off but left the instrument cluster circuit board hooked up in the car. I found a spot on the board, with the least amount of finger pressure, would make all of the warnings go away. Took the board inside but couldn't see anything wrong with the board. Turned to eBay which had a slew of complete 1995 instrument clusters for a very reasonable price. Bought the cleanest one but it had the exact same problem, and a slight push in the same area of the circuit board fixed the problem. Good seller gave me a full refund and didn't want the cluster back. Bought the dirtiest nastiest one that looked like it was sitting in the mud for years, and that one was a winner. I used my gauges and lens which were in much better shape. As a plus, my fuel gauge reads more accurately and I was always worried about the sorta high coolant temperature which is showing more normal now.