My gauges do not work?

Tiny
SEXELANE
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 37,777 MILES
All of the gauges on my dash board don't work, the speedometer doesn't work, the gas hand is under the e even after I put gas in. The temperature doesn't move it stays under 100 the rpm does not move it stays on the line underneath the 1. The dash lights come on but that is it. What can I do to fix that and how much is it going to cost me?
Thursday, June 13th, 2019 AT 1:34 PM

52 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi,

Don't you have an LCD display for where the odometer and trip meter are? Does that work? I included a wiring diagram that shows all of the gauges are inputs from the PCM. If the lights work and that is it then I suspect you have a wiring issue from the PCM to the IPC or an issue with the PCM directly. Have you checked to see if there are any codes? This may point us in the best direction. Let me know about the LCD and the codes and we can figure this out. It sounds like the cluster is out here is a video of the job being done on a similar car.

https://youtu.be/_HEC44xENxw

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, June 13th, 2019 AT 5:23 PM
Tiny
YRAMIREZ723
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 64,000 MILES
The gauges dont work correctly. The one for the gas gets stuck and doesnt go up much even if the tank is full. The temp gauge is stuck way passed the red line pointing down. The ones for the mph and gears sometimes begin somewhere above the strarting point and move from there. It'll be marked at 40 mph when im stopped and move up from there as I press on the gas. The gauges for mph and gears do go back to normal after a while
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CAMLMULLINS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 75,600 MILES
I do not think that the problem is electrical, it appears that the temp gauge is stuck - it is below 0 and will not move. The speedometer gauge is on 41 MPH even when the ignition is in the off position - appears to be a calibration issue. My questions are:
1) Does this make sense, e.G, is the logic here correct?
2) Where is the best place to take it for repairs.
3) How much should I expect to pay for this type of repairwork, e.G, what is reasonable?
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny
It sounds like the printed circuit board or the stepper motors in the cluster may be faulty in the cluster to be causing an abnormal reading since the car is otherwise running normally. I've attached picture steps below on how to remove and replace the trim to gain access to the cluster as well as remove and replace the cluster itself on your Cavalier. Some places like speedometer shops can repair instrument clusters. Depending on the area you live and which type of shop doing the repairs average shop labor is about $100 an hour labor. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JRAMIREZ63
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 10,500 MILES
The Speedometer, Thermostat, and Gas guage do not work in my car. They do some times shake, and stutter. Once in a blue moon they will come on. How can I try to fix these problems without immediatley spending more money than I should?
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SNUZZIN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • 102,000 MILES
My 2005 chevy cavalier gas gauge is sitting on my temp gauge and then speedometer stops working. Can you help me?
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,540 POSTS
  • 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 54,000 MILES
Temperature gauge is all the way to the right, speedometer reads 10 miles faster than what it is, and fuel gauge is incorrect.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:25 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LSSLOANX1
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 76,000 MILES
The tempeture gauge hasnt work, now the rpm gauge isnt working properly, and theft system and service light comes on, engine still runs great
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny
It sounds like the printed circuit board or the stepper motors in the cluster may be faulty in the cluster to be causing an abnormal reading since the car is otherwise running normally. I've attached picture steps below on how to remove and replace the trim to gain access to the cluster as well as remove and replace the cluster itself on your Cavalier. Shops like a speedometer repair shop can repair instrument clusters. As far as the anti-theft and check engine light it would be best to perform a CAN scan - Controller Area Network to check all the systems on your vehicle. Here is a tutorial showing how to perform this.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

Once you have this scan performed get back to us with any code numbers and we can then properly diagnose. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DAKOTA5
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,000 MILES
Here are the details of what the car is doing. While driving, the check gauges, service engine and theft system light will come on. Also at the same time temp gauge, speedometer and tach quit working. (All going backwards to zero, not jumping ahead) If I turn off anything drawing electrical, (heater blower, radio, lights ect.) The gauges will immediately start working again. I can turn things back on and the gauges will continue working for a while but will eventually fail. Turning things off makes them work again. Sometimes braking for a stop causes the failure but that is erratic. It happens many times during regular driving and doesn't always happen when braking.
Both turn signal lights seem to have a dim flash at the moment of the failure. The theft system light and service engine light stay on through all this but do reset when the engine is turned off. They are ok again until the first incident while driving.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny
It sounds like the printed circuit board or the stepper motors in the cluster may be faulty in the cluster to be causing an abnormal reading since the car is otherwise running normally. I've attached picture steps below on how to remove and replace the trim to gain access to the cluster as well as remove and replace the cluster itself on your Cavalier. Some places like speedometer shops can repair instrument clusters. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HILARY WHITE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 90,000 MILES
1. Temperature gauge was stuck in the hot zone now stuck in the cold zone and hasn't moved at all.
2. When you turn the headlight switch on it takes a couple seconds for the dashboard lights to come on.
3. Gas gauge is stuck at half a tank.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Each of these issues points to a cluster issue. The BCM and PCM each send info in for the lighting and gauges separate of each other and it is very unlikely that they are both causing the same issue. Take a look at the wiring diagram and you will see each is separate.

I included the procedure to replace the cluster which if it were me, this is what I would do and go from there. Thanks
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SHAE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 27,500,000 MILES
The car starts and runs every day, but the gauges come on and off. The wiring harness was cut out of the radio and I wired it back up when I bought the car. Under the hood wiring harness is cut all the way out, I had to rewire everything wire by wire. Now my gauges go off and on my radio cuts on and off. I had to unplug my horn. My lights flicker up and down at night when I'm driving it. What do I do?
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOETECHPRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 705 POSTS
Hey Shae@Rob,

I would advise a great place to start would be to check all of the ground connections.

Make sure from the battery that all connections are clean and tight.

Another thing would be to get someone to watch the gauges/lights/radio while you move the wiring, under the dash, around the fuse block, all harness wiring etc. That you can access.

You are looking to locate something that causes the fault to occur so you can narrow down the potential cause.

A loose connection, pinched wiring or a corroded/bad ground are your most likely causes.

Hope that helps.

Any further questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Regards, Joe
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AMB3A
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Had Replaced Starter by mechanic and Gauges did not function. Car runs fine. Had mechanice check fuses, battery cables etc. Can't find problem. We believe its the Cluster thats behind the odometer. Or could it be a blown fuse somewhere. Need advice. ASAP
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
If all gauges are not working then its either blown fuse, bad wiring or cluster itself is bad. Check fuse labeled BCM/CLU as well as fuse labeled CLSTR, both located in the instrument panel fuse block.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUNOFHL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
After battery change, the instrument cluster no longer works. Fuses not blown. Tried what I read on here. Disconnected battery, left it disconnected for fifteen minutes, pulled instrument panel fuse and replaced. The instrument cluster still doesn't work.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Did you use a voltage tester on applicable fuse circuit? Even if the fuse is good, if there is no voltage at the fuse circuit, the circuit is dead.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/170934_cavalier_instrument_cluster_fuse_1.jpg

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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUNOFHL
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
No, I didn't. I'll try that, but I'll have to find someone to help me with it as I don't have a voltage tester.

Thank you, JDL.
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Thursday, July 8th, 2021 AT 10:26 AM (Merged)

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