Okay, as some of you may already know, I've been wiring up aftermarket gauges to replace my OE cluster, and out of nowhere, I'm running into this problem. First, my car has intermittent starting problems. Sometimes, it starts right up without any problems. Other times, it turns over, but it occassionally cuts out like it's got a bad connection or something, because it'll completely cut out momentarily, gauges and all. When this happens, I have to crank the engine for 30-45 seconds nonstop before it will finally fire up. When it does fire up, it will sometimes run rough, cut out, and whatnot, and other times there will be little to no problem at all. Today, I took it out for a spin and it ended up completely dying on the road. No accessories, no gauges, NOTHING. You'd think it was the battery, but the hazards and interior lights work, and they've got full power. What's going on here? I thought a couple wires might be grounding out, so I tinkered with all the wires, but nothing odd was found. I also checked ALL the fuses, but they were all good. Could the ignition switch have crapped out??? Is the ECM bad??? I'm so friggin' baffled with this one.

 

Check your speedo wiring. That can cause some probs after installing a aftermarket speedo.

 

Cluster going dead is often a clue the ignition switch is bad or it's connections are loose. The computer loses power, too, if this happens.
When the trouble occurs all you have to do is test for the presence of power at the fuses that are powered when the ignition is on, to help guide you in the right direction.

 

Haven't installed my speedo yet (the guy who's fabricating the gauge cluster mounting panel has it for a reference). Since it's only $26, I'm gonna try replacing the ignition switch. The one I have in there isn't the original, but it's about 6 years old, so it wouldn't surprise me if something like that crapped out. I'll keep you guys posted.

Oh, just FYI, I don't think that either may be related, but I just installed a new starter, alternator, and a fuel pressure gauge sending unit...

 

I agree that it sounds like the ignition switch it might not be the switch itself it might just be a bad connection at the switch.

 

when you get the cluster bracket made can you pm me a pic of it? im working on mine but i cant decide what to make the cluster out of. im thinking either cf that will be painted or some aluminum stock.

Thanks for the update too

 

I found out what the problem was. My brother-in-law figured it out, but basically, I burned out a fusible link. Looks like I'll be doing some rewiring tomorrow...


Oneslowz28-

Don't worry about pictures, as I'll be posting those all over the internet, to help others with their custom gauge cluster woes and hopefully save some people the headache.

 

Im glad you found the problem.
And trust me when my gauges get here i will be pming you.

 

Hey your voltmeter! You need to run like a 480ohm resister between the alternator volt supply wire and the voltmeter for real! I swap LT1 engines all the time, and the 480ohm resistor is the switch signal for the intergal voltage regulator. Hope this helps! If you have a wire diagram, look at the instrument panel on the voltmeter and you will see the resistor at the voltmeter, its built into the instrument panel circuit board, when you install an aftermarket gauge you need to install one!

 

I know, thanks for telling me, though. Shoebox told me itwas a 470-ohm resistor, though. That's what I put in there and it seems to run fine...

 

'Cause it is.

 

ha! yup good call, I was trying to use memory instead of looking it up! I am getting to old to remember though...