Instrument Cluster Doesn't Work

[KA13]

Ok need some help everyone. I got a new truck (to me atleast). It's a 1998 Frontier. When I first got the truck I knew there were some instrument issues. Fuel gauge wasn't accurate, temp gauge was finicky and spedo was about 10 miles off +/- randomly. Sometimes everything would work perfectly but for the most part nothing works properly.

Now the spedo reads 20 when im going 70 (used a GPS), fuel either says 75% full or empty and the truck is either dead center on temps or all the way cold.

Problem is I have to drive alot and can't deal with not knowing my speed or my fuel level. I've read that there's a "9 volt resistor" that goes bad on the back of the cluster but something doesn't seem right about that. Has any one else encountered this problem and know how to fix it? Help would be very appreciated.

[CPS]

It's something in the printed circuit board. Unfortunately, Nissan no longer offers the printed circuit board, and no junkyard in the country has a gauge package for one (at least they didn't a couple of months ago). I certainly hope somebody knows how to repair them, because now the unavailability of parts is stretching into Xterras as well.

[Rev_D21]

Bennetts Auto Parts in Bath NY has a 98 Frontier sitting in their field right now.

[KA13]

So it seems like junkyards are the only hope. Was hoping that wouldn't be the case. I don't want to spend a few hours at a junkyard just to find that it's messed up too. Looks like the best bet may be just to build a new cluster.

[KA13]

Going to necro my own thread.

I finally sourced a new printed circuit board for my cluster, still sealed in the Nissan package. Replaced bad printed board with the new one and now the fuel and temperature gauge work but the speedometer still doesn't. Not such a big deal as I have GPS and was more concerned with my fuel level than anything. It still bugs me to no end though that my speedometer doesn't work. Only thing left for it to be is the speedometer itself right? The circuit board was for sure faulty since changing it out fixed the other two guages but could the hard circuit board thats built into the speedometer be bad as well?

I'm trying to get this sorted out as the truck needs tires and some suspension work but I don't want to spend money on it right now unless I can fix this problem.

[jem003]

Buy a electronic contact cleaner ($5), then disconnect the battery, after that take out the instrument cluster. Need to disconnect two cables. Took a couple of minutes to disconnect the second, the black thing is the key. Needs loosen 7 bolts first, then loosen additional 5 to expose the PCB. Spray PCB the hell of it and you can bring in home and dry overnight. Re-install cluster, re-connect batery cable and its done!

[346ci]

Did the circuit board come with a new speedo gauge and unified control meter? The unified control meter controls all the gauges and could be your problem. If not, the speed sensor gear in the trans could be worn/failing and the fuel level sensor in the tank is bad. I'd keep looking for a junk yard cluster.

There is 1 ground on each side(drivers and pass) behind the kick panels that need to be checked also.

[Desert Rat]

I have a brand new instrument panel for a 2000-2001 Xterra. I do know it would fit in the 98 pod....I got it because it had a tach, but I never tried to install it, so I can't guarantee it'd work.

[KA13]

Jem - I'm not sure what your talking about, my board is always exposed. It just sits on the back of the cluster.

346 - No it just came with the flimsy circuit board. Fuel level sensor is working I believe. Odometer shows 146 miles on half a tank which seems about right. The temperature gauge is also working properly so I believe the unified control meter is fine (though it could be on its way out the door). The speedometer gauge has also started working, though its intermitent. Sometimes it wont work after startup but after driving for awhile it starts working properly. Thanks for the info on the grounds, I checked and it seems atleast the passenger side one has surface rust on it, so I'm going to clean those up.

Thanks Desert Rat but I'm going to hold off for now.