Um, my gauge cluster is going crazy. Ideas?

[r34 gtr]

So I really didn't want to create another thread, as I already have an alternator-related thread on here. However since the alternator thread is purely mechanical in nature, I did not know if it was appropriate. Here goes.

Anyway, so I just went to lunch and when I got in my car at the office the gauges started doing crazy things. Now, I just replaced the alternator so that could likely be the culprit. I did just check and make sure it was installed correctly though, and it is indeed properly installed. Truck was parked in the sun, and the dash was pretty warm when I got in, but by no means scaldingly hot or anything.

So when I turn the key to "on," my temp and gas gauge shoot all the way to the top. My odometer reads "999999," and when I start the car the tach bounces between 0 and 500 rpm. When driving, the speedometer barely registers. At 40mph in 4th gear (I guess) it reads about 9mph. I don't even know what the heck.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue. I will also go back through and check everything when I get home.

Btw, the truck runs fine. Starts right up, idles fine, drives fine. Its just the gauges giving me problems.

truck is a 1998 D22 4wd XE.


Pictures!





Truck is running in the first pic.

[Rev_D21]

I read about this on another site, it seems there is a transistor inside the speedo head that goes bad causing what you experiencing.

[whomadewho]

Check the # 1 ignition relay

[r34 gtr]

Thanks guys. I will have a go at solving the problem tomorrow afternoon.

[r34 gtr]

Okay so I checked all the connections to the alternator, redid all my grounds as well as added some new ones, checked all my fuses, aaand checked all the relays. No dice. I have not tried that transistor yet, but its looking like I might have to. I have to drive this thing 500 miles this weekend - any idea where you found that information? I have to get on this asap.

[r34 gtr]

Tried some things today.

I get 12v at the "instrument" fuse when the ignition is on. Nothing wrong there.

I took the gauge cluster out and everything seems okay. I re-seated the ribbon cable at the top of the speedo, checked for anything burned or out of place, and I got nothing. I took everything apart, checked all the components, and everything seems to be fine.

Does anyone have ANY idea what could be the problem??

Does anyone have a FSM for a D22 Nissan Frontier in .pdf?

I have a trip tomorrow afternoon and I have no gauges. I have to take my truck, I do not have a choice. Please help!

[Rev_D21]

I am telling you dude that it's a transistor in the speedo that has burned up.

I hate linking to other sites but this hasn't been covered on NICO before so...sorry Greg.

http://www.4x4parts.com/ubbthreads/show ... art=1&vc=1

If any members have tried this and fixed the problem please do a write up so NICO has the info on hand and not third party. Thanks!

[r34 gtr]

Oh man, thank you. I had found a lot of info regarding the problem, but I had not seen that writeup. I'm going to see if I have suitable replacement resistors at work tomorrow. If I do I will post a proper writeup next week, when I return from my trip.

Btw, at this point in the evening, I have replaced all the resistors and diodes on the soft board on the back of the cluster, re-soldered all the connections, and cried. I will report back tomorrow.

[r34 gtr]

Alright, I know it has been a while but I am still dealing with this problem. Here is what I have tried:

I have replaced the transistors specified in that writeup Reverend was gracious enough to find. No change.

I have replaced the resistors on the soft circuit board on the back of the gauge cluster. No change.

I have run the gauge cluster self-test as per EL-76 (iirc) in the factory service manual. All gauges checked fine.

I have checked all power and ground signals as per EL-79 in the factory service manual. All power/ground connections are fine.

I am about out of ideas here. The self-test on the cluster works, so I would assume the main IC on the speedometer is fine. Its getting proper power and ground signals. Even if one gauge was receiving a poor or incorrect signal, it would not cause all of the gauges to malfunction simultaneously.

If no one can come up with anything I am just going to throw the gauge cluster in the trash and wire in custom gauges, but I really REALLY don't want to do that. Please help.

[MilkMan]

Any junk yards around you where you can grab a used cluster, and just swap it out?

[r34 gtr]

Alas, not that I have found. I just sent the cluster off to a company that repairs them this morning. Lets hope a direct infusion of $150 works. If not, I fully plan on crying.

[r34 gtr]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to let you know that I have finally resolved this problem!

Here is what you do:

1) Do not even mess with it. Not worth the effort. Remove gauge cluster from truck.

2) Package gauge cluster in box, take it to post office.

3) Mail gauge cluster to DNA Speedometers in Tampa, FL. (along with their "whats wrong with it" sheet from their web site)

4) Wait.

5) Receive gauge cluster in the mail, rejoice, reinstall.


Really guys, not even worth messing with it. I have no idea what kind of black magic they worked on it, but it works EVEN BETTER than it did originally. If that is even possible. Those gauges read so accurately it hurts my brain. I spent months trying to track down a problem that they fixed in a week. It cost a mere $139, and that included return shipping.

I got wind of them through some other Frontier forums, and everyone had said they did great work. I was a little skeptical at first, but it was well worth it in the end.

By the way, I just want to mention that I have zero affiliation with them, I am just blown away by their work.

[billybear10]

i have the same problem now! did u lose all your miles or did it kept up? im going on about 75k miles of being messed up, i just havent had the time or money to deal with it!

[JustAboutFedUp]

Hello everyone my 03 Nissan Pathfinder LE gas gauge hasn't read correctly since I got the vehicle. Just thought I'd let u all know I finally got it fixed and reading correctly. If you take the cluster apart to where the circuit board is accessible there are 4 resistors I believe it was R97 R98 R99 and R100 that needed to b re-soldered and that's what I did and it seemed to b doing much better but was still floating a bit. So I took back apart and just re-soldered all of the resistors on the circuit board. Only took a few minutes and wallah works like a charm. I will post the video link that pointed me in the right direction. It's literally step by step very easy to follow.