Cluster cuts off and on randomly

[LSE_4_LYFE]

I have a 2003 LS that belonged to John B aka RollinLS . I have been trying to bring it back to life. Replaced the motor because the previous one was ran without oil so it threw a rod. It runs beautifully now but I have a problem with the speedometer loosing power randomly. The whole cluster looses power for a second or two then resets. Car does not loose power, it keeps running like nothing. I need help on what it could be or what to check. Ty

 

[LSE_4_LYFE]

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated

 

[Buckie]

@LSE_4_LYFE i would start with the simple stuff by checking my fusebox in the trunk, under the hood and inside the kick panel in passenger floorboard. I would start my car and gently wiggle those boxes and tug lightly on the wires to see if the problem is coming from any of them. You may want to check connectors and kinda wiggle around on the engine harness since it had a new engine put in it recently. It could be a bad connection or loose wire somewhere since the engine still runs great. After i checked my fuse boxes and engine harness i would pull my cluster out and seeing if any plug ins are loose. The speedometer sensor is attached to the differential in the rear end so you might wanna check they're to. The sensor could be going bad or have wires rubbed in two touching each other causing a short in you're speedometer. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

 

[SteveOwens]

Investigate DeoxiT D5 connector cleaner

 

[LSE_4_LYFE]

@LSE_4_LYFE i would start with the simple stuff by checking my fusebox in the trunk, under the hood and inside the kick panel in passenger floorboard. I would start my car and gently wiggle those boxes and tug lightly on the wires to see if the problem is coming from any of them. You may want to check connectors and kinda wiggle around on the engine harness since it had a new engine put in it recently. It could be a bad connection or loose wire somewhere since the engine still runs great. After i checked my fuse boxes and engine harness i would pull my cluster out and seeing if any plug ins are loose. The speedometer sensor is attached to the differential in the rear end so you might wanna check they're to. The sensor could be going bad or have wires rubbed in two touching each other causing a short in you're speedometer. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Thank you so much. I'll check all of those. I just had no idea where to start.

 

[clubairth]

Speedometer is driven by the ABS system. No speed sensor in the rear diff.
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[LSE_4_LYFE]

Speedometer works. Whole cluster works fine. It will just loose power for a few seconds and then comes back on like I just started the car.

 

[Buckie]

Speedometer is driven by the ABS system. No speed sensor in the rear diff.
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@clubairth good catch!! You are exactly correct speed is determined by the ABS module which is feed by the ABS sensors on the LS. I was thinking about my 02 F150 which has a single sensor attached to the diff.
Could a failing ABS module or a failing ABS sensor cause erratic speedometer readings or sudden cluster failure if the sensors were to fail or read incorrectly? If so that maybe where his problem is at.

 

[SteveOwens]

Does the interior lights flicker when the cluster loses power?

 

[LSE_4_LYFE]

Im out here with it now. I now noticed something new. Well 2 things. I had lights on and that part of the cluster stays on, what flickers on and off is the green info and status stuff, the warning icons and the light for ebrake in the little dip where you pull the ebrake button or switch.

 

[LSE_4_LYFE]

The interior lights are now just staying on and its happening a lot more right now

 

[SteveOwens]

Hi, i had my instrument panel light up like a Christmas tree and rough idle, ECT, ete. What I found was the ground wire connect to the inside truck body M6 bolt was loose and dirty. I removed it and wire brushed it & reassembled which stop all warning lamps on. I also learned you get about fifteen years from the oe main wire and sheet metal battery terminals. I remedied it with eighteen to twenty feet of number four welding wire connecting from the M6 bolt to the lower starter mount bolt for max amps while stating. Also the battery terminals are a heavy duty truck type with ss hardware with copper soldered ends. From the date of the installation i haven't had any electrical issues whatsoever with this setup. Startup is mostly one hit and headlight are brighter. Hope that helps.

 

[LSE_4_LYFE]

Someone else mentioned battery issue could be cause. I know battery is good but it could be the wires.. Ty very much I'll look into doing this.