2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission No Tach, No Speedo...after instr. panel removal

[fortunate1]

I was chasing a persistent rattle behind the dash, and removed lots of dash stuff to see back there. When I replaced the instrument panel, only the fuel level and oil pressure guages worked. No rpm, no speed, no odometer, no coolant temp, no voltage. Most of the "pre-flight" lights work: abs, water-in-fuel, wait-to-start, but no brake.

I did a search here on "instrument panel", and after reading through 6 pages of threads - - not exactly the right answer. Is there a plug/connector/something that might have been disconnected when I moved the panel? I couldn't get it out very far, and didn't see the back of the panel. Any help is appreciated; the alternative is the dealer:{ .

 

[AMikesell]

I have personally removed my entire dash, the plastics and all, there are very few plugs that go to the instrument panel and they are hard to mix up. I would take your dash apart and take your instrument panel plugs out and then plug everything back in. You can then see if it all works before you totally put it back together. Andrew

 

[GAmes]

My instrument cluster has two flat connectors about 2 inches wide, one on either side. They have a latch to keep them from sliding out. Not that hard to see if you remove the ouside screws and tip the cluster panel forward. (two on the top and two on the bottom)

 

[fortunate1]

Both of those back connectors were plugged in. It looks like the entire back of the panel is a light green plastic sheet with printed circuits. There are also 2 extensions of the sheet at the bottom on each side. They wrap under the panel for the small "check" lights (abs & seat belt only ones lighting for me now). Not sure what to look for now. I just wish that I had left that rattle alone, now that I can see with 20/20 hindsight.

 

[Joe G.]

It's not too bad a job to remove the entire dash. I think you may have to do that so you can get at all the connections easily. It sounds like you have missed one or one of them is loose. The only complication to removing the entire dash is any mods you may have made that are not so you can unplug them. It makes it a lot easier to remove and replace the dash if you take the seats out. That's pretty easy. Four bolts hold the center consol in place. Four bolts on each seat mount. Don't forget to unplug the power seat connector.

 

[fortunate1]

update

Found some cyber-junkyards and used instrument clusters. Just when I was about to order one (with lower milage than mine - another issue), I went out to check out the connections one more time. Well... after disconnecting and reconnecting, all of the gages worked. So, I've put all of the dash trim back and now can see exactly how fast I'm going without the risk of a LEO providing me with a "speed verification certificate". Must have lost Murphy with that last u-turn.