QuestionQUESTION: This is about my late dad's 1995 Cadillac SLS with Northstar engine:
The digital components, tach, fuel guage, and speedometer of the dash cluster operate intermittently, seemingly without rhyme or reason. They can come off or on while driving, and not in response to any physical influence. When the digital and other components do not operate, the HVAC fan motor comes on at a high rate, and sometimes the dome lights stay illuminated, sometimes not. I have a fairly good mechanic who couldn't get a computer code to read, although he has done so in the past. The computer (a new Snap-On unit) took a while to connect (>5 minutes) and then just gave an error message that he and others had not seen before.
Any help would be appreciated.
ANSWER: What was the ERROR message ?
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QUESTION: Something like 404, not a typical automotive computer code message.
ANSWER: Did you try and retrieve the codes using your CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL ?.
1. Turn ignition switch to the ON position only. Do NOT start the engine.
2. Simultaneously push and hold the OFF and WARMER (^) Buttons on your climate control panel for 3 seconds and release them.
3. CODES in the form of LETTERS & NUMBERS followed by the word History or Current will appear as each code appears. After the codes finish displaying you will see on the fuel data display PCM?
See if this works or tell me what happens when you try and retrieve the codes.
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QUESTION: To preface, the dash seemed to work fine during my morning commute (32 miles, 1 hour). However, just now, following your directions, none of the digital components displayed (except the radio), so when I performed the Off/Warmer button sequence, nothing was displayed. I could hear some noises from inside the dash, and eventually the fan blower ramped up to a moderate blower speed, which typically happens when the digital components go away. But there were no codes displayed. Maybe I can try that the next time the digital components decide to work.
AnswerOK, You have a fault in the instrument cluster.
If you are mechanicaly inclined or know of someone who is, You will need a DIGITAL MULTIMETER, Simple electrical schematics, Test procedures and picture locations of the components within the system that is causing you problems of which can't be done on this website which only allows one picture. I do not have a website so you will have to e-mail: onlineautohelp@msn.com in order to obtain the information.
