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chevy cavalier gauges wacky
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mntnmama1
New User
Feb 1, 2009, 6:29 PM
Post #1 of 7
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chevy cavalier gauges wacky
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I have a 2003 cavalier LS and about 2 yrs ago the speedometer would stop working and then would work again. It did this off and on business for about a year and then it just quit working. It moves around and gets stuck, some times I am always cruising with the needle burried. My gas gauge hasn't been trustworthy in over a year. It rises instead of falling. Recently, past 2 weeks, my temp gauge is wacky as well. The needle will be completely facing down, way past the red section. The car hasn't been feeling the same either. It handles differently and eating gas. Help!
Struggling graduate student with two kids, AF
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Loren Champlain Sr
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Feb 1, 2009, 6:36 PM
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Re: chevy cavalier gauges wacky
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If it was just the speedometer, I'd suspect a VSS problem, but with it affecting the other guages, sounds like a ground problem. Check all of your ground wires. There may be several under the hood. A wiring diagram would help immensely. You may end up pulling the instrument cluster to take a look. Can probably get a wiring diagram for you if you want to attempt this.
Loren
SW Washington
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mntnmama1
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Feb 1, 2009, 6:51 PM
Post #3 of 7
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Re: chevy cavalier gauges wacky
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I dont know about looking at any instrument cluster. Does this involve removing parts of the dash board? How intense is this wiring? I have some experience in house wirirng.
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Loren Champlain Sr
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Feb 1, 2009, 6:57 PM
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Re: chevy cavalier gauges wacky
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Actually, the instrument cluster is rather easy to remove. It comes out all in one unit, has a circuit board instead of a bunch of wires. Not even a speedo cable to deal with, anymore.
Loren
SW Washington
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Loren Champlain Sr
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Feb 1, 2009, 7:04 PM
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Loren
SW Washington
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mntnmama1
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Feb 2, 2009, 5:02 AM
Post #6 of 7
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Re: chevy cavalier gauges wacky
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ok, doesnt sound too bad. Where can I find some guidance on this kind of thing? I do not have the owners manual for my car, I bought it used. Your last comment did not post, was it a picture. Thank you very much.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Feb 2, 2009, 8:36 AM
Post #7 of 7
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Re: 03 Chev Cavalier LS gauges wacky
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Some pics just won't show or last - who knows on that? Doesn't show for me either.
#1 Job - Get an owner's manual at once! Download from someplace or seek one out used or a replacement thru GM. It won't tell you how to repair anything but it's full of pertinant info you need with the car.
Haven't thouroughly reread the whole thread but the common problems barring that it is capable of not running properly with the dash readings is quite possibly a ground issue already mentioned.
Before going completely nuts trying to figure more out I'd use a common jumper wire with alligator clip ends and add ground to what should be ground. Test for body ground - like a bolt or something for pedals and test that your clip is in fact grounded. Now look for a common metal part to the unit that houses all the failing items and ground it with that jumper.
NOTE: YOU CAN ADD GROUNDS TO WHERE GROUNDS SHOULD BE IN DUPLICATE WITHOUT HARM. DON'T ADD ANYTHING IF NOT SURE - GROUND OR POWER. You back power an LED test light ($3.96) at Wally World with pos current and it will light when its probe touches something that is ground. The LED lights (the ones I know of) will light green or red indicating power or ground readings if hooked up properly. LED uses so little juice it's less likely to cause a problem if the wrong item is touched or tested.
Just look for a metal stud, bolt or common metal to the housing of the guage cluster and add the ground. If everything comes to life properly then that's the problem. Sometimes it's easier to just think out and add a ground strap then to find where the proper/original intention failed.
Simple ground straps available at any parts outlet - look like this......
That's a generic pic of one - they come in all gauges and lengths - usually with eyelet ends - uses everywhere in vehicles.
If it gets to this and adding one you do need to think where to mount it and route it out of any harm's way,
T
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