Sweeping guages at each start up
03-17-2005, 09:02 AM
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Sweeping guages at each start up OK so I was away from home for 2 months last fall and my battery died. I replaced it with a new Delco unit and the dial guages in the dash swept back and forth on the initial start up.
No big deal ..I heard this ocurrs if your battery dies or is dissconnected and you replace it...
My guages are now sweeping often upon start up, however. This happens about 50% of the time. My electrical system appears to be normal according to the alt. guage.
Is this something to check out or just don't worry?
No big deal ..I heard this ocurrs if your battery dies or is dissconnected and you replace it...
My guages are now sweeping often upon start up, however. This happens about 50% of the time. My electrical system appears to be normal according to the alt. guage.
Is this something to check out or just don't worry?
03-17-2005, 12:26 PM
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Clean your battery terminals and the chassis ground if that does not work try a different battery. Mine turned out to be the battery I replaced it and do not have the issue anymore.
03-17-2005, 10:37 PM
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I have a 99 C5 and it happens at each startup. It has happened since I bought the car used almost 2 yrs. ago. I also have a very new battery and it did it when the battery was new. Also, I did a h/c swap and retightened all the grounds at the heads, block and chassis. I think it looks cool also, but could it be a problem? I dunno.
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03-17-2005, 11:54 PM
#9
Originally Posted by wait4me
mine did the same thing when i put my battery in the trunk. i had to run a seperate 4 gauge ground and power wire all the way to the front and then it went away. I only ran the power one before and not the ground.. jes
03-18-2005, 09:17 AM
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The issue is the Guage cluster is too sensitive in the 99 (maybe other years) the biggest hassle is it clears the digital trip meter to 0 also, so the trip is useless. You can buy a new cluster from GM that fixes the issue but like I said it seems to be a voltage issue at Key On, my optima battery fixed mine.
03-18-2005, 07:03 PM
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If you still have the factory battery..look on the top of it, and theres a little round glass window....
If that window doesnt glow bright green, replace the battery...
Had that problem on my '99 after about a year, I tried all kinds of stuff. I took out the 'ol Dremel tool * basically sanded & polished both terminals, and covered them with dielectric grease once tightened down...problem came back next day..
Bought a Yellow Top from autozone & never looked back....I dont even bother checking if the terminals are tight anymore..
If that window doesnt glow bright green, replace the battery...
Had that problem on my '99 after about a year, I tried all kinds of stuff. I took out the 'ol Dremel tool * basically sanded & polished both terminals, and covered them with dielectric grease once tightened down...problem came back next day..
Bought a Yellow Top from autozone & never looked back....I dont even bother checking if the terminals are tight anymore..
03-18-2005, 09:25 PM
#13
whats happening(on the fbodys) is the computer is reset.... so it has to sweep the gauges to count the steps again...
when the computer is being reset, its because power has been cut from it.
either you disconnected the battery at some point.. or.
you have a bad electrical contact... so under heavy load (starting the car) the voltage drops for a split second, resetting it. oor.
you have a bad battery, and while it makes enough power to bearly crank, the voltage drops low enough upon starting(or other large load) that the computer resets.
first thing to look at are the electrical contacts.. clean them. dont forget the grounds and ground straps.
if that doesnt fix it, get your battery tested.
when the computer is being reset, its because power has been cut from it.
either you disconnected the battery at some point.. or.
you have a bad electrical contact... so under heavy load (starting the car) the voltage drops for a split second, resetting it. oor.
you have a bad battery, and while it makes enough power to bearly crank, the voltage drops low enough upon starting(or other large load) that the computer resets.
first thing to look at are the electrical contacts.. clean them. dont forget the grounds and ground straps.
if that doesnt fix it, get your battery tested.
03-18-2005, 09:56 PM
#16
It's the battery you have. If it's the slightest bit low, the guages start getting screwy. I always thought it was a malfunctioning guage cluster or a TSB related issue. Just get a good quality replacement. I had always heard that it was a it's supposed to do it thing. It's not. It'll stop with a good battery. It really is that simple. No kidding on that!