Gauges... sweeping? WTF?
03-10-2009, 11:34 AM
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Gauges... sweeping? WTF? Okay, it's a 99 Z28 with approximately 115k miles on it. About two months ago, especially I've noticed when it's cold out, when you start the car, the gauges (ALL of them) move in a sweeping motion, kind of like how a WRX does on start-up. The trip resets itself, but the radio doesn't lose any of its settings, which lead me to initially believe it wasn't the battery, but something to do with the computer.
Key up to today, where the car has completely died. I've got a deep suspicion that it's the alternator, simply because the battery was fine as of last night, but then again, the entire car was "fine" last night.
Anyone ever had it do this before? I know my Supra did some pretty weird stuff before the alternator went, but the gauges didn't dance.
ETA: Just to clarify, I've owned the car for over two years. It's only JUST started doing this after this past winter.
Key up to today, where the car has completely died. I've got a deep suspicion that it's the alternator, simply because the battery was fine as of last night, but then again, the entire car was "fine" last night.
Anyone ever had it do this before? I know my Supra did some pretty weird stuff before the alternator went, but the gauges didn't dance.
ETA: Just to clarify, I've owned the car for over two years. It's only JUST started doing this after this past winter.
Last edited by HLY_SHFT; 03-10-2009 at 11:39 AM. Reason: accidentally the whole thing
03-10-2009, 11:41 AM
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If your battery is going out, it can cause those problems. The radio doesn't take much power at all to keep it's settings, i'm not honestly sure about it though. But the trip resets and the gauges sweep from a dying battery.
03-10-2009, 11:44 AM
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See, I might have considered the battery too, except that the volt meter never indicated it was low, and this morning we hooked it up to a box that in other instances has pretty much acted as another battery. The Camaro just went "HAHAHA no."
03-10-2009, 11:59 AM
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Yeah, I'm going to yank it after work. I was just trying to determine if the gauge sweep was something other people have seen before. We have an O'Riley's here that does testing also.
Everyone else's money is on my alternator. It would be the more $$$ part, knowing my luck.
Everyone else's money is on my alternator. It would be the more $$$ part, knowing my luck.
03-10-2009, 12:21 PM
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My money is on the battery, GM issued a TSB on the 99's to replace the instrument cluster but a good battery makes it go away. It's caused by low voltage.
03-10-2009, 12:25 PM
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Crossing my fingers. Thank you for that - I never knew about the TSB. This car is full of weird **** I never knew about.
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03-10-2009, 12:31 PM
#8
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TSB# is 99-08-49-009 Trip Odometer Resets to Zero (Exchange/Install Instrument Cluster). Doesn't mention the gauges sweeping, but usually happens at the same time.
03-10-2009, 12:53 PM
#10
take your alternator to get tested too.
I replaced my battery after they told me it was my battery only to find out a week later that it was my alternator. Found out it was actually the power steering reservoir leaking fluid onto the alternator, but that was later
I replaced my battery after they told me it was my battery only to find out a week later that it was my alternator. Found out it was actually the power steering reservoir leaking fluid onto the alternator, but that was later
03-10-2009, 01:04 PM
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I refuse to take it to the Stealership to get anything touched/replaced; my wheels would probably end up missing if I did. 
I guess we'll pull both and have them both tested. Thank you so much for your help, gang.
03-10-2009, 01:10 PM
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I'd have them check both. Depending on the battery, the alternator might not cost more. I think mine was around $115 where the Optima RedTop batteries were $130 or $140.
03-13-2009, 08:25 PM
#18
It's a '99 model year thing. We own/have owned a total of 9 4th gen F-bodies and my '99 is the only one that has this annoying little habit. I have seen this subject mentioned in threads before and it was almost always '99 cars that were affected (thus the TSB).
Mine started doing this after running an Odyssey battery in the car, but it still likes to do it sometimes even after switching back to a full size battery.
03-13-2009, 08:34 PM
#19
Just looked around.
here on our own board (one of many):
https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...ng-itself.html
If you google the problem, you will get a bunch of hits. They pretty much all point to '99 model F-bodies having this problem. Other model years did not seem to be affected.
here on our own board (one of many):
https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...ng-itself.html
If you google the problem, you will get a bunch of hits. They pretty much all point to '99 model F-bodies having this problem. Other model years did not seem to be affected.
