Every time I start my car the gauges go nuts and spike around. Also the trip odometer resets to zero. Any ideas as to what's causing this? These are the only symptoms... could I be in danger of something bad happening?

 

it is one of 2 things

1 you have a 99 car, and the cluster is going bad.

or 2, you have a battery that is not up to par.

Replace or test battery first, and if you have a 99, decide to try to get it fixed, or live with it.

Ryan

 

I do indeed have a 99. I don't think it's the battery because the radio is fine (i.e. not resetting or anything). If it's the cluster, I can live with it. I just want to be sure nothing else is going to happen.

 

I too have a 99 and it did that ever since I bought the car until recently that I changed the battery and everything is ok now...what I noticed on the old battery was heavy corrosion inside the batt. terminal

P.S. there is a TSB about the tripmeter resetting back to 0 every time the car starts I thought that was my case but it wasn't

 

You need a new cluster. Then you need to syncronize the cluster with the BCM or the car won't start. Go to the dealer. Did one 3weeks ago on a 99 TA.

 

Check your ground strap between the body and the engine.
If this is loose or corroded it will cause the problem. Good luck

 

ground strap... yeah it seems like a grounding issue. How do I locate this?

 

Battery.
That's my 02!

 

There should be a small ground wire coming off the battery ground cable that goes to the frame or body panel.Make shure that it is tight.With all the engine mounts made of rubber this is there to ground the body's electrical system.

 

You mean the black wire that's bolted to a bit of the frame just to the left of the engine? A little behind and to the right of the battery?

 

That's it
If you have a good volt meter place one lead on the ground post at the battery (not the cable but the actual battery post) and the other lead on the cable end on the frame, set the meter for dc voltage low range under 5 volts and have someone start the car, if the voltmeter shows over 1/2 volt while cranking, the ground connection on the frame or battery need's cleaning.
Good Luck

 

Thanks! I will see if my voltmeter has the settings. I kinda noticed that the ground was a little dirty when I was last under the hood. It's probably what's been causing the problems.

 

Nice, I actually found this out last weekend. Been having the trip
odometer reset on me, but seemed only when it got real cold. Past
couple weeks the car has been really hard to start, so I finally figured
to replace the battery. Being that I like to support those people who
are trained to do this job, I took it to a local shop, as I was in a hurry
and trying to get to a prior engagement. Got the battery replaced by
a hottie working at the shop (nothing sexier then female mechanics! )
and now I've noticed, no more trip odometer resets.

 

I just went through the same problem with my 99'. I replaced the battery and all is well. I did have a little issue until i realized there was 'play' with the battery cable on the post causing some wierd stuff to happen while driving. All better now, i was starting to freak out.