Instrument Cluster Shuts Off When Driving: What Can Cause This?

Every car comes with an instrument cluster. This is where the vehicle communicates important messages and displays its performance. The instrument cluster is where the vehicle tells you the speed it is moving at, whether the battery is okay, whether the engine is malfunctioning, and so on.

Dash problems highlights

• Level of urgency:medium
• DIY inspection:impossible
• DIY repairs:impossible
• Can you drive?yes
• Price of repairs:$250 - $1,000
• If ignored:no info, short circuit, fried dash
• Ways to fix:check the electrical contacts, find a good mechanic

What is an instrument cluster?

An instrument cluster is a board located right in front of the driver but behind the steering wheel. The board comprises several gauges, indicators, and warning lights. By reading the different indicators and gauges, the driver can keep tabs on the vehicle's performance and status.

The instrument cluster goes by several different names, such as:

• Dashboard
• Dash
• Gauge cluster

The instrument clusters for different makes, models, and even years of make vary.

The manufacturers of vehicles strive to make the instrument clusters easy to read, attractive, and abreast with the ever-changing technology. You will find that many modern vehicles come with digital instrument clusters instead of analog ones.

An instrument cluster will normally have the following indicators and gauges:

• Speedometer
• Oil pressure gauge
• Turn signal indicators
• Fuel gauge
• Odometer
• Tachometer

What can cause the instrument cluster to shut off

The instrument cluster is crucial not only when you are driving but also for maintenance purposes and the general status of the vehicle. Sometimes, this important display component of the vehicle might shut off. To get it working again, you will need to know the likely reasons why it shut off to start with:

• The lights are not working

The instrument clusters, especially those installed on modern vehicles, are digital. Just like in your hour or office, lights get burnt out every other day for a wide range of reasons. The gauges and the indicators may be working fine, but the LED light is burnt out. This means you will not see anything the instrument cluster has to show, especially at night.

• A wiring issue

The wiring system leading to the instrument cluster may be compromised, leading to power or messages not reaching the intended destinations. A complex wiring system leads and leaves the dash, and any fault in the wiring network can lead to the dash shutting off. A wiring problem can also cause the dash to display the wrong sign or warning.

• Blown fuses

Several fuses ensure the instrument cluster works as required. If one of the fuses blows out, the dash will shut off. The blowing out of a fuse could also mean a single or a few related indicators malfunctioning, especially in the case of a digital instrument cluster.

• Stuck needles

The older vehicles were equipped with analog needles that employ a mechanical mechanism. You will find that indicators such as the speedometer or the tachometer use needles which require a spring and small gears to let the needle move along the gauge. One of the mechanical components could fail, making the needle get stuck and the instrument cluster ineffective.

• Voltage spikes

For the correct voltage and current to be received by the vehicle's electrical circuit, the battery and the alternator must be working properly. If the alternator has a sudden voltage spike, electrical systems, including the instrument cluster of the vehicle, can get damaged. A voltage spike could also blow out the fuses.

• Vibrations

The running of the engine causes the vehicle to vibrate. Driving off-road also causes the vehicle to vibrate. There are instances when the vibrations of the vehicle are more than the vehicle was designed to handle and this could lead to the whole dash or some of the indicators malfunctioning. Such vibrations can cause connections behind the dash to become loose or some wires to be damaged.

Likely symptoms of a faulty instrument cluster

A driver heavily relies on the instrument cluster to tell them the status of various functions and parts of the vehicle. It is almost impossible for a lot of drivers to tell when their engine has an issue other than when they see a check engine light on the dash. It is, therefore, crucial that the dash communicates the correct information to you.

Here are the likely symptoms of a faulty dashboard:

• Complete shut-off - The instrument cluster can suddenly go dark on you, meaning that you can't read anything. This is especially true for vehicles equipped with digital dash. The shutting off can be sudden or intermittent.
• Inaccurate readings - You may have fueled the vehicle, but the fuel gauge reads 'E' (empty) even then. The opposite can also happen, where you can get stranded because the fuel gauge tells you the fuel tank is full but the tank is empty. You could be driving on the highway, but the speedometer indicates you are not moving. The gauge could also be slow to respond, making you make a wrong decision. An instrument cluster behaving this way can be dangerous because you can drive over or below the legal speed limit on a given road or lane.
• Dimming or flickering lights - You may notice the gauges flickering or functioning intermittently. You may also notice that the indicators or warning lights are dimmer than usual on your digital dash. It would be best to visit an expert soon after seeing this because the dash might shut off soon.
• Stuck indicators - A wiring problem or a faulty fuse could cause this. The failure of a mechanical component such as a gear or spring could also cause it. The fuel gauge could be stuck at 'F' even when the fuel tank is empty. The failure of one indicator or warning sign can be an indicator that the rest of the instrument cluster is failing.

Driving with a dead instrument cluster

The instrument cluster serves as a display where the vehicle's performance and status are displayed. The car will drive just fine, even with a dead instrument cluster. But for your continued enjoyment of the vehicle, the instrument cluster must be functional. You might be tempted to drive your vehicle even after the dash shuts off. But as many experts and seasoned drivers will tell you, that is a bad idea.

An instrument cluster communicates the following information, which, if not acted upon, can lead to serious repercussions:

• Speed - The driver should always know the speed at which their vehicle is traveling. This is not only a safety requirement but a legal one. Knowing the vehicle's speed helps the driver avoid violating the speed limit rules.
• Engine temperature - A faulty radiator or water pump will cause the engine's heat to shoot over the roof. A heat gauge lets the driver know whether the engine is overheating. In response, the driver gets the vehicle repaired before further damage can be caused. The heat gauge also lets the driver of such a faulty vehicle make stops when the engine overheats.
• Fuel level - If you are planning on driving 500 miles into the outback, then it is critical that you be well prepared to handle a trip through the jungle. The fuel gauge must be functional if you want to know how much fuel you have in the tank. A faulty fuel gauge can be the reason why you may end up stranded in the middle of nowhere at the worst of times.
• Distance covered - Going to a place you aren't familiar with is easy if you know the distance to cover. A faulty odometer cannot help you know how far you have come or if you need to go. The odometer also plays a crucial role in determining when the vehicle's maintenance service should be done. If your vehicle is serviced after 5000 miles, then it is the odometer to tell you when such time comes.

Conclusion

Whenever your instrument cluster shuts off, immediately look for a way to repair it. Unless you are taking your vehicle to have the instrument cluster repaired, you should never drive a vehicle without one.

An instrument cluster is a complex system; it is not normally something one can repair at home. An expert is needed to handle any dashboard work. In many instances, the dash is replaced rather than repaired. However, if the cause of the dash cluster shut-off is a blown fuse or a simple wiring issue, then quick repair work can be done.

As stated earlier, ensure the repair or replacement of an instrument cluster is done on time because serious damage can arise from not getting the vehicle's readings and warnings on time.