gauge cluster doing full sweep at startup

[teamhurst]

just a quick question i have a 04 gt i got back in early june. the day i got the car the first time i started the car the gauges did a full test sweep and i didnt see them do it again for 2-3 weeks after and then only a couple of times after now that its getting colder in the mornings and raining alot im seeing them do a test sweep first thing in the morning and some times at noon when i leave work for lunch and then sometimes at the end of the day.
all after the car as been seating for 2-3 hours or more
is there any meaning behind this more frequent test sweep? any help would be great thanks

 

[wmburns]

It means that the PCM and/or the cluster has lost power. Check the battery and battery cables for starters.

 

[ItsStock02]

Battery is going.

 

[joshjwc9]

Yep. I installed a new bezel today and unplugged it to clean everything. Did it on startup.

Happens when your battery is going. Replace it immediately because it will be dead sooner rather than later. I know this first hand.

 

[teamhurst]

gee well isnt that great well theres a hundred bucks shot to hell thanks for the infor. it did help

 

[cronin49]

Battery is going.

100% correct. It happened to me twice before I realized that was the problem.

 

[teamhurst]

not to sound like a total duns but we are talking about the battery under the hood right.
the car start just fine no probs there

 

[wmburns]

The cluster sweep means that power is being lost to the cluster. There are tons of places power COULD be lost. However, the usual place to start looking is the battery (yes it's located under the hood).

If the battery is good and the battery cables are clean and tight, then you day just got harder. So do yourself a favor and double check that the battery and charging system is in tip top shape.

Otherwise, expect to be looking for a loose ground, loose fuse, or other loose electrical connection.

 

[ItsStock02]

My buddies 99 gt did the same thing before he replaced his dying battery. The car would crank, pause, then crank very slowly and the gauges would sweep every time.

 

[txredgt]

Can someone describe the so called full sweep the cluster would go through? Never heard of it.

 

[Deleted member 38176]

Can someone describe the so called full sweep the cluster would go through? Never heard of it.

Turn the ignition on (not necessarily turning the motor over)

Needles on all 6 gauges sweep from the off positions to the max positions (fast)

Needles rest at max positions for a second or two, then sweep back down to the off positions (fast)

Needles then rise to normal positions when you normally turn the car on

 

[ItsStock02]

Hold the trip/reset button on the cluster and turn the key to the "on" position. The gauges will do their sweep.

 

[teamhurst]

from the looks of things its the factory battery so that makes it 7 years old and its time for a new one . the clamps are clean and tight.