Help: weird Electrical problem during start-up

[TonyG]

Sometimes when I start my car, the speedometer and tachometer needles swing out to their full scale max values for about a second (like some type of surge), then behave normal afterwards. Sometimes all I need to do is put the key in the ignition and turn half way (without cranking the engine) for this to occur. This only happens when the car is started up cold.

Car idles and runs fine. It's only those first couple of second that the needle go crazy. This used to only happen when I would disconnect the battery, then reconnect. Now its happening all of the time.

I just replaced my battery, so i know it's not a weak battery. Any ideas?

 

[maddogg545]

I dunno it could be somthing funky with your instrument cluster. Take it to a tunner shop and see what they say. As long as your car runs fine I wouldn't worry to much about it. I know that all the gauges on the vetts do that when you turn the key, but they are supposed to do that. It's pry just a little glich.

 

[01PonyGT]

Sometimes when I start my car, the speedometer and tachometer needles swing out to their full scale max values for about a second (like some type of surge), then behave normal afterwards. Sometimes all I need to do is put the key in the ignition and turn half way (without cranking the engine) for this to occur. This only happens when the car is started up cold.

Car idles and runs fine. It's only those first couple of second that the needle go crazy. This used to only happen when I would disconnect the battery, then reconnect. Now its happening all of the time.

I just replaced my battery, so i know it's not a weak battery. Any ideas?

I had the same problem a few years ago after hooking up my audio system. Turns out the positive wire on the battery was loose and caused the ecu to "reset" it self evertime I started the car. The guages do a full sweep at start up everytime you disconnect it from power. Double check that your battery connections are tight, especially since you just replaced your battery.

WES

 

[NasaGT]

I agree with 01PonyGT - everytime you disconnect the battery you will see the guages sweep through a test mode when you go to start it up. One of your battery cables is probably loose.

 

[TonyG]

I have my battery mounted in the trunk. Everything checks out OK there...maybe I need to check things in the front.