Expert: Ara - 2/22/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi. My gas and temperature gauges went out in my 'lude the other day. It burnt up. I am having trouble finding a new circuit board. Do you have any suggestions on how to fix it or a way to bypass and install gauges?

ANSWER: Burnt up?
Can you please elaborate on that.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry. On the circuit board, the black box, not sure what it is, is cracked and smells. What had happened is that I started my car and noticed those two gauges, gas and temperature did not illuminate. Immediately there was a horrible smell in the cabin of my car. It smelt like plastic and got really strong smelling. Now I am puzzeled with what to do next.

Answer
It seems like that there is at least one short in that circuit.
Instrument cluster may have a short in the circuit board itself, or the short may be in wiring leading into the instrument cluster.

Is the fuse #13 (10AMP fuse) in the under dash fuse box blown?
Also, have you removed the instrument cluster to check it physically?