I have a 2003 350Z touring.

Recently my car has sounded hesitant when I start it up, but hasn't failed to start yet. The other day after I started it up, the lights and rpm/speedometer needles were flickering and freaking out for about a minute, until they failed completely. Now my speedometer does not work, rpm gauge doesn't work, and none of the lighting works except some of the indicator lights like my 'door open' light. All my other electronics work including radio and AC. Also, when I engage my turn signals there is no "clicking" sound but the signals do work. I eyeballed the fuses on the driver side and none of them look fried, I have yet to really take them out and look at them, and also look at the ones under my hood. I'm also not sure which fuse/relay to even check, as there are none labeled along the lines of 'gauges'.

Months ago I replaced my radio with an aftermarket one, not sure if that can be part of the problem.

Any ideas?

 

women don't exist on the internet. Have you tried making your car a sammich?



in all seriousness though check your fuses. pull them out because it's sometimes impossible to see if it's blown while still in the fusebox.

 

I'm only being nice because you have ***** and a vagina.

Pull the fuses and look at each one. It's an easy starting point.

 

Fuses are good. I'm wondering if it's a battery problem since my car sounds progressively more hesitant to start, unless it's just another addition to my problem here. A 'master mechanic' told me that even just a little battery voltage loss can make things screwy.

 

In BMW's sure I've had systems go haywire from a bad battery but never in a nissan. Not saying it isn't possible but I really would have guessed fuses.

Has anyone modified the car at all? Aftermarket wiring, radio, gauges, etc? My next guess is wiring.

On a real point though try making it a sammich. It's worth a try.

 

My next for sale thread is going to be "Female looking to sell 'insert item here'"

Wonder how many would be hooked?

Sammich posts is funny.

I have no further help other than what has been mentioned. Best of luck.

 

Hmmm......the variable seems to be the new stereo, but it was installed months ago. Who put the stereo in? Maybe a hack-job with a wire working it's way loose and shorting something? Maybe a slow drain on the battery stemming from a bad install?

There's more than just a little "interconnectivity" between all the boxes and clusters behind that dash, so cause can sometimes be quite removed from effect.

Remove the stereo, return to stock configuration, double-check all fuses, make sure the battery's not shot. If that remedies it, examine the stereo installation closely as you put it back in.

 

Exactly my point, haha

I installed it. I read that the white ribbon behind the AC controls is also associated with the gauges? Not sure but it wouldn't hurt to take a look I guess. Damn, that was such a pain in the *** to install too.

 

With this new info I would also believe the radio install has something to do with it. Possibly that a connection wasn't solid enough and loosened over time causing a short. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the hvac controls tied into the gauge lights.

 

Well my starter is dead, not sure yet if it's related to my gauge problem, haven't had time to look much further into it. Off to the shop for now!

 

It's not fair but the car might be just playing with you.

 

New starter in, car is running. Had a mechanic friend basically take apart my car dash and check all the wiring with a multimeter, he's 99% sure I have a bad AC amplifier, so now I'm on the hunt for a working one to plug in and see if it fixes the gauges, before I go spending money on a new one.

 

Foes the gauge work with the new starter ?

 

Foes the gauge work with the new starter ?

 

Nope, and I tried plugging in a newer AC control unit/AC amplifier, no luck. But it was from an 08 Z which may not be compatible, even though it plugged right in. The owner said it was actually an 05 part, who knows. My last option is to actually find someone with an 03 Z to swap the part, unless anyone has any other ideas.

 

Update: After replacing my battery to see if low voltage was causing the problem, nothing changed. That same day, my starter died and I had to have my car towed. Starter replaced, still no gauges working. Finally, just found a used gauge cluster, installed that, and VOILA! it works!
What a pain in the ***. Hopefully someone with this problem sees this thread and saves himself a hassle.