lost my dash gear lights and temp gauge

My tranny selection dash light started acting up a couple days ago,the selector starts to flash and eventually stay steady.now they continually show bars across the gear range. the temp gauge also started acting up at the same time.It would not come up and when the tranny dash lights steadied out,then the temp gauge would start to work.now they wont steady out at all.the temp stays dormant and the tranny dash stays in a full bar mode.anybody have an idea what this might be? I've gone through the threads and didn't come across this one.any help appreciated..thanks R

robotennis61 wrote:

My tranny selection dash light started acting up a couple days ago,the selector starts to flash and eventually stay steady.now they continually show bars across the gear range. the temp gauge also started acting up at the same time.It would not come up and when the tranny dash lights steadied out,then the temp gauge would start to work.now they wont steady out at all.the temp stays dormant and the tranny dash stays in a full bar mode.anybody have an idea what this might be? I've gone through the threads and didn't come across this one.any help appreciated..thanks R

suggest you check (all of) the wiring harness connectors behind the insturment cluster.

do you recall making any changes to your Riv in the past month or so?

how's your battery?

Albertj

battery is good . havent done any wiring work lately.I guess it would be a good idea to pull the dash apart.I wonder if it has anything to do with a tranny sensor going bad.dont know why the temp gauge is bad too? heres a pic of the bezel and the problem



showing green bars across.....

checked all thewiring and everything looks ok.anybody have a clue as to what it might be? the temp sensor is new and the tranny runs fine.

Sorry Robo, I am going through my FSM for some idea but I can't seem to find anything. Hope someone can help figure this out.

same here. info I found requires diagnostic tools I dont have right now.

Do you think the two are related or just a weird coincidence? Could the Temp Sensor be acting up as well as a switch under the gear selector panel?

I recall someone having the tranny flashing lights too.I cant find the thread.something about a sensor inside the tranny that was causing the flashing.it was replaced and problem solved. cant say about the temp gauge though,must Be a coincidence

robotennis61 wrote:

I recall someone having the tranny flashing lights too.I cant find the thread.something about a sensor inside the tranny that was causing the flashing.it was replaced and problem solved. cant say about the temp gauge though,must Be a coincidence

Hmmm... there is a position indicator on the console linkage.

Albertj

well..I did all above mentioned repairs.The car is running really rough in drive.she calms down quite a bit when i put her in neutral while at a light.aside from a possible CPS and streched timing chain, has anybody had a similar problem?

wonder if it is something physical like chafed wires shorting somewhere... what's it look like, the wiring, from the transmission case out? you recall?

I am stumped.

Maybe it's a rodent's fault, chewing the wires??! hope not...

Albertj

everything looks good. its weird.I put her in neutral,she calms down.put her in drive at a stop and she just wants to chug herself to death ....i too am stumped. Im hoping its the CPS...

Is it at all similar to what Mr. Riviera experienced in this thread?
https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t5421-broken-crank-pulley-leads-to-timing-cover-removal

[quote="BMD"]Is it at all similar to what Mr. Riviera experienced in this thread?
https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t5421-broken-crank-pulley-leads-to-timing-cover-removal[/quo


I think youre right.I have a standard CPS along with a timing set.all I need is the cam sensor and I can dig in.I hope its not some jacked up wire buried somewhere.

Robotennis61,

Just wondering if you have solved your problem. I am not trying to hijack your thread. But today going to work my car did the exact thing. The PRND321 flashed with the green bars (exact as your pic) and the temp guage went to 0. When the PRND321 stopped flashing the temp guage went back up to its normal reading. No drivebility issues expereinced. Car seemed to be runing as normal. I feel the two things are definetly related. Nothing else in the guages or lights flashed.

My car is a 96 S/C with 220,000 km. No mods. Lots of new parts like wires, plugs, intake manifold gasket, fuel pump, fule filter, TCC solenoid, Crankshaft position sensor (at christmas). Change trans fluid four months ago with new filter. Cleaned IAC, Throttle body, EGR, MAF and so forth.

I looked around on the net, but could not find any information. Robotennis61 if you have any pointers or have solved your problem I would love to know.

EDIT
I just came back from my car. Hooked up a scanner at lunch and got some info. I have not been able to compare it with the FSM. I am also not that strong with transmissions.

Here is some data I pulled from the trans at idle. (gear indicator flashing as I did this, temp guage going to 0) No engine or trans codes found. Using a snap-on scanner.

Trans fluid C : 31 voltage 3.22
2nd start lamp: off T/C brake switch: open
Engine load: 2 % Air/fuel: 14.7
Kickdown enable: no Veh Speed: 0
1-2 soleniod: on 2-3 solenoid: on
TCC enabled: no TCC Clip: 915 rpm
TCC duty: 9 % TCC PWM open: no
TCC PWM shrt: yes TCC enable shrt: no
TCC enable open: yes
2-3 solenoid open: no 2-3 solenoid shrt: yes
1-2 solenoid open: no 1-2 solenoid shrt: no

Like I said, I am not strong on trans and have not compared to the fsm. Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
Rod

Robotennis61,

My PRND321 indicator flashing and Temp guage going to zero has, for know, knock on wood, stopped. The other night when driving and the PRND321 would start to flash, I began to push all my dash buttons to see if anything would stop it. What I noticed is that everytime I touched the traction control button the PRND321 would stop flashing and go solid. (Not sure why, no other buttons had an effect).

About five or so months ago I pulled the fuse for the ABS (various reasons) therefore my Trac Control does not function. I never had any issue until last week with the PRND321 indicator. So I put my fuse back in and the flashing and zeroing out of temp guage stopped.

Have you managed to find your problem?
Rod

No my friend. I am waiting to get a few long term restorations out of the way so I can dedicate an entire day to this prob.It might be a solenoid in the tranny that causes this.I have the fsm,but not done any studying yet.Im hoping its nothing.

Robo and Rodman,

I recently purchased a 1998 Riv and believe the dealer swapped the cluster out and did not notice some issues.

The car runs great, strong sc, lots of power, good tires and clean.

It was fine for a week or 10 days then the PRND321 indicator did exactly what robo has a pic of and the temp guage stays on low temp. I know the engine is fine cause it blows good heat and the cooling fans cycle on and off ok.

Did you resolve the issue? I purchased a spare cluster from eBay, and at the same time got a rebuilt radio as my tape player does not work. I bought the compllete shoip manuals but nothing shows how to get the dash off without breaking all the clips off, a couple guys are trying to help but withouot piucs I am lost.

I am thinking they swapped the cluster as they had the car registered with 76,000 in aug 16 2011 miles then had it for sale 30 days later on eBay with 111,000 miles. Thats nearly impossable.

Help ?

We have some info here on dash removal, hope it helps:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t1187-write-up-riv-dash-and-door-removal

I have same issue with gear selector and engine temp as noted by robotennis61.

in addition my traction control button either does not function or the light is out..

I believe the selling dealer swapped out the cluster as the mileage was 76,000 in aug 2011, and 111,000 in sept.

any solutions on these issues as yet?

Bob

My prob has not been resolved.The hot Vegas weather exacerbates the prob.when the temps drop below,say 80 deg,the gauges began to function properly.freaks the shit outta me.makes me feel the car just likes to be annoying. i'll roll with it.

I just swapped in a bulb for the traction control, it was missing but flahes when starting then stays on no matter what i do with the tc switch, also the tc switch has nothing to do this the prnd321 indicator in may riv.

mcwho wrote:

I just swapped in a bulb for the traction control, it was missing but flahes when starting then stays on no matter what i do with the tc switch, also the tc switch has nothing to do this the prnd321 indicator in may riv.

A GM dealer with Tech II will be able to tell you what's wrong without taking anything apart. Charge should be no more than 1 hour labor, more like 15 min to 1/2 hour. Problem in your case is almost certainly one or more bad wheel sensors or a bad ABS block. Cheap way out is to let the dealer tell you which hub is bad then get a replacement from a junkard (they fit several GM cars).

Albertj

I know the range switch that sits on top of the trans controls the gear selector display on the dash. I had this problem, but the temp gauge never malfunctioned.

I dunno what controls both of those things. To my knowledge, nothing but the range switch controls the gear slector display on the dash and it has nothing to do with the temp gauge.

Did anybody figure this one out?
My 96 with 46,500 miles just started the exact same symptoms yesterday. First I noticed the traction control light came on then I noticed the temp gage zero and gear indicator flashing at same time then all returned to normal (except the traction control light stayed on). Sometimes I start it and it's fine. I'm pulling the wheels of tonight as I'm due a brake job - so I'll look for something obvious for the traction control. My experiance with other cars and electronics would lead me to belive its a cold solder joint in a contoller board. It also had the cold air on passenger side while set to hot on drivers side at the same time not sure if it was related to the dash lights- saw the posts about the fix. It worked fine on the way home tonight.
Weird.