Gauges wouldn't light up for a short period of time

[DarkSpork]

I started my car this afternoon, let it warm up for about 10 minutes then drove it to the store and shut it off. When I start my car back up the gauges wouldn't come on even when I released the handbrake, put it in gear and turned the headlights on. The tachometer was reading at 0rpms (even though the car was running). After a little bit of cursing I decided I didn't need gauges to drive back and right as I began to give it some gas they came on. Does anybody know what would cause this? It was about -14 outside at the time, its much colder now (-23).

[jake75]

At those cold temps maybe the battery was not producing enough juice to do everything. Or when things are that cold - things happen - or should I say don't happen.It seems like it has been many years since it was below zero here in Columbus, OH for more than a day. I do remember a week of about -20 degrees F around Christmas time. Furnace ran about all the time and the house was still never above 65 degrees. No sense buying a furnace big enough to maintain a 90 degree difference when that happens only once in decade or more.

[DarkSpork]

Yeah these temperatures are pretty regular. My friend's dorm is so cold the towel he used after showering froze within two minutes after he used it.

[ColonelPanic]

You could have a loose connection to the cluster, or a loose connection in the cluster. Perhaps there's a solder joint somewhere in there that isn't 100% good and the brutally cold conditions aggrivated it. Once it warmed up, the connection was good... Did you have any signs of life at all in the cluster? indicators upon key on, or any other gauges doing anything, or the beeper? If the cluster was completely dead perhaps there is something wrong internal to the cluster's voltage supply or ground circuits. *shrug*If it keeps it up, could be time for a new cluster.

[DarkSpork]

Quote, originally posted by ColonelPanic »You could have a loose connection to the cluster, or a loose connection in the cluster. Perhaps there's a solder joint somewhere in there that isn't 100% good and the brutally cold conditions aggrivated it. Once it warmed up, the connection was good... Did you have any signs of life at all in the cluster? indicators upon key on, or any other gauges doing anything, or the beeper? If the cluster was completely dead perhaps there is something wrong internal to the cluster's voltage supply or ground circuits. *shrug*If it keeps it up, could be time for a new cluster.I didn't hear the reverse beeper but my ears were ringing from the bitterly cold winds. The indicator that my headlights are on did light up when I switched my headlights on, that was about it. I really don't want to have to but a new cluster, I plan on trading it in a few months anyhow...

[Sublimewind]

Sounds like maybe the relay that turns the lights on, mighta been frozen a little and didn't actuate fully.. But the RMP needle staying at 0rpm.. hmm.. again, maybe the power for the cluster might not have been there because of the relay... who knows, if it continues, then worry.. As far as the battery, not likely, cause the car runs on the alt after it's started