Guages Move back and forth when Starting.

[Djanvk]

I have a 04 Explorer XLT which when I start up the guages flicker/vibrate at 0 for a few seconds and then go to normal. THis just started about a week ago and it is very cold where I live.

I also had to jump my Xplorer today to get it to start.

THanks

 

[rc-gua]

It happened to me when my battery was close to dead. Check it out, maybe you have to replace it soon.

 

[97awdx]

The instrument cluster has an intelligent module which communicates with the Powertrain Control Module and shows the data using its gauges and odometer/trip meter display. The cluster has a test mode for diagnostics use. You can do a gauge sweep to make sure the gauges are OK, and you can toggle to see the alternator voltage output.

Step 1
Insert Key (do not turn it)

Step 2
Press and hold the Trip-Meter Reset Button.

Step 3
While holding the reset button, start your car and continue holding the button.

Step 4
Within 10 seconds, the display should change to "test" (written in a silly LCD font) and the needles will go nuts. Release the Button.

Step 5
Pressing the button will now cycle through some 15 different modes or more.
Breakdown of some of the functions:

Not sure why this is not a sticky its been up here before, you can check DTC also.

 

[Curtis]

this has been happening to me in the last week or so.. its cooler in the mornings here in FL (50's)

Once started, all cluster needles vibrate/shake on or below 0's... and then after 5 seconds or so will come up to normal.

I noticed that the truck cranks a little slower in the past couple weeks too so maybe a new battery is in order for me too very soon.

 

[Black Dynomite]

Same thing happened to me yesterday. I had been out diving for a few hours and the missus had the tailgate up, so the interior lights had drained the battery quite a bit.

 

[Fox Fader]

Mine did the same thing for a while till I got a new battery.

Go to Orilley's a and they will match walmart's $75 battery to their $100 battery.

One time it went into test mode by itself.

 

[Curtis]

If this turns out to be because of a low battery... its the stranges symptom I ever heard off....

Well... except for my Dads 84 S15 Jimmy.... circa - 1994....The fuse for the horn popped and when you'd press the horn the interior dome lights would come on... new fuse and it was all fixed! strange!

 

[Fox Fader]

Strange, but true. I didn't realize how slow mine was really cranking till I hit it with that 850 CCA.

 

[jrford]

If this turns out to be because of a low battery... its the strangest symptom I ever heard off....

mine did the same thing, new batt and it was fine. Somehow the voltage drop is triggering the self test.

 

[Curtis]

Update:
============
Got a new battery last night.
I too did not realize how slow it was cranking until the new one was in.

And as an added benefit...
- my 6 Disc CD player no longer initializes all 6 discs on start up
- my gauges no longer go nuts on start up
- my ABS light has not been on since!

 

[jakedrew]

i agree with the new battery. my 04 did some weird things when the battery got low.

 

[pet575]

I had the same problem on NYE. Thought it was a bad battery, pulled it and got it tested and they said it was fine. Corroded battery cable was the problem in the end. Replaced terminals and all is well.

 

[jakedrew]

that is one thing i noticed. on this ford them terminals sure get corroded alot. so i clean them often and tried some of the battery terminal spray stuff.

 

[1_v8_merc]

dead battery, happened to me too.

I was thinking "this seems too simple to be a dead battery, why the #### would they make the gauges do that? It seems bad for the gauges to flicker THAT insanely fast.....of course it was a dead battery! I knew it couldn't have been anything else."


Threw the battery on a 12v charger for a while, and it worked fine ever since, never had a problem!

I've NEVER had a dead battery that got a re-charge and actually HELD it's charge more than a couple months!
I was pretty surprised,lol.