04 STi: cluster gauge is dead... fuses?

ldivinag · 02-07-2007, 09:34 PM

while trying to clean the dust off the face of the cluster gauge, while engine was running, the cluster gauge suddenly dies.

all the idiot lights, though, work. ditto indicator lights like the HEADLIGHT, DCCD select, cruise control, etc.

speedo, tach, gas gauge, temp gauge, odo and outside temp is out, like when engine isnt running.

also, HVAC control lights are out.

clock is okay. light to radio is okay.

so i think it's a simple fuse. pull out the coin tray with the fuse panel markings.

#12 says ILLUMI and #13 says CLUSTER, IIRC.

so i replace them. nothing.

i buy one of those fuse checker thingees that light up. nothing.

i swap out numerous fuses on #12 and 13. still nothing.

everything else in the car works. headlights, HVAC, radio, cruise control.... everything except the guage cluster.

i check the main fuse panel under the hood too. that one checks okay.

am i missing something else?

thanks...

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bergs · 02-07-2007, 09:40 PM

the plug behind the cluster in unplugged?

I assume the cluster was removed from the dash?

ldivinag · 02-08-2007, 12:12 AM

no.

i just started the car.

while listening to radio, i decided to wipe off the cluster guage with a micro fiber cloth.

i wiped down the face. then BOOM. everything goes dead.

nothing was unplugged or removed.

STIStalker · 02-09-2007, 02:41 PM

I think you should just sell to me and that will get rid of your headache.

mattxander12 · 02-11-2007, 02:25 PM

maybe your forceful polishing cause the cluster to unplug

Nicky B. · 06-20-2007, 02:39 AM

Bump. I have a brand new 2.5i and the same exact thing happened to me, but I wasn't dusting.

ldivinag · 06-20-2007, 02:46 AM

you what happened?

stupid connector just came apart.

apparently, sometimes, they forget to tighten them or make sure the connectors SNAP together.

so pissed over this...

Nicky B. · 06-20-2007, 03:18 AM

ok so you took out the cluster, and snaped it together and it was good?

ldivinag · 06-20-2007, 03:19 PM

well the dealership who charged me (i thought i was still under warranty... sheesh...) did just that.

sigh.

cmobley92 · 11-22-2020, 02:41 AM

I'm having the same issue on my 07 forester after jumping it, is there a fuse I can check or something?

Apex2000Rs · 12-03-2020, 10:46 PM

A little dab of Hot Glue on the connector-to-tab connection should prevent the issue from happening again. If you find that this was your problem, go the extra mile and add this cheap insurance.

1. Sandpaper/emerycloth/lightly file the plastic surfaces. For circuit board just skip to #2.
2. Iso alcohol to prep surfaces.
3. A little hot glue. Keep an eye on the glue for the first minute to be sure it flows where you want it.

cmobley92 · 12-04-2020, 03:33 PM

Thanks, I pulled the cluster. After unplugging and re-plugging the harnesses it just worked! I may have to follow up on the insurance policy and maybe some deoxit if it dies again, I saw your response after I pulled it

11-22-2020, 02:41 AM	#10
cmobley92 Scooby Newbie Member#: 198824 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Queens, New York Vehicle: 2007 Forester Silver	Dead Gauge Cluster on 2007 Forester I'm having the same issue on my 07 forester after jumping it, is there a fuse I can check or something?

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02-07-2007, 09:34 PM	#1
ldivinag Scooby Specialist Member#: 13533 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: N37 39* W122 3* Vehicle: 04 sti black???	04 STi: cluster gauge is dead... fuses? while trying to clean the dust off the face of the cluster gauge, while engine was running, the cluster gauge suddenly dies. all the idiot lights, though, work. ditto indicator lights like the HEADLIGHT, DCCD select, cruise control, etc. speedo, tach, gas gauge, temp gauge, odo and outside temp is out, like when engine isnt running. also, HVAC control lights are out. clock is okay. light to radio is okay. so i think it's a simple fuse. pull out the coin tray with the fuse panel markings. #12 says ILLUMI and #13 says CLUSTER, IIRC. so i replace them. nothing. i buy one of those fuse checker thingees that light up. nothing. i swap out numerous fuses on #12 and 13. still nothing. everything else in the car works. headlights, HVAC, radio, cruise control.... everything except the guage cluster. i check the main fuse panel under the hood too. that one checks okay. am i missing something else? thanks... * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

02-07-2007, 09:40 PM	#2
bergs Scooby Newbie Member#: 124376 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: the humbling river	the plug behind the cluster in unplugged? I assume the cluster was removed from the dash?

02-08-2007, 12:12 AM	#3
ldivinag Scooby Specialist Member#: 13533 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: N37 39* W122 3* Vehicle: 04 sti black???	no. i just started the car. while listening to radio, i decided to wipe off the cluster guage with a micro fiber cloth. i wiped down the face. then BOOM. everything goes dead. nothing was unplugged or removed.

02-09-2007, 02:41 PM	#4
STIStalker Scooby Newbie Member#: 92783 Join Date: Aug 2005 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Puyallup, WA Vehicle: 2004 WRX WRB	I think you should just sell to me and that will get rid of your headache.

02-11-2007, 02:25 PM	#5
mattxander12 Scooby Specialist Member#: 111067 Join Date: Mar 2006 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Chicago, IL Vehicle: 2002 Old and busted.	maybe your forceful polishing cause the cluster to unplug

06-20-2007, 02:39 AM	#6
Nicky B. Scooby Specialist Member#: 148261 Join Date: May 2007 Chapter/Region: NWIC Vehicle: 2007 Scoopless SWP	Bump. I have a brand new 2.5i and the same exact thing happened to me, but I wasn't dusting.

06-20-2007, 02:46 AM	#7
ldivinag Scooby Specialist Member#: 13533 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: N37 39* W122 3* Vehicle: 04 sti black???	you what happened? stupid connector just came apart. apparently, sometimes, they forget to tighten them or make sure the connectors SNAP together. so pissed over this...

06-20-2007, 03:18 AM	#8
Nicky B. Scooby Specialist Member#: 148261 Join Date: May 2007 Chapter/Region: NWIC Vehicle: 2007 Scoopless SWP	ok so you took out the cluster, and snaped it together and it was good?

06-20-2007, 03:19 PM	#9
ldivinag Scooby Specialist Member#: 13533 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: N37 39* W122 3* Vehicle: 04 sti black???	well the dealership who charged me (i thought i was still under warranty... sheesh...) did just that. sigh.

12-03-2020, 10:46 PM	#11
Apex2000Rs Scooby Newbie Member#: 399419 Join Date: Aug 2014	A little dab of Hot Glue on the connector-to-tab connection should prevent the issue from happening again. If you find that this was your problem, go the extra mile and add this cheap insurance. 1. Sandpaper/emerycloth/lightly file the plastic surfaces. For circuit board just skip to #2. 2. Iso alcohol to prep surfaces. 3. A little hot glue. Keep an eye on the glue for the first minute to be sure it flows where you want it.

12-04-2020, 03:33 PM	#12
cmobley92 Scooby Newbie Member#: 198824 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Queens, New York Vehicle: 2007 Forester Silver	Thanks, I pulled the cluster. After unplugging and re-plugging the harnesses it just worked! I may have to follow up on the insurance policy and maybe some deoxit if it dies again, I saw your response after I pulled it