HELP: my dash lights and speedo wont work

[TougeSR20Kid]

Ok so this has been an ongoing problem with my car... well ongoing cus i didnt ever get around to fixing it. My speedometer and dash lights dont turn on when my car starts which isnt really a problem till i drive at night. the weird thing is that depending upon the outside temp and time of day they will kick in anywheres from five min to an hour after i start my car. does anybody know how i can fix this. i was thinking it might be my speedo sensor cus it will sometimes kick in if i hit a bump or take a turn hard enough. has anyone else had this problem with their S13? could it be related to the heads up display?

[Loofee95SE]

is ur dash HID??? and will it only work when its Hot outside. if it is..then u need to get a new HID unit. C

[ManoNegra]

Check the grounds around the lower tranny harness
Is the battery tied down properly?
How old is the battery?
Alternator in good shape?

[Indolent]

i know my speed sensor works because my mileage or odo still works, my digital speedo/hud show up usually at start up only, every once in awhile it'll pop up, usually when hot, i'm just damn lazy to fix it since taking off the bezel button harnesses/plugs are a pain usually, you just need to replace your speedo's capicitor i think, well that's if its the capacitor, here's a link/write up to fix your digital speedo

http://multi-index.myonlinesite.com/...0sx_speedo.htm

^^speedo only

but yeah i currently have the same problem, just the gauge lights don't work when it's usually cold outside, now i think they all went out, i believe it's the capacitors but i'm not sure either

[TougeSR20Kid]

the speedo and lights will allways turn on it just takes a really long time when its cold. the alt and battery are good. dash isnt HID but the Heads up is linked to the dash lights somehow cus they'll turn on at the same time... checked all the fuses and relays and they're all fine. once they turn on they're on for good until i turn off the car and if i turn it on again within the next half hour or so they'll kick in right away? so confused....

[Maeda]

HUD Cluster = The suck.

Shrinking solder breaks the connections fo nothing works, when it warms up the solder expands and shit works again.

Awesome janky CRAP. Sorry there isn't a good fix that I know of.

I just ripped that shit out and stuck an autometer ricer tach in the hole and called it a day.

[TougeSR20Kid]

nice would you recommend pulling out the dash and re wiring it or screw it?

i like the HUD its definitely a plus... anyway i might be able to salvage it and use it with an aftermarket digital speedo?

[Maeda]

Screw it!

I love HUD because the tach in the middle but...... they're too F#$%#$ING buggy. Just use the analog cluster... or get a stack.

If you can figure out how to rewire this thing so that it works properly, you'll become my hero.