All of the dash instraments are not working...any ideas of where to start? fuses? bad connection? ground?

also the air bag light, and check engine are on as well, if that matters.

my only real concern is that the oil pressure gauge. How do i check to see if theres pressure if the gauge doesnt work?

tom

That seems like a good place to start to me.

Oil pressure is mechanical... It builds up as the engine is running...ELECTRICITY has nothing to do with the pressure.
So what I am saying is the lectric problem will have NO EFFECT on the oil pressure.. Even if you cannot READ the pressure...it is there and doing fine.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

If it's the same ailment the 97's had, it's a main ground ribbon if you're very lucky or it's corrosion if the main connection behind the dash which is a ROYAL PITA to get at. Unfortunately it's probably the latter.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rodent.gif" alt="" />

makes sence about the oil gauge. But if its not moving even when driving, it would be the oil pump. or could the gauge just crapped out.

as for the rest of the dash i was hoping i wouldnt have to take it apart but have to do what you have to do...

one more thing what about the mph and rpm. are they conected directly to the trany?

RPM comes from the dist and the MPH comes from the tranny..
You have well described a GROUNDING problem. Check them all.
If you are in the rust belt.. take em off and clean both the ground and the surface under it before putting them back on.
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

All your gages, pumps, senders, etc. are fine. See previous post. The whole dern dash has to come out to get at the stupid plug connector. In the '97's (and I'm guessing thru at least '99's too), the connection could work loose, get corroded, and BOOB, 98% of your dash goes out all at once. A few odd warning lights, like air bag, would come on too. All needed gages dead. It's a lot of carp to pull apart and get back together w/out a constant squeeking from missing a connector part. Me - I'd pay someone else to do it unless I had a whole weekend to do it myself or I was actually good at that.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" />

so i took the gauge cluster out to check the plug connections. All looked good, and wasnt that bad to take out,only took me 15min to get it apart. so once that all looked ok i traced the wires back to the power control mod(i think) there were about 5 large plug conections. i refered to my repeir book to see what they went to. 2 obviosly went to the gauges, and 2 other went to the "ccd bus"? any ideas what the bus is? i'm only curious because when the gauges begin to go out the digital odomiter reads no bus.

the gauges are working again for now i found a ground that was looking a bit green. It was the one under the hood next to the fuses in front of the batter.

Cool, Sounds like you've got better talent than me at pulling a dash apart and figuring the electrics. No idea what your "bus" thing is. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

it must be a differnt set up with the dash. i only had to take the out panel under the steering wheel(2screws) and the long piece on top of the dash(snapped out) then the cover to the gauge cluster (5 screws) and it pulled out.

I looked in the book for the "Bus" but no luck. i might call the dealer tomorrow.