Instrument cluster flickering & engine idles lower

AVANTE · February 12, 2020

So I got my gasket replaced and once the work was done, I look at the dashboard to see that now there is a permanent airbag light. Also, when I revved the engine the instrument cluster would switch off and on rapidly. So the mech tapped on some plugs & wires and although the rapid flickering stopped, it does feel slightly twitchy.

The radio & climate control LCD screen are perfectly fine though. Also, when I reached home, I noticed a variation in the sound and saw that the engine is idling at less than 800rpm. Mech isn't an expert on wiring but he told me I might have some sort of a short circuit/loose connection somewhere. Nothing wrong with the battery terminals, infact the positive terminal is new.

I'll take it to a technician tomorrow morning, I just wanted to know what to expect. This car has started to stab me in the back now

Edited February 12, 2020 by AVANTE

Davy · February 12, 2020

The idle RPM difference is likely to be due to the fact that the battery was disconnected during the repair which would have caused the ECU to reset. Drive about 20km and the ECU should re-learn.

As for the flickering issue and Airbag warning light, it has to be something not connected properly after the repair. I'd check the ground wires and the alternator connector first. Then get a diagnostic scan done to find out the SRS system error code.

Oh also... it's not the car that's stabbed you in the back, it was the garage. ? Why did you even drive the car off in that condition? Should have stayed there and demanded they fixed all the problems that they introduced during the repair. Anyway, good luck!

AVANTE · February 14, 2020

On 2/12/2020 at 8:38 PM, Davy said:

Oh also... it's not the car that's stabbed you in the back, it was the garage. ? Why did you even drive the car off in that condition? Should have stayed there and demanded they fixed all the problems that they introduced during the repair. Anyway, good luck!

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Like I said, he isn't a professional in electronics. He was guessing that somethinf maybe wrong with the harness or that there might have been a short circuit. So he was afraid to touch that side hence he recommended me an expert nearby. So I went and found out that the TPS & the connection related to the dashboard has broken clips due to the previous overheating incident that the plastics degraded and the clips weren't flexible so they had cracked on removal. It was a small job and I got it done along with an ECU scan.

Everything is fine except now I blew another gasket again just after driving 3km. I called the darn mechanic and we both took the car to his garage. I will be going there in a few hours from now (when he is opening) and will observe every step he takes. I had only given him half his payment for the initial repair so he can't pull anythng on me.

So yes..the garage stabbed me. Ironically, I made a post regarding careless garage buggers just a few days back.

Edited February 14, 2020 by AVANTE

tiv · February 14, 2020

Better show it to a electronics specialist

Run a proprietary scanner and all that. I snoop around even at Unit#d Mot#rs while they do repairs, over 100s of times I've shown them when they missed to put back clips, when they missed plugs covers etc.

once they forgot to clip in the abs sensor, a long time ago as they had to remove the hub assembly to replace a wheel stud which I over torqued once

Edited February 14, 2020 by tiv