Dash power drops out in '96 Lexus

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Paul Barrett - 07 Apr 2007 23:57 GMT

Over the last few days, my wife's '96 Lexus ES300 has developed a problem
I've never seen before.
While driving or even just idling in the driveway, the power to the
instrument cluster and radio will sometimes drop out for something like 3
seconds, then come back. I think the ABS light stays on but that's all.
It's always the same length of time. I've tried wiggling the ignition
switch but that doesn't cause it.
The engine keeps running, but it's pretty unnerving having it look like
you've turned the key off.

Opinions?
Ignition switch going out? Some relay going out? Is the 3 seconds a
built-in power-up delay?

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Daniel - 08 Apr 2007 14:23 GMT

>power to the
> instrument cluster and radio will sometimes drop out for something like 3
> seconds, then come back.

===
Try moving the dimmer adjustment and see if that has any effect.

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Paul Barrett - 08 Apr 2007 17:00 GMT

Um, I don't think that would cause the radio to stop playing.

>>power to the
>> instrument cluster and radio will sometimes drop out for something like 3
>> seconds, then come back.
> ===
> Try moving the dimmer adjustment and see if that has any effect.

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Scott Dorsey - 08 Apr 2007 23:18 GMT

>Over the last few days, my wife's '96 Lexus ES300 has developed a problem
>I've never seen before.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>Ignition switch going out? Some relay going out? Is the 3 seconds a
>built-in power-up delay?

Loose connector. Cold solder joint on instrument cluster board or bad
crimp on the fusebox. Pull the cluster and start banging on things
with a stick until you can reproduce the problem consistently.
--scott

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