The warning lights on my '91 240 come on and off as they please and have no bearing on reality. plus my odometer quit about a year ago. should i just get a new instrument cluster? is it an underlying electrical problem? i've seen a lot of posts about odometers and i bet its a broken gear. thanks!

Hi,

I think you need to be more detailed or explicit on which lights are lighting up?
An example would be:
Is there any order to it to them coming on.

Is there any condition or event happening when this happens?
If the engine tries to stall for, it is normal for all the lights to come on.

Do they flash on or off, as like in winking at you?
Are any dimly lit up and change back and forth while on?

A big one here!
Has the cluster been worked on by any previous owner?
Like a new radio or burglary alarm?


A broken 25 tooth gear is a very common issue with ALL the electronic speedometers from around 1985-6 years. The material that the gear is made of ages and becomes soft until it breaks off the teeth.

Hope this help you get a better response!

Phil
They fall out and disperse themselves inside the speedometer head.
If and when you replace that gear make sure you inspect every TOOTH IN ITS HEAD!

Hi thanks for the response

it's mostly the brake failure light (brakes are fine) the service light and the light malfunction light (lights are fine). they light up and stay lit. next time i drive the car one or two may be off, but they always come back on eventually. when i got the car the radio was laying in the slot not hooked up. an auto electric guy said the radio was not original and that once the radio is removed from the car they are inoperable--a theft deterrent. i think the original radio was stolen and a previous owner acquired another radio but was unable to hook it up so just left it sitting in the dash. the dash was a little torn up when i got the car with a couple missing panels and the radio thing. i have since replaced the radio. i found a good deal on a new instrument cluster so i'm going to try that. seems like a pretty easy installation.

All the warning lights should come on with the key in KP-II and the engine stalled. That's the Lamp Test function. Checks the bulbs.

Brake failure light: run by a level sensor in the master cylinder reservoir. Check fluid level. Remove plug if the light remains on when the engine is running despite plenty of fluid in the rez. If it still lights up, then suspect something is amiss in the cluster -- like the wrong one.

Bulb out light: If on when the headlights are on only, then check the low beams. If on only with the parking lights (center position), then you have an imbalance at the rear running lights. If it only comes one when you step on the brake pedal, well, that tells you one or more of the three brake lights needs attention. Or, it could be a faulty Bulb Failure Warning Sensor (BFWS).

Kinda hard to know brakes are fine and lights are fine... but if you say so.

Trying a new cluster probably won't fix either of those things, unless your PO put the wrong one in there - which happens - especially when the car comes with missing panels and no radio installed. A 91 cluster is not like a 90 cluster and not like a 92 either.


--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

"Never trust the work of the last guy, even if you're the last guy"

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle... topped off the brake fluid and voila...the brake light is off, as is the service light. I'm gonna check the taillights as soon as I can find a little assistance. I really appreciate your setting me straight. Temp gauge is intermittent. Got any wisdom about that?

I see you have a whole thing on this issue. Good stuff. Thanks again.