New 4 Cluster multi gauge also not working

[Bearcat]

My 2000 Malibu's 4 cluster gauge was stuck with all 4 indicator needles showing various readings. The needle indicators would not budge off of their various readings despite restarts. The alarm would go off while out on the water, presumably because the volt meter was registering (stuck) in a low voltage position. Since none of the indicator needles would move, I pulled the whole gauge out and took it down to the Malibu dealer who sold me a new one. The new one had all of the needle indicators sitting on "zero". I thought I had solved the problem and that the new gauge would work. I popped it in and expected to head back out to the water this afternoon... But none of the needles budged off of their positions of dead zero. Zero oil pressure, zero fuel, no voltage, and no oil pressure. I can get the gauge to light up with the interior accessory light switch on. Other instrumentation on the dashboard works (although original tach is bypassed now with Perfect Pass).

Anyone want to take a shot at this one?

Thanks!

[99response]

Well give this a shot, all the plugs into the speedo, tach and multigauge work for any of the gauges, so flip those around and see if that changes anything.

Next I'd go and make sure your grounds look good on the ground bar under the dash.

If those don't pan out I'd say you may have a bad MDC or MMDC forget which one is on your boat. That is the computer that controls the gauges.

-Chris

[Bearcat]

It's good to know that all of the plugs are the same. I looked carefully at the harness and deduced the same and subsequently gave it a shot. It didn't work. But I'm glad for the confirming thought. It may be useful down the road.

I'll try to find the ground bar under the dash. I'm not sure what I'm looking for but I'll see if I can figure that one out.

Same for the MDC. I'll poke around and see if I see something that looks like an electronic control center. I'll tackle these two great leads early in the week.

FYI, a post dated January 15, 2006 entitled "MDC Controller Help?" implied that freezing could be the death of an MDC if it has water getting into it. Apparently the MDC should be air tight. That should help me identify it.

Also, just recently had the alternator repaired. I have to wonder if there's something connected with that operation that has locked up the gauges.

Thanks for the tips!

['00 Response LX]

My 2000 response oil pressure gauge stopped working a few months ago.

Then the tach stopped and I noticed the battery was dead.

I put an amp meter across the newly charged battery and there seems to be a drain of about 1 amp or so.

I also noticed when I first connect the amp meter the gauges make a ticking noise for the first 15 seconds or so.

The battery drain trashes the battery so we keep it disconnected.

Do you think this is the MDC or maybe a ground issue?

How can the gauges drain the battery?

Are they always powered up?

['00 Response LX]

My 2000 Malibu's 4 cluster gauge was stuck with all 4 indicator needles showing various readings. The needle indicators would not budge off of their various readings despite restarts. The alarm would go off while out on the water, presumably because the volt meter was registering (stuck) in a low voltage position. Since none of the indicator needles would move, I pulled the whole gauge out and took it down to the Malibu dealer who sold me a new one. The new one had all of the needle indicators sitting on "zero". I thought I had solved the problem and that the new gauge would work. I popped it in and expected to head back out to the water this afternoon... But none of the needles budged off of their positions of dead zero. Zero oil pressure, zero fuel, no voltage, and no oil pressure. I can get the gauge to light up with the interior accessory light switch on. Other instrumentation on the dashboard works (although original tach is bypassed now with Perfect Pass).

Anyone want to take a shot at this one?

Thanks!

['00 Response LX]

Looks like your MDC 1600 computer is bad. Mine just went this year as well.

They are about $ 230.00 and the only guy who has them in stock is chuck at Bay Area Watersports.

(813) 996-2297. Mine actually discharges the battery at about a half amp ever when the key is off.

I disconnected it and the ampmeter went to zero.