Hi all,

I am new to this forum and like most forums I have yet to figure out the FAQ's. So I apologize in advance if my question has already been discussed.

We have a 2000 T&C AWD that has 182,000+ miles, almost all without any problems.

Yesterday I went to go out in it and the battery was almost flat dead.

The battery is not new but it has not shown any signs of needing replacement.

I cleaned the posts and put the charger on overnight.

The engine started without any problems this morning.

The alternator was putting out more than enough amps that I don't think there is anything wrong with it.

No lights had been left on.

No doors had been left ajar.

The car is parked inside a garage.

When I went to go I noticed the tach and speedo were not working. However, the cruise will set and maintain speed.

My question is in regards to the low battery. Could something have failed in the instrument pod that would cause a drain on the battery? If so, what will it take to fix it?

Any other ideas as to the cause of the battery drain or what has caused the tach and speedo to quit working?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Mark O.
Winlock, WA

 

look close to the spedo and tach there is a little black peg on there a back stop are they wrapped all the way around to the other side?

 

Both needles are on the correct side of the pegs.

When I had the van out yesterday, when I realized the tach and speedo were not working I pulled over the first chance I had to stop. Once stopped I turned off the engine and restarted just to see if perhaps the key had not returned to the run position correctly. Which made no change.

This morning when I got in the car to check to see the position of the needles I thought I would start the engine just to see what would happen.

Of course, the tach appears to be working correctly and the battery seemed to be fully charged.

Now I am really puzzled.

Don't you just love electrical gremlins?