Please help with cluster/electronic problem

[twikbcs23]

My 2001 Honda Civic is on its second cluster. The cluster is beginning to fail in a manner that is very similar to how the first one failed. When the ignition is turned on, the mileage reads, "Trip AB 8888888." It's almost as if someone unplugged an alarm clock and plugged it back in. Also, the gas gauge reads a full tank, even though I know it is not. The light border around the "D" for drive blinks. Strangely, the speedometer is unaffected. After about 10 minutes, the cluster works perfectly. This is exactly how my first cluster failed 20K miles and 3 years ago. Is it more likely that these two clusters failed on their own, or is it more likely that I have some kind of electrical problem that manifests in this way? I don't want to buy another cluster and have it fail on me, but I also don't want to go on a fishing expedition looking for an electrical problem on a ten year old car. Thanks.

 

[leothelion]

well. you could always take it to a honda dealer, i know its about 100 bucks for them to diagnose things. a little pricy but at least you know whats going on. the fuel sensor is pretty easy. just look up the procedure in your service manual, i think all you have to do is remove the rear seats and check the sensor. Then im going to guess that your gauge is trying to tell you something when you first turn it on, that whole tip AB 8888888 thing, take it to pep boys or autozone and have them plug in the diagnostic tool, they should do it for free and see if anything come up. But since both of them are doing this, im going to say its probably a problem with your car electrical system, as opposed to the two gauges themselves.