Instrument Panel Failure w/Exhaust Brake

[Ray Kaminsky]

On our 2007 Beaver Contessa, when applying the exhaust brake, periodically the instrument panel goes crazy and then stops displaying - like when you turn off the ignition.  Has anyone had this issue and know of a solution?  FYI, When we pull off the road and turn off the ignition, then gauges come back to normal when we restart.

[Steve Jewell]

Check the grounds on the back of the instrument panel. If they are tight make sure they are actually grounded under a load. You can run a new one use a mounting bolt on the steering column.

Steve J

[Edward Buker]

Running a redundant ground to the instrument cluster could help rule out that the ground is an issue. It could also be that when you apply the exhaust brake that the current required to activate the exhaust brake is dropping the voltage required to operate the instrument cluster. Applying the exhaust brake and measureing the + to ground that feeds the instruments and see what happens voltage wise should help sort this out. It could be that a relay feeds the + side of the dash panel and the circuit that triggers that relay is also somehow involved with the activation of the exhaust brake. The current that is used to drive the exhaust brake when the dash switch is activated could lower the relay trigger below its reliable activation voltage.

This may be a case where Monaco has seen the problem if it is inherent in the design of the wiring harness or relay configuration and could maybe pass some info along as to the cure....worth a try.

Regards Ed