Odometer shows --------- and won't start?

[RalphHaus]

2001 Exp EB. 160K. Today I caught the odometer display going off while I was driving. Everything else seemed to be working OK. About 2 minutes later it came back on. About an hour later I went to start the Exp and all it did was crank. No fire at all. I looked down and the odometer display was blank. I turned off the key; turned it back on and the display showed only -------. No numbers, just dashes. Key off and back on again and all was back to normal! Starts and runs just fine. The only feed back (audible) that I get (it may have always been there) is a very short duration sound when I turn the key on and the display activates; almost the same sound as when an electric fuel pump pumps and reaches pressure. This sound seems to be emanating from the drivers side firewall area. Near the electrical circuit box. I'm a bit concerned about driving thus unit to far from the house (or repair shop). Any thoughts???

 

[daoud el-massri]

Your gem is on its way out or it gpt wet see if floor of truck is wet under your fusebox .

 

[RalphHaus]

Will this fault show on a computer diagnostic scan? I plan on taking it to my local shop for a scan but would like to go in prepared. As a side, it has been very cool and humid for the past few days, lots of condensation on metal AND plastic!

 

[stamp11127]

From what I remember the GEM doesn't set codes in the pcm. The GEM wigs out when wet, check the forum for the many threads on that issue.

 

[bedrck46]

is it possible that the PCM relay is acting up?

 

[stamp11127]

I work in the diesel world so this may have no effect. We have a "wait to start" period which as habit I use on my gas vehicles. I have noticed that on my wife's Beetle that if I forget and start too quick the electronic modules don't have time to communicate with each other. This results in a few idiot lights on the dash.

Try turning the ignition to on, wait about 5 seconds and then start.

For those that also live in the diesel world - we do wait for the light to go out.