Hey guys, im pretty when the gauges swipe on the s197 it means that the battery is low. The gauges swipe on my 99 on start up, does that mean i need a battery replacement? not sure if every body elses gauges swipe on startup either thats why im asking

 

I always thought that the needles cycled when you started the engine. Than again the battery died recently...

 

My 99 does it after I unhook the battery, but not when I start it everyday.... so maybe your battery volts are dropping down and causing it.... you mite be right

 

It is not normal for the gauges to reset each time you start the car, as others have suggested it can be caused by a failing battery--check the battery voltage while cranking the engine, it should be greater than 10.5V. If less than the battery has a one or more weak cells and should be replaced.

One other thing to check is fuse 2.21, a 5A fuse in position 21 of the central junction box fuse panel, under the dash. This fuse supplies a constant +12V to the instrument cluster to maintain it's volatile RAM.

 

thanks cliffy!! you are the man. i will check the voltage upon cranking. and those fuses. it was raining the whole day before i started her up, so maybe a short of some sort? not sure though... but its raining again.. all day. so ill have to do it during the week sometime.

 

how old was your bat?