What causes the dashboard to suddenly go black while driving?
3 Answers
Possible causes include circuit failure within the dashboard or poor vehicle grounding connection. It is recommended to contact a 4S dealership for inspection and repair. Dashboard maintenance precautions are as follows: 1. Avoid direct UV exposure to prevent discoloration, aging, cracking, wrinkling, and more importantly, to protect instrument precision and normal operation. 2. Dashboard cleaner wax can be used for maintenance - spray and wipe to complete cleaning, polishing and protection in one step, enhancing gloss while forming a bright protective film to restore natural colors. 3. It also provides anti-static properties, UV resistance, waterproofing, mold prevention and other functions, reducing dust accumulation to effectively extend dashboard service life.
Having driven for so many years, it's indeed quite frightening when the dashboard suddenly goes black. Don't panic just yet—this is most likely a power supply issue. The most common cause is a blown fuse; when the dashboard's independent fuse breaks, the whole thing goes dark. It could also be due to loose or corroded battery terminals causing poor contact, or a broken alternator belt preventing charging, leading to a sudden voltage drop and blackout. Another possibility is aged wiring causing a short circuit, especially in older vehicles. If you notice the screen going black, immediately turn on your hazard lights and pull over safely. Never continue driving—it's too dangerous without a speedometer or fuel gauge. Once parked, check the fuse box location, usually found under the steering wheel or in the engine bay. Locate the fuse corresponding to the dashboard and see if it's blown. If it is, try replacing it with a spare. If it's not a fuse issue, call for roadside assistance right away—leave the professional work to the professionals.
A sudden blackout of the dashboard mainly involves three system issues: power supply, wiring, and control module. For power supply, check if the battery voltage is below 12V or if the alternator belt is broken causing charging interruption. For wiring, focus on whether the fuse is blown or if the connector behind the dashboard is loose or detached. Control module faults are more troublesome and require a diagnostic tool to read the error codes. When dealing with such issues, I always emphasize safety first, advising the driver to pull over and turn off the engine immediately. For DIY troubleshooting, just two steps: open the hood to check for loose battery terminals or green corrosion; then refer to the owner's manual for the fuse diagram to check the status of the dashboard fuse. For anything else, it's best to leave it to the professionals at the repair shop who can use a multimeter to test circuit continuity reliably.
