I removed the cluster in my car to replace a broken speedo cable and some burned out bulbs. also my fuel gauge does not work there was some specs of rust on that gauge, I will try to find another one to replace it with, and hope its not the sending unit from the tank...anyway the question is can I start the car and drive it while the cluster is out?, I mean everything is out, or do I have to plug it back in before I do? the reason Im asking is I need to drive it to my friends house on sunday to powerwash the motor and the rims, its only a few blocks away...

 

Since the VSS is in the speedo on your '86, you might not get the TCC to operate, and you'll likely set a DTC 24 in the process of driving it, but the engine should start and run otherwise.

 

well thats just it, im getting ready to take the whole intake off anyway, ill have to disconnect the battery and that will reset the codes, i just want to make sure i can start it and drive a few blocks to get the powerwash then back home and take it apart, without doing any damage to the ecm or anything else, other wise i will hook everything back up for the short ride....

 

About your fuel guage, make sure your ground it fitting slugly and if that doesnt work try bouncing the car with it on and see if the fuel guage gradually comes back to working. Mine was really messed up and my dad started jiggling the fuel tank around and it magically started working probably because of a bad connection.

 

VADER;

not really sure what is the "TCC" and What is "DTC 24", because i did run it without putting the cluster back in and it is running like crap now, I did get the distributor wet when I powerwashed the motor , but i made sur its dry now, and it still idles like hell and wont stay running, looked all over for vac leaks cant find any,

note: it ran fine back to the house, but after sitting and running it died, and ran like crap ever since....any help please....I still have not put the cluster back inyet, should i do that and see what happens...( its just a pain, because i was gonna replace with a 145 speedo and white face w/xenon)..

 

Only thing TPI related in the dash that will affect how it runs is VSS, and I ran my '87 setup with no VSS signal a few times, and didn't notice a difference. No code either, but after enough time, it may have. That problem should exhibit itself with stalling when you let off the gas when cruising.

It's not right, but the vehicle WILL run ok without VSS.