Dash instrumentation freezes up

[Hoosierdaddy]

So, I am driving my 2000 SE (3.3) along the highway today for about an hour or so and suddenly all my dash instrumentation (including the cruise control & compass) quits working! Several of the gauges just freeze at whatever position they had been at, like the speedometer and gas gauge....others (like the tachometer & temperature gauge) just drop down to zero. Everything else on the vehicle works just fine. All lights operate, engine runs as normal, all other electrical is OK.

 

I pull over and shut it off for about 15 minutes and when I start it again, all gauges are now working as normal. Drive along for another half-hour and it does the same thing again. Repeat endlessly throughout the day.

 

I'm thinking that possibly a relay somewhere is overheating? Am I off base?

[Towncivilian]

You can try the meter/gauge and odo trip meter operation check as described on page EL-86 of your FSM. Maybe check that the flexible print circuit is not loose (see the next page, EL-87), too.