Help with Instrument Panel

[Copper116]

I have a 72 K5 Blazer 4X4 with a 4 speed manual top loader. The instrument panel is the basic system with idiot lights.

Question: Can I swap it out with an instrument panel with gauges using the SAME wiring harness?

thanks in advance.

[truckster]

I believe you can. GMC Paul's has some info. It's halfway down the page:

http://gmcpauls.com/Tech%20Tips1.htm

[Copper116]

Thanks a lot... I'll look into that.

[jaros44sr]

I think the idoit light harness may be missing a couple wires, dunno. But my gauge harness was trash with the fuse box rusted. Bought a used one in the classifieds and reinstalled it

Let us know what you find out, would be good to know

[Copper116]

Well, I tried switching to the full gauge cluster. It didn't work at all... maybe a few lights came on but that's it.
I switched back to the original cluster and now the gas gauge does not work.

[jaros44sr]

Did you reinstall the ground clip

[Jagermeister]

I think there is a difference in the wires that are in the gauge/cluster connector between the gauge cluster and the idiot light cluster. At least that is what the Painless wiring harness instructions for the truck say.

On page 14 of the Painless Wiring harness manual for 10206 there is a table showing the differences. You can download the manual from Summit Racing by looking up Painless 10206. The table basically says this:

Color Port # No. Connect to

DASH WITH GAUGES

Red 1 Ammeter +
Tan 2 975 Brake Input
Red/Wht 3 935 Gauges B+ (Brake, Temp, Fuel)
Pnk 4 939 Fuel Sender
Lt.Grn 5 921 Temp Light Ground (Sender)
Grn/Blk 6 Temp Gauge Sender
Blk 7 Ground
Gry 8 930 Dash Lights B+
Blu 9 938 Right Turn
Lt.Blu 10 937 Left Turn
Grn 11 936 High Beam
Red/Blk 12 Ammeter

DASH PANEL WITH LIGHTS

Blu/Blk 1 922 Oil Pressure
Tan 2 975 Brake Warning Switch
3 Open
Pnk 4 939 Fuel Sender
Grn 5 921 Temp Light Switch
Blk 6 Ground
Red/Wht 7 935 Dash B+
Brn 8 Generator Light
Lt.Grn 9 936 High Beam
Lt.Blu 10 937 Left Turn
Blu 11 938 Right Turn
Gry 12 930 Dash Lights

Sorry for the crappy formatting, but I just cut and pasted from the PDF to here. I hope this helps. It should at least show you which wires are different.

[Copper116]

Thanks a lot for the info. This is definitely helpful.

[Copper116]

I did locate the ground wire and it was connected. I did remove it and clean up the contact location. I'll put it back together here soon and see if that helps.

[jaros44sr]

There is a very good colored schmatic down in the electrical section, someone spent a lot of time writing that up, very easy to follow

[Copper116]

I checked my dash ground and it is good. I hooked the cluster up again and no change. I took leads from a battery and connected them directly to the fuel gauge lugs and the needle returned to the "empty" location on the dial. I also noticed that when the blazer is running, the parking lights come on. Playing with the headlight switch made no change.

Any ideas on how to correct this problem ?

[DeadheadNM]

The OEM harness for a cluster without gauges differs from one with gauges for sure. I'd track down a good OEM 69-72 gauge harness by posting a WTB on the truck parts board and go with that. Good luck. Pete