im really angry whats going on?

[drewfever1020]

ok i got home and installed my aftermarket oil pressure gauge.
so i turned on my truck to go put gas and as im going i noticed my fuel and my speedometer gauge not working, so i chekd my light and no lights on the dash but my light are working outside. so i think its afuse so i check the fuses and they are good!
so whats going on? im gettin angry now i cant see how fast im going now!

[hilandr452]

I'm thinking maybe you unplugged the wiring harness to the instrument panel?

[drewfever1020]

no its plugged in

[Green Machine]

Gauges not working, or you can't see them because the dash lights don't work ?

[drewfever1020]

there not working at all!
they were fine then all of a sudden, i think i have a short in my truck!
were can i get a complete harness for my truck?
its a 71

[70clone]

try wiggling the headlight switch also turn the knob back and forth a few times

[Green Machine]

Speedometer is all mechanical, that should still work even if you unhooked all the wires. Gas guage has a brown wire that goes to the tank sender, check that and make sure it is plugged into the correct place in the fuse block.

[drewfever1020]

i tried that!
when i turn my lights on my fuel gauges moves to empty but its not working at all!
not even my speedometer

[drewfever1020]

my speedometer aint working at all!
the gas sending unit is plugged rite and still nothing

[4x4s4allie]

my truck does the same, but mice found my truck their home for awhile ... take apart your dash, make sure your wires aren't crossed ... that will cause what you're saying ... also, try turning your headlight switch ALL the way to the right ... that's what i've gotta do for my dash lights and gauges to work ... but that was after i straightened some wires out ...

[drewfever1020]

how can i turn my switch to the rite if it doesnt even go that way

[Green Machine]

Well if you are really pissed, you need to calm down, because you will never get anything done being pissed. Having said that, you have three problems here. 1. gas gauge not working. 2. dash light not working. 3. Speedo not working.

Take the easy one first. I suspect the speedometer cable is either broken or unhooked at one end or the other. If the cable is not broken, unscrew it from the speedometer head, drive down the street very carefully, and check to see if the cable is spining with your fingers. If the cable spins then the speedo head is bad, if no spin,then there is a problem with one of the speedo gears in the tranny.

Do you have park lights ? I think they run off the same circut as the dash lights. I also suspect a bad ground the gauge cluster. Remove the plug to the cluster, and make sure it is clean and in properly.

[lts70]

Originally Posted by drewfever1020

i tried that!
when i turn my lights on my fuel gauges moves to empty but its not working at all!
not even my speedometer

The speedo not working is a completely different issue from the fuel or any other gauge,they are not related. Make sure you screwed your speedo cable all of the way on and that it is not cross threaded.If it is you have possibly snapped your speedo cable.

Double check your where your wire harness plugs into your gauge cluster. make sure it is all of the way plugged in and not cock-eyed or reversed.

Good Luck.

[Longhorn Man]

you need to ground the panel. The fact that the fuel guage moves when you hit the lights tells me this.
Your speedo issue is due to either not being hooked up, being broken, or, when you screwed it back on,you didn't get the cable into the hole properly and it never actually plugged in.

[special-K]

People tend to get angry about what they don`t understand.Did you take the dash back out and inspect when this happened or get made because it didn`t go right the irst time.I`ve never seen a mechanic get mad until at least after he`s gone back over his work.The headlights and instrument lights are different circuits.Prolly a ground as mentioned.

[petey-pablo]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

you need to ground the panel. The fact that the fuel guage moves when you hit the lights tells me this.
Your speedo issue is due to either not being hooked up, being broken, or, when you screwed it back on,you didn't get the cable into the hole properly and it never actually plugged in.

X2 you need to ground the panel. Thats what I was going to say the ground wire might have came off...

[drewfever1020]

i will check my ground when i get back from work!

[Longhorn Man]

just add one. The factory ground clip was probably left off 20 years ago and they got lucky. Just put a lenth of wire on there with eyelets on either end. Secure one to a bolt on the back of the panel, and then slip the other end under one of the screws that holds the panel to the dash.

[PanelDeland]

Whenever you take a cluster out,always look at the male (cluster side of the connection) and take an eraser (pencil eraser) and gently rub the contacts.This will clean them and make for a better connection.Whe you plug it back in make sure you plug it straight and get it to lock in all the way.

[drewfever1020]

were is the ground wire located?

[s_nova69]

Ya definatley the ground. My ol 72 had the same problem til i found the dangling ground one day.

[drewfever1020]

i put a new ground but the fuel gauge goes up and down sometimes ut it seems to be working!
why wont my panel lights work?

[Dark Knight]

Hi drewfever1020. I just went through this problem a few days ago. The problem is your headlight switch. (At least it was for mine). Go to your local auto parts store and pick up a new one. They're under $20. Pop it in and your problems should be solved. My Delco-Remy stayed in there for 42 years, but they just don't last forever. Hope this works for you.

[Longhorn Man]

a new switch would be next assuming you are 100% sure the bulbs are good.