Cluster mayhem

[1tonchevy]

So i'm losing my mind with my clusters.....

first i had an unknown cluster (with the dudmmy lights instead of oil,vot and temp gugages) in my truck nothing worked... Dash lights included

than i put an 78ish cluster in dash lights worked...and temp does the full rotation on start up but never shows the temp?

got an 85 cluster and all hell broke lose....right turn signal stayed on, when you turned on the left blinker they both blinked... the dash lights work but are very very dim. gas guage seems to work but when you turn the head/park lights the gas guage goes to empty?

i think thats all the wacky stuff that happening.

anyone have any ideas or am i going to have to re wire this beast?

[RandyP]

So you just plugged a different cluster in? Did not rewire for the new circuit board you introduced to it?

My daddy always told me, the trick to playing with wires is not to let the smoke out. Every wire is built with smoke inside it, never ever let it out.

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by RandyP

So you just plugged a different cluster in? Did not rewire for the new circuit board you introduced to it?

My daddy always told me, the trick to playing with wires is not to let the smoke out. Every wire is built with smoke inside it, never ever let it out.

lmao still aint seen no smoke just the steam coming out of my ears.... side note cluster was ****ed when i bought the truck maby they fried something?

[RandyP]

If your truck was made with idiot lights, you can't just swap out the gauge cluster and it work. The sensors are different.

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by RandyP

If your truck was made with idiot lights, you can't just swap out the gauge cluster and it work. The sensors are different.

so back to idiot lights it is :S the guages look so much nicer tho....

[RandyP]

Would not be a real hard task to upgrade. Sensors are fairly cheap and just double check the main connection pin out to be certain it is the same as one with lights only. You said you already had a cluster, that's the expensive part usually.

As far as your old one not working, have you checked fuses? Checked the bulbs? Does the gas gauge work? Signal indicators work? High beam indicator work?

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by RandyP

Would not be a real hard task to upgrade. Sensors are fairly cheap and just double check the main connection pin out to be certain it is the same as one with lights only. You said you already had a cluster, that's the expensive part usually.

As far as your old one not working, have you checked fuses? Checked the bulbs? Does the gas gauge work? Signal indicators work? High beam indicator work?

Signals work, dash lights don't (original cluster) gas guage (on either cluster)high beam dosnt work (either cluster) e brake light does work.... it's very weird.

[RandyP]

Have you tried changing the bulbs? I've also had the sockets go bad. Sounds like you got enough extras to work with though.

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by RandyP

Have you tried changing the bulbs? I've also had the sockets go bad. Sounds like you got enough extras to work with though.

once i get the bed,gas tank,and drop installed the cab/wiring is my next big tackle.

[hopelessredneck]

Dose any one have a wiring diagram for the harness that gose in to the cluster

[Niterider]

I have the same issue on my 85, the fuel gauge works until I pull the headlight switch. Could it be a bad ground? The speedometer works, gas gauge works, clock works, voltmeter works, but not the oil or water (which these could be sending units)

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by Niterider

I have the same issue on my 85, the fuel gauge works until I pull the headlight switch. Could it be a bad ground? The speedometer works, gas gauge works, clock works, voltmeter works, but not the oil or water (which these could be sending units)

yeah it could be the ground some where...... but my gas guage dosnt work at all... and neither do my other guages.. well speedomerter because it's cable driven but the rest are no goes.... i just want some info for when im driving.... sespecially gas lmao.

[engineco713]

Originally Posted by Niterider

I have the same issue on my 85, the fuel gauge works until I pull the headlight switch. Could it be a bad ground? The speedometer works, gas gauge works, clock works, voltmeter works, but not the oil or water (which these could be sending units)

My 86 has oil pressure, amps, speedo, but temp pegs. When I turn on headlights I have no cluster lights and upon putting on high beams the door chime sounds. If I turn the cluster dimmer down on the headlight switch in goes down in volume. It seems like it's pretty FUBAR.

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by engineco713

My 86 has oil pressure, amps, speedo, but temp pegs. When I turn on headlights I have no cluster lights and upon putting on high beams the door chime sounds. If I turn the cluster dimmer down on the headlight switch in goes down in volume. It seems like it's pretty FUBAR.

it's got to be a ground issue..... well i duno about mine as the complete wire harrness tail lights to head lights has be hacked to ****.

[DBLSPRT68]

OK, you have to be careful swapping guage clusters around. You can fry the wireing in the truck. Use this info for clusters also. http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/inte...achometers.htm You didn't mention what year your truck is? Also, like was said; to go from idiot lights to guages takes different sending units on the engine. Good luck.

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by DBLSPRT68

OK, you have to be careful swapping guage clusters around. You can fry the wireing in the truck. Use this info for clusters also. http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/inte...achometers.htm You didn't mention what year your truck is? Also, like was said; to go from idiot lights to guages takes different sending units on the engine. Good luck.

sorry my trucks an 84.

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by DBLSPRT68

OK, you have to be careful swapping guage clusters around. You can fry the wireing in the truck. Use this info for clusters also. http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/inte...achometers.htm You didn't mention what year your truck is? Also, like was said; to go from idiot lights to guages takes different sending units on the engine. Good luck.

Well i have the temp sensor (installed) from the guage truck and the oil press mechanical hook up (not installed) and the volt (not working)

[RandyP]

See if this helps you any at all in your travels. Yes I know it is upside down and part of the page of the 83 shows. Flip it, zoom and see if it helps.

[motornut]

is this the diagram you want ?they seem to shrink on here

[68 short step]

good info

[jdmaffeo]

I did this to my truck. I went from the idiot light gauge cluster to the tach cluster with full gauges. You are going to have to do 4 things.

1st thing that you are going to have to do is trace each wire at the main harness plug and determine what it goes to and then label the wire. I used a volt meter to accomplish this task. The plug has a number for each wire 1-18 if I remember correctly.

2nd thing that you will have to do is look at the circuit board on the back of the new gauge cluster and determine several things. Each gauge and light has multiple pins etc. going thru the plastic into the cluster. You need to determine if it is a ground or an actual signal from the sender. In the case of the lights you will have a ground and a positive. Look at the harness that plug is on and determine the number that the the wire must be in for it to work correctly. I made 2 charts. One for the old cluster (in case it didn't work) and one for the new cluster. Once you have traced all the wires and the circuit board you will have to move some of the wires in the harness plug (fairly easy). Tracing the wires is a pain in the butt, but you have to do this. I had cut off a plug from a truck in a junk yard to have extra pins and the same color coded wiring if needed. I think I made a jumper wire for a ground wire that I needed.

3rd thing that I had to do was add an oil pressure sensor by the distributor that I got at a junk yard. A water temperature sensor (new). I added a resistor to the alternator wiring. This is needed because the bulb served as a resistor and once you have a gauge there is no resistance and my alternator wouldn't charge. There are no sensors to change for the fuel gauge.

4th thing is take your time. This project drove me crazy, but i like the finished product!
I hope this helps some...

[1tonchevy]

Originally Posted by jdmaffeo

I did this to my truck. I went from the idiot light gauge cluster to the tach cluster with full gauges. You are going to have to do 4 things.

1st thing that you are going to have to do is trace each wire at the main harness plug and determine what it goes to and then label the wire. I used a volt meter to accomplish this task. The plug has a number for each wire 1-18 if I remember correctly.

2nd thing that you will have to do is look at the circuit board on the back of the new gauge cluster and determine several things. Each gauge and light has multiple pins etc. going thru the plastic into the cluster. You need to determine if it is a ground or an actual signal from the sender. In the case of the lights you will have a ground and a positive. Look at the harness that plug is on and determine the number that the the wire must be in for it to work correctly. I made 2 charts. One for the old cluster (in case it didn't work) and one for the new cluster. Once you have traced all the wires and the circuit board you will have to move some of the wires in the harness plug (fairly easy). Tracing the wires is a pain in the butt, but you have to do this. I had cut off a plug from a truck in a junk yard to have extra pins and the same color coded wiring if needed. I think I made a jumper wire for a ground wire that I needed.

3rd thing that I had to do was add an oil pressure sensor by the distributor that I got at a junk yard. A water temperature sensor (new). I added a resistor to the alternator wiring. This is needed because the bulb served as a resistor and once you have a gauge there is no resistance and my alternator wouldn't charge. There are no sensors to change for the fuel gauge.

4th thing is take your time. This project drove me crazy, but i like the finished product!
I hope this helps some...

ok thanks. i'll have to tackle it some time soon. working on my drop and cab right now..