Dash problems... help Please

[thisolechevy]

I have tried and tried for months now to get my gauges working in my '69 and still no luck!! And just now while looking at another post of the fuse block I realized something. There is a spot that says "clstr feed" and saw a little male terminal end in that area, and thought does this also go to the dash??? I currently have nothing going to it now, is there suposed to be a wire their going to the gauges? I know all of my gauges work and everything is good on the dash, they just do not work
If a wire does go their which one (what color, and from where)
any help is greatly apperciated!!!

[68 Stepside]

First off, which gauges don't work? Second, replace the cluster feed fuse. Also, check to make sure your bulkhead connector is securely seated in the back of the dash cluster, and make sure all your grounds are clean, and if nothing else, ground the dash cluster metal with a piece of #14 wire (doesn't even have to be that big), to a good clean firewall ground. Just a few things off the top of my head that you can try out.

Good luck.

[thisolechevy]

thanks for the quick response!! my mechanical gauges like speedo and oil pressure work, just none of the electrical. I.e. volt, temp, and fuel. I do have a water temp gauge under the dash for now. I know that the bulkhead connector is in good, what do you mean "grounding the dash cluster metal" where do I ground to on the dash cluster? the metal that all of the gauges connect to? like on one of the bolts their?

[Longhorn Man]

Do the lights work in the inst panel?
If not, then I agree on the bad ground.

[thisolechevy]

yes they work but VERY wierd!!! as soon as the engine cranks up the inst. lights turn on, and when you use turn signals only the left blinker light on the gauges blinkes, the right turn also blinks the left light on the gauges??? and when you turn on headlights with high beam on it illuminates the dash nicely, but with low beam they flicker?? what is wrong with it?? do I need to rip it all out and re-do it? I got it this way and havent done anything with it accept replace the whole dash cluster.

[Longhorn Man]

Start with the ground as TJ was saying. Just s short length of wire from the metal on the back of the panel (like one of the 1/4 in bolts by the oil pressure guage) and run it to the fire wall or even under one of the screws that hold the inst panel in place.

[thisolechevy]

thanks I'll try it tomorrow morning

[thisolechevy]

O.k I must be missing something? I checked for a ground on the dash cluster and discovered that the chrome on the bezel (aftermarket dash cluster with an all chrome bezel and white face gauges) anyways the chrome on the bezel has a good ground? but the actual metal piece behind the panel that has the circuit board screwed to it is not grounded, should it be? or just the bezel?

and I am still wondering anybody out there with working electrical gauges please look at your fuse block and tell me if the "clstr feed" has a wire connected to the male terminal? if it does where does the wire go and what color is it?

[thisolechevy]

Ttt

[Longhorn Man]

The back of the panel needs grounded, the there is no reason to ground the plastic bezel.
I just went out and looked at both of my trucks, and neither one has anything plugged into that terminal.

[thisolechevy]

Thank you that is just what I needed Longhorn man

[thisolechevy]

O.k I grounded the back panel and still no electrical gauges! I will give you a run down and my check list please tell me if there is anything else I am missing
>guages work
>fuse good
>bulkhead connector in tight
>circuit board works
>good ground
>still no gauges???

Please help me!!!

[Longhorn Man]

You didn't by chance install an optional acc guage inst panel where a base model dummy light panel was installed originally did you?

[thisolechevy]

by "dummy light panle" do you mean speedo, generator, and fuel? if so yes. I had just the speedo guge and fuel stock, and baught the whole acc cluster on e-bay. The stock setup didn't work anyways thats why I got a new one.
Did I screw up by doing that? if so can I please see a wiring diagram for the bulkhead connector on an acc. cluster so I can re-wire the dash
thank you sooo much for your help longhorn man

[68 Stepside]

This is straight off GMC Pauls site. Good luck!!

Swapping A Idiot Light Dash Out To Gauge Dash

The following is for a gauge dash this gives the numbered position of the wires in gauge dash and followed by what it supplies, then number from idiot light dash you move wire from.
1-Black with white stripe (alternator) This runs from the 12 R from voltage regulator and should have a inline fuse.
2-Tan (Brake warning light) Original position 2
3-Pink (Fuel Gauge) Original Position 7
4-Tan(Fuel Gauge) Original Position 4
5-Empty(not Used)
6-Dark Green (Temp. Gauge) Original position 5
7-Black(ground)Original Position 6
8-Gray(cluster light feed) Original Position 12
9-Medium Blue (Right turn) Original Position 11
10-Lt. Blue (left turn) Original Position 10
11-Lt. Green (high Beam indicator) Original Position 9
12-Black/w brown stripe use wire ran from the junction block near battery mounted to passenger side fender with a inline fuse located at junction block end.
Remove the wires from your loom plug and place the colors in the # on plug that corresponds with the color from list above. You will need to replace your idiot light temp. gauge for a temp. sending unit with gauges. The black and white wire feeds from the 12gRed wire off back of alternator and requires the use of 2-4amp inline fuses, this wire you need to make and run. The DARK BLUE wire that was originally in #1 position should be deleted because this was the idiot light for the oil pressure. If you need more info. ask.

[nitor]

I was have some similar problems with my dash. I mean with the lights doing what thisoldchevy says his are doing. I just grounded the cab and bed to the frame. For whatever reason at one point or another someone had taken any ground straps off. I was having all kinds of problems, not only with the dash but with the turn signals and tail lights as well. Anyway grounding the cab and bed seem to solve my problems.

[thisolechevy]

wow thank you so much 68 stepside that is just what I am looking for!! and good idea nitor I looked and the cab ground strap is broken :-( so I will have to get a new one, as for the bed being grounded it is a '94 stepside so I grounded it REAL GOOD when I welded it to teh frame he he
I will try these tonight or tomorrow.

[thisolechevy]

Oh yeah I forgot to ask how do you guys suggest redoing the wiring? I planned on tapping all the wires together and then just snipping them one at time and placing them where they should be on the bulkhead connector. Any other ideas?
thanks again

[68 Stepside]

You should be able to just swap the pins at the bulkhead connector. I'm not exactly sure how, but it can and has been done. Maybe someone else will have some insight into this.

Good luck.

[Longhorn Man]

Don't be suprised if your fuel guage is junk now.
The needle in mine spun around a few times before letting oput a puf of smoke when I did what you did.

[pritch]

Would it work if you just plugged in the relevent parts of a wiring harness from an acc-dashed truck into the harness of a truck with idiot lights?

[thisolechevy]

so Longhorn man what should I do? I don't want to ruin my brand new fuel gauge! did you have to get a new one? does it work now? was the one that blew out the old stock one?

[Longhorn Man]

I had to replace the guage, yes. Just by turning on the ignition switch I fried it.
If yours is fried, i have a couple here, I'll give you a good deal, all you'll need to do is swap your new needle to my old guage.