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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 274
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Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
So final got the truck up and running and am now trying to figure out this gauge cluster. Have the temp gauge, fuel gauge and the amp gauge hooked up. Speedo and oil pressure are not connected so of course those are not worrying at this moment.
The 3 hooked up gauges, temp, amp and fuel, all seem to be working, along with the both green arrows for the directionals. The problem I am having is when either of the directionals are turned on, the gauges go crazy. The temp gauge sweeps to pegged and then back to normal at the beat of the flasher. The fuel gauge stops working and slowly goes to empty. As soon as the directional is canceled things go back to normal. Additionally, when I turn the headlights on I loose all the gauges. I thought it might be a bad ground but I checked the ground where it attaches to the back of the metal dash and where the wire goes into the harness connector and have solid ground at both locations. I am not sure where to go from here. What to check next. Has someone else had this similar issue and what was the solution that fixed it. |
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#2 |
Who Changed This?
![]() Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 10,388
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Is the panel grounded properly?
__________________
~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA |
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 5,470
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Like Steeveedee asked, is your metal dashboard grounded properly? Do you have grounding straps installed between your firewall and engine?
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Posts: 474
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
...and is that connector plugged in the correctly?
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#5 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posts: 7,848
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
are you using oem guages or aftermarket?
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1967custom |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 274
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Okay, I will try and answer all these questions.
Metal dash is grounded. This was testes using my power probe to verify there was ground there all the way back to the battery. Clip on the dash shows solid ground. Ground wire into the connector shows ground back to the battery. Don't currently do not have a ground strap from the engine to the firwall. I will add one and see if that changes anything. However, as said above, my probe shows there is solid ground from the metal dash to the battery, so I am going to assume that the engine to firewall isn't going to fix this. Gauges are the OEM gauge cluster. Best I can tell connector is pligged in correctly and fully seated. |
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#7 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,698
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Was the truck made for a warning light instrument cluster, and now you're putting a gauge cluster in it? If so, the plug is pinned wrong.
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 274
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Ground strap added from block to firewall. No change in issues.
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#9 |
Roadtrip!
![]() Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Grand Rapids MN
Posts: 13,730
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Check this...
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67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 274
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 274
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Reviewing the full wiring diagram post on here, the connector is pinned out as shown for the cluster with gauges.
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#12 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,698
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
OK, good. Next is do the buckets for the front parking lights/turn signals have a good ground? Do you have any LED bulbs installed in the truck such as in the front marker lights or front parking lights/turn signals?
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#13 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 274
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Quote:
There are no LED bulbs in anything. All OG filiment style bulbs. |
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#14 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,698
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Yes, buckets in the turn signals in the front grille need to be grounded. If not, you'll get wacky goings on. I don't know for sure about the specific wacky things you have going on, but some wackiness nevertheless.
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#15 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,698
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Did you paint the metal parts of your instrument cluster? 2 of the screws that go through the printed circuit need to be good grounding points for the printed circuit traces.
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 274
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
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#17 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 5,470
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Do you have the two screws installed in the upper back of the gauge cluster that ground the flexible circuit board to the metal case of the cluster?
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 274
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Resurrecting this post to post what I found incase it can help someone else in the future.
Finally was able to dig into this, and after triple checking all the wiring and dash groubd lead, went ahead and pulled the gluster. Found a break in the ground trace in the printed circuit. Solder a jumper across the break and all is back to working like normal. Only small disappointment is all the gauges light up bright, except the battery gauge. It seems to be about "half" lit. Right side is lit up, left side is dark. I replaced all the bulbs with new 168 bulbs so don't know if this is normal, or if I should be looking for something to cause it to be dimmer then the rest. |
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#19 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 5,470
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Nice satisfying find there.
Only four of the bulbs are for backlighting. With the lights on, reach up under the dash and twist one of the bulb sockets at a time to disable it. You should see diminished light for each bulb you twist. If you don't see diminished light, then that's your culprit. The bulb socket contacts tend to get crusty. Pulling the bulb out of the socket and reinstalling it 10-20 times can help. The socket that is above the battery gauge is the most likely suspect. |
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#20 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,698
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Good solder repair. If you get flexible and just decide you're going to contort, you can get to where your hand is acquainted sticking up in the dash, identifying by feel and working with those sockets. In the dark. While looking at the dash to see what's lit. :-)
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#21 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 274
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Re: Gauge Cluster Issues, Where to start?
Quote:
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