Center gauge cluster question

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Jan 8, 2012 | 06:21 PM

milo30

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 1,560

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From: Arlington texas

Center gauge cluster question

I have an '81 that I bought recently. When I turn on the headlights all of the dummy lights on both sides of the center console light up. I don't think they work other than with the headlights turned on. My gas gauge is not reading properly either. 1/4 tank mark is empty I pulled the old gauge off of my '78 to put in and try but while I have it all torn apart I want to see if the Dash Cluster Printed Circuit could be what is causing it. All of the other gauges are working correctly. It

Unfortunately, someone came by a week ago needing the same part so I let him have the printed circuit for $10.

Now it looks like it will cost around $65 for me to replace it if that is what I need.

The gas gauge seems to be accurate, as long as I remember to use some Kentucky windage while reading it. I might just pull the lights out for the dummy gauges and live without them. I don't really care about having them but it is annoying when they all light up at night.

Any advise on how to trouble shoot this would be appreciated. I am wiring illiterate.

Jan 9, 2012 | 09:16 AM

Rotonda

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2006

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From: Rotonda FL

This the center cluster printed circuit, which should help you diagnose your warning light problems. If you remove the 3 warning light bulbs, the only one you might possibly miss is the generator light.

The problem with your fuel gauge is probably the float in the tank. Over time these become lazy and saturated and will never reach the FULL level.

Thanks for the part. I appreciate it!

Jan 9, 2012 | 09:37 PM

0Willcox Corvette

Former Vendor

Joined: Aug 2006

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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rotonda

Wow.. I've seen this before..

Milo.. pull the center bezel and see if one of the fingers where the plug connect's is not touching another one. I'd start there first.. please post back.

You say the fuel gauge is reading correct aside from the quarter tank? .. now that is odd... I think you should look at the circuit first...

The circuit for the center is 36.00 if you use the coupon code for the current sale...

http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...ywords=circuit

Willcox

Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jan 9, 2012 at 09:40 PM.

Jan 18, 2012 | 11:06 PM

milo30

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Feb 2008

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From: Arlington texas

Thanks for the picture.
As far as the gas gauge goes, no it doesn't read correct. 1/4 = empty and imagine if there was a reading on the gauge where 1 1/4 would be, then that would be full. In between those two marks, if you disregard the actual reading marks, it seems to operate correctly. Basically what I am saying is that IF I was to put another face on the gauge I could make new 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full marks and then it would be pretty accurate.

So, I don't think it is going to be the float because it goes way past the full mark. I didn't realize that you guys sold the circuits but I just bought a used one from someone here. I'll get it in a couple of days and see what it does. I still am going to swap out gas gauges and see if that changed anything.

I've been so busy at work and then injured myself the other day that I haven't been able to get out to the garage and work on it since posting this. Hopefully in the next 2 days I will check out your suggestions and see what I find.

As far as removing lights. If that is what I must do then I can live without the GEN light. I trust gauges much more than those things anyway.

I'll post whenever I find out what is going wrong.

Jan 26, 2012 | 09:59 PM

milo30

Thread Starter

Drifting

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From: Arlington texas

Finally got a few minutes to do some work and put the new printed circuit on. Before I installed the new gas gauge, I was cleaning it and bumped the arrow and broke it off. DOH! Then I realized they just pop off. I took the old gauge and popped the indicator off and moved it back a 1/4 and replaced it. Now tomorrow I will find out if the fix was that simple or not.

I did see on the old circuit where the plug makes contact with the fingers, they were pretty worn and loose and probably were making contact. I'll have to watch that carefully when I plug this one in.

Jan 26, 2012 | 11:08 PM

7T1vette

Team Owner

Joined: Jan 2006

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From: Crossville TN

As long as the gauge does not reach the [mechanical] end of its travel anywhere within the range of motion of the float, relocating the needle should work just fine. Yes, it can be that simple. (just not very often...)

Feb 3, 2012 | 12:36 AM

milo30

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Feb 2008

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From: Arlington texas

Took a while before I could make time to get some progress done. I reassembled the cluster and reinstalled it. The gas gauge, I am not positive about but it seems that it might be closer to the correct setting. As far as the warning lights go, still the same thing. I need to get back into it and look at a few things. It is more like they are catching light from the other bulbs when the lights are turned on and when the warning lights actually activate they get the normal brightness.

I am wondering if maybe the bulbs that were in are a dual filament and that is causing the issue. Have I mentioned that I hate electrical issues???

Feb 4, 2012 | 08:50 PM

milo30

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Feb 2008

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From: Arlington texas

Found my problem. Whoever had redone the interior on this car failed to put back in the plastic surround pieces around the warning lights, allowing the other bulbs to light them up. Luckily I had my cluster from my '78 and saw the pieces inside of it and was able to salvage them for the new car.