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Voltmeter issues

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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 10:28 AM
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Default Voltmeter issues

I have an 82 that I recently restored (frame off). Everything worked perfectly. The other day I drove at night and used the headlights, when I got home I noticed that my voltmeter was dead (didn't move at all). I pulled the gauge cluster and everything looked fine, I replaced the printed circuit and all the bulbs...... didn't help.

Next I thought maybe a 'bad' voltmeter gauge and replaced that, I also checked the grounds to the gauge cluster and had the alternator checked.........they were both fine!

I'm not sure what to do next, interestingly the light in the lower right corner that illuminates the voltmeter doesn't work either, but the other gauges and lights in the cluster do!? Any insight or recommendations would be appreciated!
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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 10:34 AM
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sounds like a bad connection on the PCB somewhere, maybe on the main connector. Stick a voltmeter or a test light on the terminals on the back of the gauge, it should light up with the key on.
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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
sounds like a bad connection on the PCB somewhere, maybe on the main connector. Stick a voltmeter or a test light on the terminals on the back of the gauge, it should light up with the key on.
I'll recheck the PCB, it looked fine, I even replaced the old one!
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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 03:15 PM
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Sounds like the 'ground' connection that runs to the voltmeter and its light has been broken/disconnected/lost. Not sure how that can happen and other items in the gauge cluster still work...but that would seem to be the problem. [Unless that particular bulb is defective.]
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Old Oct 28, 2010 | 07:56 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Sounds like the 'ground' connection that runs to the voltmeter and its light has been broken/disconnected/lost. Not sure how that can happen and other items in the gauge cluster still work...but that would seem to be the problem. [Unless that particular bulb is defective.]
Ya, I thought maybe a bad bulb, but I changed them all! I'll recheck the grounds on the gauge cluster.
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