Gauge Cluster(F***)
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,925
Likes: 0
From: Paradise City
Gauge Cluster(F***)
My entire center console gauge cluster is cuckoo. My clock stopped, my oil pressure needle dropped over to the right, my volt gauge seems to be ok, as does my gas gauge, an my temperature gauge seems to do whatever it wants. Also, my speedo seems a bit off, and my tach jumps around (voltage spikes?). I have no radio, and no H/AC system, so nothing significant is drawing current. Am I frying my gauges w/ too much power? (or is there a regulater?) My alternator is an ACCEL 100 amp, if it's any help. I'd love to be able to one again moniter my engine without boilovers, and siezed pistons to let me know :nonod:
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Re: Gauge Cluster(F***) (79Corvette02)
That whole area behind the gauges can be a real pain in the ****. It is common for the clocks just to quit working. Usually when a gauge pegs it means it is shorted somewhere, or a bad sender. For example if you were to take your temp sender wire off it would put the needle to the left, and if you touch the wire to a ground it would peg to the right. There should be a voltage regulator built into your alternator so a more powerful model won't fry anything, if in doubt, check the overall voltage. The make sure your tachometer wire is all the way on your distributer(should be a pink wire), and making good contact. You may need a tach filter. The speedometer is mechanical, and is driven by a plastic gear in the transmission which is tuned to the rear end/transmission/tire ratio. You can go into any transmission shop and get new gears if you can figure out how much it is off in one direction(ie 10% fast or whatever). If the speedo wavers up and down alot, it could be a lousy cable, or more likely your cruise control box is worn out. Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
Re: Gauge Cluster(F***) (79Corvette02)
I think some of the instruments rely on the gauge bezel itself as the ground. (I know the wiper switch in early sharks does). That's why sometimes the wipers get intermitent if the bezel is cracked in the 'usual spot.' Maybe it's not properly grounded causing all to go at once? ~Juliet
