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Old Feb 24, 2014 | 05:45 PM
  #1  
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Grairy
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Default Electrical expert needed

I've had the the console and gauge cluster out fitting new interior trim and to locate some electrical " gremlins". Everything is now working except for 1 more problem which I can't sort out.
When ignition is on the lamps come on in the fuel and temp gauges ( no headlamp switch yet) and when I turn the headlamp switch on the fuel gauge .shoots" to 3 o'clock position and temp gauge does not register (when I had the engine running)
All gauges were working fine before I unplugged the cluster for resto so what have I done wrong (you can't put the wrong plugs on the wrong gauge) so this can be eliminated!
Thanks........ANYONE !!!
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Old Feb 24, 2014 | 06:11 PM
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You have wires crossed somewhere and you will need to get a wiring diagram and begin the running of circuits and verify that that are all good.

When the key is on...and NO headlight switch installed...and you get lights on in the gauge cluster...all of the other lights that have a light gray color to them should also be ON. The ONLY way the light gray wire gets power is when the headlight switch is pulled to on...so if they are on...you are getting 12 volts to this circuit from another input source. The small fuse in your fuse panel is for gauge lights.....and the only time it should have power (12 volts) is when the headlight switch is ON.

The "gremlins" that you had fixed can be causing this problem....seeing how you did not state what it was that you had already fixed...and without having a wiring diagram (if you don't already)...just putting wires "here and there" does not work.

DUB
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Old Feb 25, 2014 | 06:06 AM
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Grairy
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ok, to shed some more light on the subject....................

Lights are all working fine now, just had to swap a couple to their right place.
when I took the gauge cluster out the fuel gauge was working fine. have since found out that due to my own stupidity when i replaced the plugs on the back i put the fuel gauge one upside down ie;
the positive (pink wire) was on the tan wire termial and vice versa
so the gauge went straight to 3 oclock and now wont come back to normal.
Have I done any damage to the gauge now.

fuel gauge is getting a good earth (have checked that so where to from here)
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Old Feb 25, 2014 | 06:50 PM
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Possible damage could have resulted.

What year is your Corvette? Always try to post that due to changes in the C3 era which can make a difference in some responses.

DUB
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Old Feb 25, 2014 | 07:29 PM
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GROUND problem, some black wire or other that should be going to chassis/body metal, is not connected, or not connected where it should be.....maybe you have some cluster ground that is not connected with some jumper, it maybe a flat metal piece.....
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Old Feb 25, 2014 | 07:40 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by Grairy
ok, to shed some more light on the subject....................

Lights are all working fine now, just had to swap a couple to their right place.
when I took the gauge cluster out the fuel gauge was working fine. have since found out that due to my own stupidity when i replaced the plugs on the back i put the fuel gauge one upside down ie;
the positive (pink wire) was on the tan wire termial and vice versa
so the gauge went straight to 3 oclock and now wont come back to normal.
Have I done any damage to the gauge now.

fuel gauge is getting a good earth (have checked that so where to from here)
If the gauge when to full deflection and tried to got further, then it's damaged.
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