1980 C3 gauge problems
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 197
Likes: 26
From: Clifton, virginia
1980 C3 gauge problems
Feels like this could be a ground connection issue but i wanted to just run it by to see any of you had similar problem. When I turn the instrument panel dimmer ON, oil pressure, voltage gauge goes to zero. When dimmer is off, back to normal operating range. Is there a main ground connection for the headlight switch that connects to gauge cluster?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,289
Likes: 1,329
From: Fleming Island, FL
Yes it sounds like a classic ground problem. If a 80 is wired like a 82 the cigarette lighter and the center instrument cluster shares the same ground splice. If you push in the cigarette lighter and the gauges don't drop the zero it's most likely the connector at the center instrument cluster not making good contact with the printed circuit board. If the gauge is do go to 0 when pushing in the cigarette lighter it might just be easier to add a ground rather than trace the wiring throughout the whole car.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 197
Likes: 26
From: Clifton, virginia
Yes it sounds like a classic ground problem. If a 80 is wired like a 82 the cigarette lighter and the center instrument cluster shares the same ground splice. If you push in the cigarette lighter and the gauges don't drop the zero it's most likely the connector at the center instrument cluster not making good contact with the printed circuit board. If the gauge is do go to 0 when pushing in the cigarette lighter it might just be easier to add a ground rather than trace the wiring throughout the whole car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,289
Likes: 1,329
From: Fleming Island, FL
BTW, I'm missing the cigarette lighter also.
Last edited by Fly skids up!; Dec 16, 2021 at 04:07 PM.
