Electrical Problems - Any Ideas?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21
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Electrical Problems - Any Ideas?
I'm new to the forum here. I have 1976 which exhibits some odd problems. My gas, oil pressure, water temp and ammeter gauges do not "reset" to zero when the car is turned off. However they otherwise work. The gas gauge is accurate. Oil pressure, water temp and ammeter all read accurately while the car is running and then the gauges will just stay at that reading when the car is turned off. The water temp will readjust as the car warms up. Also, my wiper motor and reservoir pump stopped working. The fuse was good, but replaced with a new one anyway. I also tried a new switch to no avail and tested the the old and new switch for continuity which was present. The wiring and connectors that I can see behind the dash and through the firewall look fine, nothing melted, cracked or broken. What else is there to check? Are there any inline fuses or fusible links? Thanks for any help someone might give me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I think it's the rule, rather than the exception for the guages to not go to zero on our circut board type - I believe that you have 'em on your '76. Chevy didn't even charge extra for it.. 
Maybe someone else will have an idea for the rest..
Maybe someone else will have an idea for the rest..
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 139
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From: Austin Tx
wmrvette1976 - I have a 76 also - it seems that those gauges stay where they were when the key is turned off - on mine if I turn the engine off and wait a couple of seconds then turn the key back to on I will have zero oil pressure, wait untill the motor cools and turn the key to on and it will reset - my tach also shows 700 800 rpm until the key is turned back on.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,097
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From: Olive Branch MS
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by scb
wmrvette1976 - I have a 76 also - it seems that those gauges stay where they were when the key is turned off - on mine if I turn the engine off and wait a couple of seconds then turn the key back to on I will have zero oil pressure, wait untill the motor cools and turn the key to on and it will reset - my tach also shows 700 800 rpm until the key is turned back on.
This is what I do. Turn engine off, wait a second, turn back on without starting. All go to zero. Turn back off. Get out. Hope it cranks back up when I get in the next time. 
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21
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scb - thank you for the help. I tried same and noticed that my oil pressure will reset to zero when I turn the key w/o starting. Ammeter actually goes to 0 which is dead center of gauge. Water temp stays where it last was unti l actually start the engire again. Fuel gauge stays where it was also. My tach doesn't work anyway. I bought one of those circuit board replacements from Eckler's but haven't been able to remove the tach from the dash. It looks like I will have to drop the steering column to remove the dash. A project for another day...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 782
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From: Elizabeth New Jersey
I have the same problem but only with the tach, all my other guages go to zero when I turn off, but my tac stays at like 500-700, but I just gotta turn on, and off again.
That's 76 for ya!
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That's 76 for ya!
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