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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Electrical => Topic started by: ChevyRay07 on January 01, 2014, 05:29:18 pm

Title: Some of my guages dont work
Post by: ChevyRay07 on January 01, 2014, 05:29:18 pm
I was wondering what would be wrong with my gas gauge, oil gauge and motor temperature gauge? They don't show the accurate levels.
I have a 1985 Chevy Scottsdale.
Title: Re: Some of my guages dont work
Post by: bake74 on January 01, 2014, 05:59:39 pm
     Do you have any other gauges in the cluster that do work properly (besides speedometer), or are you having a issue with all your gauges in your cluster ?  If that is it I would first check the connection to your cluster and make sure it is secure and clean.
     It really sounds like you have a whole cluster issue than 3 different gauge issue's.
Title: Re: Some of my guages dont work
Post by: rich weyand on January 01, 2014, 07:06:48 pm
Are all your ground wires in place?  Gauges show voltage levels.  If I send 3 volts to a gauge, but the grounds aren't connected, it could see 5 volts or 1 volt or whatever.  Since these gauges all have senders with ground references other than the cab, that's a hint.

You should have the following grounds:
- ground wire from battery to alternator bracket.
- ground wire to top cross member of radiator support.
- ground strap from RHS rear engine head to firewall.
- ground strap from LHS front engine head to frame rail.
Title: Re: Some of my guages dont work
Post by: Boone83K10 on January 01, 2014, 08:44:01 pm
yeah first check the plug on the back of the cluster since it sounds like all the gauge besides the speedo aren't working. if that is good, then you need to trouble shoot each separately.
Title: Re: Some of my guages dont work
Post by: ChevyRay07 on January 01, 2014, 08:50:36 pm
My battery gague works right but the rest don't. So I guess something is wrong with the gauges right?
Title: Re: Some of my guages dont work
Post by: rich weyand on January 01, 2014, 10:31:02 pm
Unlikely to have a multiple-gauge simultaneous failure.  It is either a bad ground or a connector issue.
Title: Re: Some of my guages dont work
Post by: ChevyRay07 on January 02, 2014, 12:28:12 am
Well I have a group from the engine and then on the body chassis so I'm guessing I need more grounds?
Title: Re: Some of my guages dont work
Post by: rich weyand on January 02, 2014, 07:25:15 am
You need to check that each of those grounds above are present, and that they are good connections, with clean mating surfaces, and that they're tight.  The get corroded or loose, and then stuff starts acting up.
Title: Re: Some of my guages dont work
Post by: cramezl on January 02, 2014, 09:31:49 am
Sub'd for same problem

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