I know it wrong thread but this one had more traffic.

It 1996 E350 Club Wagon HD extended with 351W/ E40D 84,004 miles.

Issues with electric It been like that since we got in 2009

Oil pressure, Coolant temp, and voltage gauge.

Oil Pressure will show needle in by NORM\AL
Coolant temp will show Needle in by N/ORMAL
Voltage will show Needle in middle.

When you turn headlight or 2 blowers for heater/AC It will show different.

oil Pressure will show needle in by NORMAL\
Coolant temp will show Needle in by NOR/MAL but it swing back/forth depend how much u use blowers on speed at idle/rev
Voltage will show Needle swing dance if you play with blower speed or headlight.

I test voltage it 14.04 steady not fluctuation.


I jump on and bought new temp sensor. Hoping to fix low temp reading but I end OHM test it was GOOD exact to new sensor so I return sensor and keep old one. I put nail on connector to metal it went H so that mean everything is fine. Sound like ground issue?

 

Make sure you have a good body ground from the NEG post of the battery to the body and not the frame.
Not sure on a 1996 van but the older ones the center lug in the ground NEG cable went to the body from the battery post. Trucks used a separate wire to go from the NEG post to the body.

 

I see ground cable bolt to Block on passenger side next to crankshaft Harmonic pulley. They look fine to me while I see on other plow trucks which was ROT OUT. I could try clean that ground on block.

I haven't able find body ground cable it so cramp in Van. Won't make new ground cable to body from battery help?

 

Body ground is G101, located on the driver side of the engine compartment near the battery.

 

Is that next to PCM? Going hunt more today if it stop rain.

 

Did work on this van last night.

I sand the body ground it only 2" from battery post. It wasn't that bad and I sand off paint where bolt go. Hoping that fix ground issues.

It didn't work so I went under engine block and loose that ground cable it look fine no rust or corrosion. Tight that up harder.

Test drive it still read little higher but almost. When I turn on heater blower it end went UP.

Oil NORMA\L
Coolant randomly from o-r it does do that when headlight and turn signal on.
Voltage will show Needle swing dance when turn signal are on flash.


I doubt battery could be bad? Still start van in 10oF just start ok.

 

Don't sweat it, that's pretty normal. If you're really worried pull the instrument cluster, find it's ground and ground it to the radio ground ring. That should help. Every van of that vintage I've ever driven did that once the battery was fully charged.

 

Is this normal? Sound like PITA to fix.

 

Pretty much, in my '92 if I had the blower on high while running the a/c or heat once the battery got up to max voltage all the needles (minus the gas gauge believe it or not) would read just about where yours are in that pic.