half my dash is out?
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New User
Joined: Nov 2012
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half my dash is out?
From day one of having better up her dash hasn't been working right. The gas gauge and speedo are working fine. The temp gauge moves a little. I could be driving for hours and the needle will just past the cold and into the box between cold and hot. Also at night the dash lights don't come on. Anyone have this issue or know how to fix it? Kinda sucks at night not knowing if your speeding. Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
The factory temp gauges are pretty inaccurate and what yours is doing is common. The temp sending unit could be bad, but I'd get a decent temp gauge to see what temp you are actually running.
A common problem with dash lights is the printed circuit gets corroded and doesn't make good contact with the bulb sockets. Otherwise, first check to make sure the light switch hasn't been turned clockwise to dim the dash. That can easily be forgotten about.
A common problem with dash lights is the printed circuit gets corroded and doesn't make good contact with the bulb sockets. Otherwise, first check to make sure the light switch hasn't been turned clockwise to dim the dash. That can easily be forgotten about.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
If your gas gauge is fine, the instrument cluster voltage regulator is also fine, and the issue with the temperature gauge is most likely the sending unit itself. But as was said above, it should not be relied upon heavily in the first place.
Dash lights get brought up at least 2 to 3 times a week - to save time, I am confident that if you search "dash lights" in this forum, you will find several detailed write-ups from both myself and others regarding potential problems.
Dash lights get brought up at least 2 to 3 times a week - to save time, I am confident that if you search "dash lights" in this forum, you will find several detailed write-ups from both myself and others regarding potential problems.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 13,136
Likes: 347
From: THIS IS SPARTA!, ...Mo.
You DO realize there's only TWO dash lights that back light all three sections of the cluster, right? If it's half out, that means you have A bulb out. The rest of the bulbs back there are for indicator or idiot lights. Clean the contacts on the circuit board and the tabs on the sockets. Then carefully bend the tabs on the socket out a little and even more carefully put the sockets back in the plastic dash. They should work.
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MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
The thread is titled "half my dash is out" - that seems to mean a combination of lights and gauges are non-functional based on his list of issues. I interpreted his note below to mean all of the dash lights are out (indicating a problem upstream).
I guess the OP should clarify.
I guess the OP should clarify.
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New User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11
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From: Louisburg
From day one of having better up her dash hasn't been working right. The gas gauge and speedo are working fine. The temp gauge moves a little. I could be driving for hours and the needle will just past the cold and into the box between cold and hot. Also at night the dash lights don't come on. Anyone have this issue or know how to fix it? Kinda sucks at night not knowing if your speeding. Thanks
Did you change the cluster?
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