Dash gauges
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 29
From: northeast Ga
Dash gauges
Having a long term problem with my dash gages. When I first finished the truck my fuel and volt gages would not read right.The fuel gage needle would not stay in one place.It would bounce around,I thought that it was because there are no baffles in the tank that as the truck was moving the float would move and change the reading.But it does the same thing even when stopped.The volt gage shows 14 volts when running,but will go up to 16-18 then back to 14.When I first started driving it I thought the alt was bad {1 Wire Gm } and replaced it when it pegged the gage,New alt would do the same thing,as they came from auto zone I thought,junk.So I went for a good brand [ Delco].Same thing,Then I tried new gages,no difference.I have put a meter on and it shows 13-14 volts,so the problem is in wires or gages.It has a EZ wire harness.I know that Ford cars used to have a voltage regulator behind the dash that controlled the gages.Do I need one of these or is there something else I should look fr?
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
Having a long term problem with my dash gages. When I first finished the truck my fuel and volt gages would not read right.The fuel gage needle would not stay in one place.It would bounce around,I thought that it was because there are no baffles in the tank that as the truck was moving the float would move and change the reading.But it does the same thing even when stopped.The volt gage shows 14 volts when running,but will go up to 16-18 then back to 14.When I first started driving it I thought the alt was bad {1 Wire Gm } and replaced it when it pegged the gage,New alt would do the same thing,as they came from auto zone I thought,junk.So I went for a good brand [ Delco].Same thing,Then I tried new gages,no difference.I have put a meter on and it shows 13-14 volts,so the problem is in wires or gages.It has a EZ wire harness.
I know that Ford cars used to have a voltage regulator behind the dash that controlled the gauges. Do I need one of these or is there something else I should look for?
I know that Ford cars
used to have a voltage regulator behind the dash that controlled the gauges. Do I need one of these or is there something else I should look for?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,297
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Ford still used 6v gauges after they went to 12v, so they need the ICR. Are your gauges stock? or aftermarket?
Does your 1-wire go directly to the battery? Is it really a 3-wire alt with jumpers to make it a 1-wire?
Does your 1-wire go directly to the battery? Is it really a 3-wire alt with jumpers to make it a 1-wire?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,297
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Bryan has a good point; I ended up running a dedicated ground to the case of the alternator. It wouldn't hurt to run one from the dash gauge panel to a good ground.
With aftermarket gauges you won't need an ICR.
With aftermarket gauges you won't need an ICR.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 294
Likes: 4
From: Pensacola, FL
Third vote for ground. I ran a heavy wire from the battery ground up behind the dash to a bus bar. Then every ground under the dash goes to the bus.
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