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On my "new" 62 (just purchased this week), the PO had the instrument cluster taken apart. After playing around with it a bit, I can see that the odometer turns and the turn signal lights are working fine.
The bulb above the turn signal indicator, on the right, glows faintly when the engine is running. I assume this is a warning light of some sort. Anyone know what it might indicate? I have an oil pressure gauge, as well as an aftermarket one for "volts" installed, and neither indicates anything terribly out of order.
Also, both the gas and temp gauges are dead. Safe to assume that the CVR is the culprit, or are these gauges pretty fragile?
Assuming the PO did not move the actual warning bulb wires, the left is the GEN/ALT and the right is the OIL.
Originally Posted by sseebart
On my "new" 62 (just purchased this week), the PO had the instrument cluster taken apart. After playing around with it a bit, I can see that the odometer turns and the turn signal lights are working fine.
The bulb above the turn signal indicator, on the right, glows faintly when the engine is running. I assume this is a warning light of some sort. Anyone know what it might indicate? I have an oil pressure gauge, as well as an aftermarket one for "volts" installed, and neither indicates anything terribly out of order.
Also, both the gas and temp gauges are dead. Safe to assume that the CVR is the culprit, or are these gauges pretty fragile?
Thanks. I'll take a look at the sender. Interesting that there is a gauge and a warning light.
Your voltmeter, at far left -- outside the central cluster -- is not an original unit. Thus, your gauge at far right might also not be original, although I can't see it. There were, however, factory optional ammeters and oil pressure gauges that occupied those spots in some trucks; other trucks -- certainly larger, perhaps earlier? -- had the ammeter and oil pressure gauge incorporated within the central cluster. When running an oil warning light and an oil pressure gauge, you must piggyback one sender onto the other as each requires its own sending unit. I think you call this "a belt and suspenders" approach!
I took a closer look. The gauge in the dash is the type that has oil plumbed right to it. It's not the same brand as the volt gauge and the "custom-mounted" temp gauge, but probably not original.
Down at the sender, above the oil pump, there's a plastic pipe plugged in. (I guess that explains the oil leak!). No telling what's hooked up to that light.
Guess I'll need to pull the instrument cluster off this weekend and poke around a bit.
Unfortunately not familiar with the 62 electrical circuits, have some experience trying to trace electrical circuits where prior owner left off and found it can be a pain in the backside. Since you intend removing the dash, suggest check whether the Constant Voltage Regulator (CVR) is working, small metal box w/ 2 electrical connectors usually mounted on the back of the panel. Basically it is an electrical shock absorber that regulates voltage from between 0-I0 to the gauges, if not well grounded, or faulty the gauges will not operate properly. Suggest then eliminate unnecessary temp gauge, if original is working I would do away with the one on the column. The circuit consist of a single wire from sending unit to the gauge and the gauge should be tied into the CVR unit. Most importantly, if the alt gauge was swapped out for a volt meter I would want to make sure the alternator circuit was completely taken out or insulated w/ no loose or bare wires. Member 'conserv' mentioned there are a couple types oil pressure sending units, if recall, they are both electrical the bulb type used w/ electrical gauge, and smaller version unit used for warning light, or commonly referred to as 'idiot' light. Since there's a direct pressure line running to the gauge not sure there would be a separate gauge for an idiot light; perhaps member more familiar with the 62 instrument lights and gauge configuration can advise? Not sure how the light switch fits into the respective circuits???
Have not seen a wiring manual for the 62 but have for the 63 if similar suggest purchasing the manual and should make re wiring less painful. Many of the 61-62 Ford part supplier's carry them, or can purchase the 63 wiring manual from original source Jim Osborn Reproductions, Inc. for $7.
let me know if you need the wiring diagram I have the shop manual and the 63 supplemental.
Thanks, Rob. I'll need to pick these up, as well as some osborne manuals pretty quick. I don't plan on doing any major work until later this summer, but would like to get the dash sorted pretty quickly.
Thanks for the link, Steve. Looks like someone has fooled around with the instrument cluster, as I have (at least an opening for) an oil gauge and the light. I'll abandon the light for sure. I like the mechanical gauge for reliability and accuracy, but electrical is probably better in the long run.
I should have a chance to dig into the dash this weekend. Very curious to know why the oil light is on at all.
...Very curious to know why the oil light is on at all.
~Steve
I wouldn't be shocked if the leaking sending unit was the cause of the false error.
And if you want gauge AND light, it's no big deal: that thread shows you exactly how to do it, without the plastic tube, but with the piggybacked electric sending units!
I picked up a stock sending unit earlier this week so I can remove the old hose and stop the oil leak. Will have to do without an oil pressure gauge for a while until I can find a replacement unit.
I searched for a photo of the stock dash setup and couldn't find one. Did the 62 come from the factory with an oil pressure gauge mounted on the right side of the dash, perhaps one that looked like this?
Both of mine had the temp and Fuel in the Speedo cluster. The unibody had a 2" ammeter and a 2" oil pressure gage mounted in the circles right and left of the speedo. The gauge cluster has the warning lamps for oil and charge. a warning not the ammeter gaugle has a large 12 volt wire running up through the dash if the grounds out it will cause an electrical fire under the dash. When I first got my truck the wiring was fried on both wires.
