Weird gauge issue
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Senior User
Joined: May 2014
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From: Kansas
Weird gauge issue
A couple of my gauges haven't worked since I got my 82, the oil pressure and alt gauges, so since I had some free time I decided to mess with them.
-I found that the alt gauge wire is unplugged, there's a wire with a round rubber boot around it and its a round female plug, where does it plug into on the alt?
-I also found that the oil pressure gauge is unplugged from the sending unit, so I plugged it back in and it works...kind of...
Before the gauge was dead (obviously), now when I turn the key on (motor not running) the gauge needle snaps past the "H" (high ), but when I start the truck the needle snaps past the "L" (low).
The needle doesn't move at all once it gets to H or L.
Anyone have any ideas why the needle is acting like this? I thought about the sending unit but wouldn't the gauge not work at all if it was a bad sender?
Thanks guys
-I found that the alt gauge wire is unplugged, there's a wire with a round rubber boot around it and its a round female plug, where does it plug into on the alt?
-I also found that the oil pressure gauge is unplugged from the sending unit, so I plugged it back in and it works...kind of...
Before the gauge was dead (obviously), now when I turn the key on (motor not running) the gauge needle snaps past the "H" (high ), but when I start the truck the needle snaps past the "L" (low).
The needle doesn't move at all once it gets to H or L.
Anyone have any ideas why the needle is acting like this? I thought about the sending unit but wouldn't the gauge not work at all if it was a bad sender?
Thanks guys
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,122
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From: Haysville, KS
In terms of the oil gauge, it sounds like you have an 'idiot light' sending unit and not the one for the gauge. The 'light' sending unit will do exactly like you described with the gauge.
Simple fix; replace the sending unit with the correct one.
In terms of the alternator, I'm not much help...
Simple fix; replace the sending unit with the correct one.
In terms of the alternator, I'm not much help...
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2014
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From: Kansas
I think you're on to something, I almost thought the wires were switched, but key on (motor off) needle to "H" which would be the idiot light is on and with the motor running the needle to "L" equals idiot light off...
If my thinking is correct
If my thinking is correct
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
Someone may have been swapping clusters around. You may have more problems than you realize if you had a idiot light cluster and it was swapped for a regular gauge cluster. Is it charging?
If it's charging, I would not worry about the charge gauge. When they are hooked up and working most barely move and give any useful info.
If it's charging, I would not worry about the charge gauge. When they are hooked up and working most barely move and give any useful info.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 238
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From: Kansas
Thanks for the diagram Gary it'll help sort me out.
Franklin the truck charges great I've even got several aftermarket add-on's never even cranks slow.
The gauges LOOK orig but you know how that is.
I've got several aftermarket gauges I'm going to hook up but I'd like to have the dash gauges at least semi-working even though they're basically useless for monitoring the motor.
Franklin the truck charges great I've even got several aftermarket add-on's never even cranks slow.
The gauges LOOK orig but you know how that is.
I've got several aftermarket gauges I'm going to hook up but I'd like to have the dash gauges at least semi-working even though they're basically useless for monitoring the motor.
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