Wiring/Dash Problem!
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New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4
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Wiring/Dash Problem!
My '64 F100 gauges started acting funny the other day. I noticed that both my fuel and temp gauges read Max readings although I know I have less than 1/4 Tank and the engine has not started. Taking the one wire off the tank makes the fuel gauge go down, so I know its not a crossed wire.
Anyone have any Ideas? How about a wireing scheme for the '64 F1
Anyone have any Ideas? How about a wireing scheme for the '64 F1
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,230
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From: East Flat Rock NC
May not be the same thing but i had a 81 mustang that had a loose
engine ground all the gauges on it would max out making me think that it was
over heating tighten the ground and fixed the problem! My 2 cents .
engine ground all the gauges on it would max out making me think that it was
over heating tighten the ground and fixed the problem! My 2 cents .
Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26
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From: San Antonio, TX
Stepman is right on target. Very common symptoms to all the 60's Fords. You can probably get one at NAPA or any 60's Ford vendor. Mustangs, Falcons, trucks and etc. all used them. It is a little rectangular metal box looking thing on the back of the instrument panel.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 2
From: Parkville, MO (KC)
Stepman is correct -- the explaination is that the guages usually see between 0 and 5 volts, becuase the voltage regulator steps the voltage from 12 to 6. So at a quarter tank, maybe (this is an approximation) your guage is seeing 2 volts. The regulator shorts out and sends 12v --- suddenly the volts to the guage are 4 instead of two. The sender is in the same place with the same resistance (ohms), but the supply is up to 12v, so what gets to the guages is doubled.
Beware -- do NOT fill the tank or run you engine hot. You may fry the gauges with the higher voltage. Probly not, but maybe.
Beware -- do NOT fill the tank or run you engine hot. You may fry the gauges with the higher voltage. Probly not, but maybe.
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Beaverton
Dash guages maxing out
I had the same problem on my '64 F100. Finally the instrument voltage regulator failed and allowed the 12v to go to the guages. This fried BOTH guages and I had to replace them. I used a solid-state regulator instead of the Ford Type and now they work much better. Very stable plus I can adjust the Vreg to change my full scale readings. Finally the darn gas guage reads half full, and when I buy the gas it is about 8 gallons. Perfect !!
Check out my posts for details on the instrument guage circuit and how I troubleshot the problem.
Check out my posts for details on the instrument guage circuit and how I troubleshot the problem.
