Hi Everyone!!

I posted a tread a few days back in regards to me having problems with my instrument panel gauges especially the fuel gauge which was flucuating back and forth?? I've just replaced the origional instrument panel voltage regulator with a new one and now all three gauges (fuel,temprature,oil pressure) are all peaked with their needles facing the extreme right!!! I'm totally stumped here!!! I need some help troubleshooting this!! I can tell you that the printed circuit along with the instrument panel are all factory origional parts and have never been changed!?!? Can anyone please tell me what could be causing this problem and how to fix it?? Could it be the printed circuit or instrument panel causing all the problems or a bad ground?? I could really need some help!! Thank-you!! I own a 1983 F-150 Ford half ton truck 2wd.

 

Where did you get the Instrument voltage regulator? Ford or somewhere else? New doesn't mean good. I would go to the wrecking yard. Most of the IVRs there cost about a $1, and are in good working order.


Hook a wire from the instrument voltage regulator (IVR) mounting screw, and ground that to the dash metal. If that solves the problem, you lost the ground wire to your cluster somewhere.

If it still pegs, make sure you have a good contact between the printed circut and the IVR. If you do, you may have a defective IVR, and I would return it, etc...

 

I just want to thank everyone who has responded to my theads and helped me with troubleshooting my problems dealing with my instrument cluster voltage regulator! This next question is for you 81-F-150-Explorer? Could it be possible that if the ground wire bolted to the cab(firewall) were corroded or not bolted at all to the engine block cause the instrument cluster gauges to read too high?? I'm speaking about the large black ground wire that is bolted next to the accelerator cable? If this ground wire is not attached to one of the intake manifold bolts or engine block would this cause the gauges to read too high?? That's exactly the kind of readings I'm getting right now with the new voltage regulator!?! Thanks!!

 

It could cause problems yes. But it would cause more problems than just the guages pegged.

It could, but not nessecerily, cause lights in the cab to be dim or not work, radio not to work, etc...


If your ground cable is disconnected at the firewall etc, have it replaced. The truck is probably finding ground through the fenders and/or through a small ground wire somewhere else. That can cause the smaller ground wires to overheat and burn up.

 

First thing I'd do is put the original VR back in- if you were previously only having fuel gauge problems and the oil pressure and temperature gauges were ok, it's highly unlikely the original VR was bad or that you had ground problems common to all gauges. You now may have lost the ground connection on the wiring harness connector that mates with the instrument cluster printed wiring if you additionally have turn indicator and panel light dimness problems. It's easy to do if the plug is not seated squarely and fully. In addition, the printed wiring at the point where the connector mates may have broken or separated. Also make sure you tightened the screw holding the VR tab to the cluster--that's the VR ground to the printed wiring.

 

If gauges "pin to the right" there is a straight "ground out" of the circuit.


My guess is a Bad ICVR.

You might want to spray some electrical cleaner on the PC and wipe dry to get rid of any corrosion that is there that can't be seen with the naked eye.

 

If the "ICVR" looses its ground it will not regulate the voltage down to (4 or 6 volts, can't remember ) and send a full 12 volts to the gauges, causing them to peg.

A ground out of the gauges can also cause the gauges to peg as well. But I would have thought that this would only affect one of the gauges. One of the gauge wires shorted to ground, causing one guage to peg etc...


I agree, I think the new ICVR he put in is defective, but that's my guess. Swap the old one back and that should prove that theory.

I also believe that a new ICVR will not solve his problem here.

My guesses are, that one of his gauge wires that run along the framerail is rubbing the frame, (or something simular to that), causing a intermitent ground short to the Fuel gauge, or a defective sending unit.

He also mentioned in a earlier thread, that his ammeter is acting up in the same way. The ammeter and Fuel guages are not connected, so if they are showing simular symtoms at the same time, I would guess that there might be a short in the wiring between them in the main harness somewhere, or the cluster connector itself is at fault. Faulty connection at cluster connector etc...

What do you guys think?

 

FIX THE GROUND WIRE FROM THE BLOCK TO THE CAB!!! I've said this OVER and OVER!

Apologies for screaming, but I'm so tired of this. The cab ground is a major player in these issues. My gauges used to peg when I would run the blower on high.

Your new IVR seems to be bad, too. Leave it like this, and your gauges will burn out.

 

Oh most definately. That should be the first thing you fix. Then the IVR problem (put the old one back in). Then if you still have problems fix those in order.

Definately fix that ground wire first!

 

First off let me thank everyone for their input and suggestions regarding my voltage regulator (instrument cluster) problem as well as cab ground wire. I consider the matter now settled and dealt with. Sorry Holmesuser01 for upsetting you!?! My aim here is ONLY to have my problems solved in the most efficient and logical way possible!! Did'nt mean to upset anyone! Everybody have a nice day!!

 

Please let us know what the cause & repair was

 

Yes please.

 

I hate it when they leave us hanging and wondering.....

 

Hi Everyone!

Not too sure what exactly the problem was with my instrument panel voltage regulator but I cleaned the contacts of the main wiring harness that connects into the back of the instrument panel and put back my old voltage regulator? I also reconnected the ground wire from the cab to one of my intake manifold bolts? I must have forgotten it when I changed over my 2bbl carb. for a 4bbl? Anyways everything is now stable? I haven't ruled out the float in my gas tank? It's the origional float and that maybe causing my fuel gauge to fluctuate from time to time? Once again the matter is NOW closed and I thank everyone for their input and suggestions!