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Frustrating gauge question


jja

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I recently removed the clock and had it repaired and have reinstalled it.  I have the gauge package in my instrument cluster and removed only what I needed to remove to get the clock out. For example, i removed only the nuts and bulbs that hold the blue plastic sheet of copper wire (not sure what it is properly called) that are around the clock and the speedometer.  Carefully (or so I think) pushed the same blue plastic sheet it aside so I could access the clock.  Removed and replaced the clock.

 

Had to drop the steering wheel by those two 5/8 bolts under dash.  Thought I read somewhere that there is another bolt right below the column but never found the one. Did see a whole that could have been the mystery bolt but no bolt was in it. Anyone know what size would have it been?

 

Got the orange wire hooked up to the clock and it started to click away as it should.

 

NOW, when I rotate the headlamp knob to the rightmost position that illuminates the dash lights the most, the temperature gauge goes to the far right erratically and the fuel gauge goes to the most leftward position (showing empty).

 

Also, in this case, the blinkers both glow steady on.  When I backoff this most rightward turn of the headlamp knob, the two temp and fuel gauge read correctly. Any ideas of what could be wrong? I need to have the headlamp knob turned to the right ward (not to the point it turns on the dome light) to have a bright dash at night. 

 

Also, I think I detached something else because the gear shift indicator in the dash does not move when I put the car in reverse. Ugh!!!

 

Seems like I fix one thing and always screw something else up.

 

Any help/thoughts are appreciated.

 

Joe 

 

 

 

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Hey Joe.  I know how your feeling as I would bet most have at one time or another have felt the same way.

 

It sounds like the linkage that actuates your shift indicator may have come loose or possibly broken.  You will need to remove cowl around shift indicator to see why mechanism isn't working.  This happened to me on my 76 GMC truck several years back and discovered the line used to actuate the shift pointer had broken.  I used fishing line to fix and had no problems going forward.

As far as your Circuit Board, double check to make sure nothing is contacting that shouldn't contact.  Sounds like a short.  Any damage noticeable?  They are fragile and break easily.  Not sure of your access to it, but it might be prudent to follow those circuits (ribbons) to make sure there are no breaks.

 

That's the best I can advise.  I'm sure there will be other ideas from other members.  Hope it turns out to be a simple fix..................... :)

 

 

Doug 

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The shifter wire needed to be unhooked prior to the lowering of the strg column, or it could break.

post-76-0-33786700-1491052922_thumb.jpg

 

You may have lost the ground connection to your IP or damaged the printed circuit.

There are TWO ground wires, one attached to the long bent piece of metal in one of the pictures I posted and the other is attached at the lower drivers side of the cluster, also in the picture.(on the lower right with an arrow)

post-76-0-55116500-1491053144_thumb.jpg

post-76-0-62610000-1491053012_thumb.jpg

 

There is a piece of tape covering / shielding the clock power source that needs to be replaced or it could feed power to the printed circuit.

post-76-0-92402800-1491053287_thumb.jpg

post-76-0-73916600-1491053103_thumb.jpg

post-76-0-85226100-1491053118_thumb.jpg

 

Mine is a 71 No A/C with the gauge package I added from a car I purchased JUST for the gauge package back in the lat 1980's. Good times!

Good luck,

Bruce

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I think that smaller bolt you are describing is for mounting the steel dash frame to the vehicle. It is above the column. Once you have dropped the column you would be able to find it. It is kind of hard to see. You may have better luck feeling for it. The head on that bolt is a 7/16. You may not have a good connection at one of the nuts you removed and reinstalled. Be sure they are all tight. Most instrument cluster problems end up being a ground issue.

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Joe, did you remove the gauge cluster or leave the cluster in place for the clock install? My suggestion is to pull the unit, flexable printed circuit bd is extremely brittle due to age. A ground has definately been broken with your simptoms. I had performed the same repair as you are several years ago and had a similar problem. I then removed the cluster completely to find a ground trace going to the turn signal lamps had torn. The PCB is cheap $60 or so, pull the cluster unit and be CAREFUL.............

Murphy

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Joe, if you broke the shift indicator assembly, I have one as I had also replaced my speedo when I converted to a manual trans. I've had my cluster out many times as I also converted the idiot lights to gauges........M

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When ever you are working behind the dash/ cluster, ALWAYS remove the negative battery cable first. It is so easy to fry the printed circuit board if you fail to do so. If you need a new printed circuit board, sonnie24 on ebay seems to the the cheapest. They are a quality part, have used plenty myself.  is a link to sonnie24         This link is for a full gauge circuit board.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/70-71-72-1970-1972-CHEVELLE-SS-EL-CAMINO-MONTE-CARLO-CIRCUIT-BOARD-GAUGE-CLUSTER-/232289823491?hash=item36158d6b03:g:JtIAAOxyLN9SodGX

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