Cluster Question

[Joshpow]

My 72 has a full instrumentation cluster in it. All gauges seem to work fine except the charge gauge. I know they move very little, but I never see even a flicker from it. I have some questions about clusters.

Is there any way to tell for sure if it is what's supposed to be there?
If I wanted to go with dummy lights (I'll call them) would they work with my harness?
If my truck is supposed to have the full intrumentation, could I fix the charge gauge?
What are common things that go bad with the charge gauge?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

[fordman]

almost all of the charge guages do that. it is common. these trucks really dont use enough to make the guage move. its not broken.

[Thunderfoot]

To check if your truck has the wiring for the Alternator Gauge, look on the passenger finder well close to the starter solenoid for both a Red and also a Yellow wire with in-line fuses. These wires are the ones for the Alternator Gauge. ( I can get a picture of mine if needed)

As far as the Gauge itself you can replace it in the cluster, it is just bolted in, easy to replace.

As Fordman said, you won’t normally see it move much… With the small amp alternators our trucks have on them and not much of any load you won’t see it move unless it is doing some serious charging… Try turning on the Headlights, heater on high and wipers all at ones and see if the needle moves... a little

[Joshpow]

That pic would be great if you don't mind. No hurry though. I'll not be messing with it for a few days.

[fordman]

shayne my truck has the red fused wire on the inner fender. but it has been the only truckihave ever seen that has had that. and every truck ihave parted out has had full guages in them. a year or two ago i was looking at the wiring diagrams. and i found that red wire in the camper special diagrams. my truck is not a cs. its a ranger. so i figured that the cs must be the only trucks withthat wire and mine just got that but didnt get the rest for that wiring i dont know. are you sure about the red and yellow fused wires on the fender for full guages on all trucks?

[Thunderfoot]

shayne my truck has the red fused wire on the inner fender. but it has been the only truck I have ever seen that has had that. and every truck ihave parted out has had full guages in them. a year or two ago i was looking at the wiring diagrams. and i found that red wire in the camper special diagrams. my truck is not a cs. its a ranger. so i figured that the cs must be the only trucks withthat wire and mine just got that but didnt get the rest for that wiring i dont know. are you sure about the red and yellow fused wires on the fender for full guages on all trucks?

Craig,
Not for sure on this as the wire diagrams and even my 3 trucks don’t jive… all mine have the Red and Yellow wire (I just found the red wires on my Highboy… it is missing the fuse holder and the wires had been painted over black). The camper special should be a separate (bigger) wire with a 20amp fuse where the amp gauge wire is smaller and has a 4amp fuse… Camper wire diagram. http://www.fordification.com/images/sch ... camper.jpg
The wire diagrams show the wiring “with gauges” http://www.fordification.com/images/sch ... gauges.jpg has these two wires with fuse holders and the one “with idiot lights” http://www.fordification.com/images/sch ... rging2.jpg without. However, looking at my 3 trucks (2 with gauges and 1 with idiot lights) they all have these two wires with the fuse holders. (My Highboy with the idiot lights originally) My parts cab is from a Ranger / Camper Special (but doesn’t have this wire, it has the relay and circuit breaker on the inside right panel) and the wire harness is different but this red wire with the fuse is still for the gauge (see picture below), My Short Bed is a Custom and the stock wire harness looks the same as the standard cab on my Highboy in the engine compartment. (I just this weekend took the one out of my Short Bed and put it in my Highboy along with the alternator, as it died, and it works / was the same)
This is starting to make some sense on why the Voltage Regulator is not wired up the same as the wire diagrams show for the idiot light setup as the wiring for the gauges is… I think Ford might have saved some by not making 2 different wire harness for the alternator / engine compartment wiring for the alternator and just made the wire harness for the cab different.

Josh,
Look at your truck to see if you have these 2 wires with the fuse holders and let me know, but it’s looking like you will have to check the wiring at the connector for the instrument panel to see if it has the Red and Yellow wires there for the Amp Gauge connection. See attached picture of the back of the full instrument panel I pulled from my Highboy (it had been replaced by the PO before as it didn’t come with gauges) to put in the F600 one, you will see the Red and Yellow wires but you need to check your truck wire harness for these wires on the plug.

[fordman]

wow thats wierd i've never seen one with that extra yellow wire down there. my 68 has the red wire on the inner fender. but its the only truck i've ever seen with full guages that has the red wire. well its not important so i'm not going to worry about it on my truck. but i am going to put a fuse in my red wire. ithas been fuseless since i bought it in feb 5,1982

[Joshpow]

No fuse links under the hood on my truck. I think I saw a yellow wire, and possibly a red in the wiring to my alternator. I'll have to check later for the cluster wiring.