Instrument Panel Gauges

[68rookie]

Question in regards to Gauges on Intrument Panel. The kid I have working on my truck has it all but done with the exception of getting the gauges on the instrument panel to work consistently. We replaced the instrument panel voltage regulator thinking that was the problem but the gauges still only work intermittently. He think there's a short somewhere and is starting to chase wires around in the dash. Any advice here as to know issues? Can the panel itself be bad? Any advice would be appreciated.

[robroy]

Good day 68Rookie,

Please forgive me for not following your other posts, but is your truck a 1968 model (as indicated by your login)? And just to be certain I understand what you're working on, your dash has gauges, not warning lamps (for oil and temperature), correct?

Sorry if these points seem obvious but I just want to be 100% sure I understand the scenario.

I've done a good amount of work to replace my 1972 cluster with gauges to a modern gauge setup, so I know a little about these instrument clusters.

First I'd like to be completely clear on your symptom. When the errant state is triggered, does anything work in your instrument cluster at all? For instance, do your turn signal lights and high beam indicator work at that time? Does the cluster illumination work? Or is it (save the speedometer) completely, 100% dead?

As I understand it, if the entire cluster stops working, you'd be looking in to the electrical supply and the ground for the cluster. As for the panel itself being bad, I believe the panel's just a part of the circuit so elements of it could be messed up, but I don't think it can fail in any way that's not repairable.

Do you have access to the wiring diagram for your truck and a multimeter (again, sorry if this seems obvious, I just want to be sure)?

Robroy

[fordman]

in a 68 as well as 67 and 69 the gauges are individually fed from the ipvr and from the senders. they arent fed together like a 70-72 circuit boarded cluster is. so the whole panel could be bad. it does sound liek some sort of loose wiring or plug to something like that.

[68rookie]

I will have to get back to you guys on it, he has the truck right now and he's pretty much given up on it. When I get it back I'll post what I find out. Thanks for your replies!

[FORDification]

A poor (or missing) body-to-engine ground can cause erratic gauge reading. Check to make sure the ground strap that runs from the engine to the firewall is there, and is actually getting a good ground there to bare metal.

Also, you might be interested in this June 1967 TSB put out by Ford:

http://www.fordification.com/tsb/viewto ... ?f=2&t=595

[68rookie]

Thanks, I'll pass that info along.

[68rookie]

Said he's got them all working now except the temp gauge, he believes that it's bad. Where does a guy go after a replacement temp gauge? Sorry being lazy, just haven't had time to do the research.

[70_F100]

Said he's got them all working now except the temp gauge, he believes that it's bad. Where does a guy go after a replacement temp gauge? Sorry being lazy, just haven't had time to do the research.

You need part number C7TZ 10883-B.

Here are two that are listed on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-1967 ... 19a485a612

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-Up- ... 35a2851425

The second listing accepts "Best Offer" bids.

Hope this helps!!

[fordman]

does he know if its the sender or the gauge? that would be one thing to figure out first.

[68rookie]

Thanks for your replies.

[70_F100]

does he know if its the sender or the gauge? that would be one thing to figure out first.

To check it, all you have to do is pull the connector off the sending unit, and ground the wire to the engine block. The gauge should go all the way to "H" when the wire is grounded.

If the gauge moves, it's your sending unit. If not, you need to replace the gauge.

[68rookie]

Gauge was bad. Is that hard to replace? I'm kind of on my own now. Any help would be appreciated.

[fordman]

the gauges have to studs on the back of them. they go through the back panel. and are held on with two nuts on those studs. . take the face off the gauge. remove the two wires remove the two studs and the gauge comes right out.

[68rookie]

Is it hard to remove the instrument panel? Once you remove the screws to the bezel then are there more screws to get to the release the cluster?

[fordman]

once the screw come out of the cluster from the dash. the speedometer cable will hold the gauge from coming very far out. you have totilt it toward the drivers side and reach back there with your hand or sometimes pliers to unscrew it from the cluster. then you just unplug the electrical plug and it comes out.