dumb question on gauge problem

[Homerboy]

I was just driving around town the other day when I noticed my turn signal wasn't working. Looking at my dash, I then noticed none of my gauges were working.... not the fuel, not the alt, not the oil, just the speedo was still working.

I assume this is a likely a fuse that blew?

<--- newbie car/truck mechanic

[ICEMAN6166]

I was just driving around town the other day when I noticed my turn signal wasn't working. Looking at my dash, I then noticed none of my gauges were working.... not the fuel, not the alt, not the oil, just the speedo was still working.

I assume this is a likely a fuse that blew?

<--- newbie car/truck mechanic

hey thats not a dumb question, its a request for information/help

lets start with this
the speedometer is not electric so it has no bearing on the gauge issue.

as to the turn signals, there is a fuse for those.

there is also an instrument panel fuse.

the gauges have a voltage regulator on the back of the instrument panel.
do you have all gauges in your panel and no warning lights ?

[Homerboy]

I was just driving around town the other day when I noticed my turn signal wasn't working. Looking at my dash, I then noticed none of my gauges were working.... not the fuel, not the alt, not the oil, just the speedo was still working.

I assume this is a likely a fuse that blew?

<--- newbie car/truck mechanic

hey thats not a dumb question, its a request for information/help

lets start with this
the speedometer is not electric so it has no bearing on the gauge issue.

as to the turn signals, there is a fuse for those.

there is also an instrument panel fuse.

the gauges have a voltage regulator on the back of the instrument panel.
do you have all gauges in your panel and no warning lights ?

yeah its all gauges. If there are 2 separate fuses, its odd that both would go out simultaneously is it not?

[ICEMAN6166]

its always posible for a fuse to blow, perhaps even it did not and the fuse is loose in the holder or theres corrosion on it and it or they quit conecting when you went over a bump in the road.

the alt gauge (ammeter) is however not fused, all the power is run thru it so there may be a connection issue either on the junction block on the firewall or inner fender or perhaps on the back of the ammeter itself.

also there is a posibility of ignition switch problems as the power goes thru it as well.

case in point, my 65 towtruck, when its real cold outside the key is very hard to turn and after its started i have to find just the right spot or none of the stuff works just as you describe.also hapens but much worse on our 82 van with the column key switch, you have to carefuly position it after starting to get any power accesory including the gauges to work.

easy test is carefuly turning the key while its running be careful not to go to far and spin the starter though.

[Roger Carter]

What year truck do you have? For the most part the wiring is the same '61-'66, but there are some differences.

Roger Carter

[Uncle Skip]

Homer.
What year is your truck.
Lots of different between the 65-66's and the earlier Slicks as far as fuses go.
I have a couple of extra little resistors for the back of your inst. panel.
Hook up a 12v wire to one end of the resistor and then read the voltage out with your multi-meter. You should be getting around 4.0 volts. If you get no reading you need a new resistor.
Uncle Skip