Fuel gauge and speedo/electrical question

jpdodge150 · 10-18-2009, 02:20 AM

Ok long story as usual with me since I like to be thorough. I've searched for an hour and have come up with nothing here

.

I drove my uncle's 1992 Chevy S10 5spd 2.5lt from Dallas to Bulverde, (North San Antonio) the other day and noticed some problems with the gauges. I've asked him about them and tried to see if I could determine a time line when each electrical problem came up and just tried to gather as much info as I could before I start ripping her up.

The major problem is the speedometer and Fuel gauge. They both started having the problem around the same time. The fuel gauge seems stay around the full area and when the ignition is turned on it pegs out of view past full. When the ignition is off, it will just SLOWLY work its way down and usually the next day it will be close to 3/4. Now the speedo problem is it seems to be reading way to fast. I would guess about 30+mph if not more? Either way after about 50mph it will peg out as well. Now the odometer and tripodmeter seem to be exact and working fine by tracking the mile markers going down I35, so that would tell me (correct me if I'm wrong) that it IS getting the proper speed signal and that there may be something wrong with the gauge itself.

So those are the symptoms from my uncle and are the main concern. Now here is what I've noticed myself other than what what he told me. It seems the temp gauge is kinda low around 140*? The voltage meter seems kinda high, around 18+? and the oil pressure stays right around 40psi (normal). Now here is the next problem I noticed that kinda bothered me a bit. My uncle told me that this problem started later on and that the gauges were already off, so even though this needs to be fixed it seems that it may not be throwing everything off but it won't be ruled out. I haven't confirmed the functions of the outside lights yet but from what he told me the front marker/signal doesn't work as a marker light but works fine as a turn signal, but the side one and rear tail still work just fine as a marker. When you turn either the marker or headlights on, the left turn signal light in the dash will light up. Its not as bright but its plenty bright enough to bug the heck out of you.

So i'm thinking since the gauges pretty much all work of resistance, that the marker light or something is not grounding right and screwing up the gauges. But then again he said that problem happened later on.

Now my whole shout out here is, where are ALL the known grounds that have anything to do with the cluster (so I don't miss any) and how hard is it to tear out the cluster? I was looking at it earlier and it looks like there is just a couple of screws at the bottom under the steering column area. Just need a little support since I've never been this far in an S10 before. I'm not new at this, but I don't want to break or crack anything just for missing something.

I take electrical serious and now I'm even more cautious because he had a problem with his radio before we left and someone did a serious hack job (exposed wiring, loose connections, wrong wire gauge...etc) and posed a fire hazard. So I just ripped it all out and drove home without any tunes.

estin · 10-18-2009, 02:34 AM

To pull the gauges,first remove the 4 Philips screws from the light panel,and the heater/ac panel. Pull each panel out enuff to unhook all the connections on the back of each.The light panel will be simple,but in my experience the heat/ac panel is that first it will seem as tho it does NOT want to come out,next there will be some push on locking rings (one way rings really) there will be 2 that hold the vacuum cluster to the selector unit,and then one that holds the hot/cold cable onto the selector then there is a retainer that holds the cable to the back of the panel..be very careful because it is VERY easy to break it.After you have each panel out and in the ; passenger seat; ? you can look into where they were and you will see 2 sheet metal nuts remove those,then the other sides.At this point you can pop the gauge surround out and set it aside.Now you will see 4 more other those little nuts so remove those and pull the gauges to you a little and they "should" pop out.Unplug whatever residual wires you may have and from there I will be of no help.

jpdodge150 · 10-18-2009, 01:40 PM

Sounds like fun...

estin · 10-18-2009, 02:17 PM

it's really not that bad,just take your time and don't looz/break anything.

10-18-2009, 02:20 AM	#1
jpdodge150 Registered User Age: 19 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 37 Location: User is: OffLine	Fuel gauge and speedo/electrical question Ok long story as usual with me since I like to be thorough. I've searched for an hour and have come up with nothing here. I drove my uncle's 1992 Chevy S10 5spd 2.5lt from Dallas to Bulverde, (North San Antonio) the other day and noticed some problems with the gauges. I've asked him about them and tried to see if I could determine a time line when each electrical problem came up and just tried to gather as much info as I could before I start ripping her up. The major problem is the speedometer and Fuel gauge. They both started having the problem around the same time. The fuel gauge seems stay around the full area and when the ignition is turned on it pegs out of view past full. When the ignition is off, it will just SLOWLY work its way down and usually the next day it will be close to 3/4. Now the speedo problem is it seems to be reading way to fast. I would guess about 30+mph if not more? Either way after about 50mph it will peg out as well. Now the odometer and tripodmeter seem to be exact and working fine by tracking the mile markers going down I35, so that would tell me (correct me if I'm wrong) that it IS getting the proper speed signal and that there may be something wrong with the gauge itself. So those are the symptoms from my uncle and are the main concern. Now here is what I've noticed myself other than what what he told me. It seems the temp gauge is kinda low around 140*? The voltage meter seems kinda high, around 18+? and the oil pressure stays right around 40psi (normal). Now here is the next problem I noticed that kinda bothered me a bit. My uncle told me that this problem started later on and that the gauges were already off, so even though this needs to be fixed it seems that it may not be throwing everything off but it won't be ruled out. I haven't confirmed the functions of the outside lights yet but from what he told me the front marker/signal doesn't work as a marker light but works fine as a turn signal, but the side one and rear tail still work just fine as a marker. When you turn either the marker or headlights on, the left turn signal light in the dash will light up. Its not as bright but its plenty bright enough to bug the heck out of you. So i'm thinking since the gauges pretty much all work of resistance, that the marker light or something is not grounding right and screwing up the gauges. But then again he said that problem happened later on. Now my whole shout out here is, where are ALL the known grounds that have anything to do with the cluster (so I don't miss any) and how hard is it to tear out the cluster? I was looking at it earlier and it looks like there is just a couple of screws at the bottom under the steering column area. Just need a little support since I've never been this far in an S10 before. I'm not new at this, but I don't want to break or crack anything just for missing something. I take electrical serious and now I'm even more cautious because he had a problem with his radio before we left and someone did a serious hack job (exposed wiring, loose connections, wrong wire gauge...etc) and posed a fire hazard. So I just ripped it all out and drove home without any tunes.
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10-18-2009, 02:34 AM	#2
estin Registered User Age: 19 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 163 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Fuel gauge and speedo/electrical question To pull the gauges,first remove the 4 Philips screws from the light panel,and the heater/ac panel. Pull each panel out enuff to unhook all the connections on the back of each.The light panel will be simple,but in my experience the heat/ac panel is that first it will seem as tho it does NOT want to come out,next there will be some push on locking rings (one way rings really) there will be 2 that hold the vacuum cluster to the selector unit,and then one that holds the hot/cold cable onto the selector then there is a retainer that holds the cable to the back of the panel..be very careful because it is VERY easy to break it.After you have each panel out and in the ; passenger seat; ? you can look into where they were and you will see 2 sheet metal nuts remove those,then the other sides.At this point you can pop the gauge surround out and set it aside.Now you will see 4 more other those little nuts so remove those and pull the gauges to you a little and they "should" pop out.Unplug whatever residual wires you may have and from there I will be of no help. Last edited by estin : 10-18-2009 at 02:35 AM.
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10-18-2009, 01:40 PM	#3
jpdodge150 Registered User Age: 19 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 37 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Fuel gauge and speedo/electrical question Sounds like fun...
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10-18-2009, 02:17 PM	#4
estin Registered User Age: 19 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 163 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Fuel gauge and speedo/electrical question it's really not that bad,just take your time and don't looz/break anything.
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