[denis68]

I hope you can help. I have a 68 camaro. This problem just came about. If I'm driving at night with my head lights on , my gas gauge reads past empty and my temp gauge reads past H. Also the lights on the gauge package are off. If I turn the lights off , the gauges go back to normal operating position, but the gauge lights still don't work. The gauges are on the center console.Any clues to where I should start? Any help would be appreciated. thanks.

[davidpozzi]

I'd check the ground for the console guages. The guages use very little juice. But when the guage lights try to go to ground too, it's feeding back thru the gage ground to the guages.
Just a guess.
Try attaching an aligator clip type jumper to ground the guages and see what happens.
David

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The older I get, the faster I was!

[denis68]

Thanks David. I'll try out your suggestion and let you know if it works.

[DjD]

Dave's on the right track... I just went throught the same problem... Everything was ok, then out of the blue turning the lights on created problems... One of the bulbs that light up the console caused what is called a shunt when the lights are turned on. Removing the bulb cleared the problem. When I reseated it the problem didn't come back... What lead me to the bulb was it didn't light up when I pulled the lights on with the engine off...

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...Dennis
Topless'69
rsss.fun@gte.net

[DjD]

I need to amend what I said in the previous post... Just pulled the 69 into the garage, turned on the lights and there go the gauges again!!! What I did find is if I turn down the gauge/dash lights the problem goes away... I think this is telling me there is a ground problem in the console!!!

Try dimming your dash/guage lights (not a fix but it's another step in trouble shooting) Post what you find Denis68, I will do the same...

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...Dennis
Topless'69
rsss.fun@gte.net

[CarlC]

Mine did the same thing several weeks ago after I re-assembled the console but forgot to attach the ground wire. Everything was normal until I turned the headlights on. I almost had to go home and change my underwear when I glanced down and the temp gauge was pegged. Also check to make sure that there is a good ground connection on both gauge mounting plates.

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Click here to see see my car and hear 5-speeds. http://www.geocities.com/casanoc

[denis68]

thanks again for everyones help. I took alligator clips and went from the gauge housing to a good ground under the dash; left the head lights on and the gauges went back to their normal positions and the gauge light came back on. I guess I don't understand why I lost my ground in the first place. Well no matter , it works now. thanks for all your help.

[DjD]

I found my problem as well!! The plug on the amp guage was half off and it looked like the main ground might feed the guage pod from there. I plugged it back in and all is well...

The exchange of information on this site does it again!!!!!!! What a great place this is. And remember it is the membership that makes the site!

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...Dennis
Topless'69
rsss.fun@gte.net

[davidpozzi]

Glad you guys got em fixed. We'll get there together!
David

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The older I get, the faster I was!

[denis68]

This IS the best site. I feel that I can come here with a problem and I'll get the help I need. Hopefully in turn I'll be able to help someone else as well. Denis