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Technical Weird electrical problem

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Katuna, Nov 10, 2018.

  1. Katuna
    Joined: Feb 25, 2005
    Posts: 1,822

    Katuna
    Member
    from Clovis,Ca.

    Ok electrical gurus, here’s a weird one for you.

    Finally got our car together and started. It’s a 30 Chevy but irrelevant to the issue. Aftermarket Dolphin gauges and light switch. Here’s the issue:

    When either the key is ON or the car is running, all dash gauges work ok but, when I pull the light switch on, the Volt gauge goes to 0v and the Oil Pressure gauge pegs at full. This is with the switch in the Park or Headlight position. Also, the gauge light do not come on. This is regardless of key or switch position.

    I had the dash panel out when building the car (PO had installed the panel/gauges). Everything was working properly prior to taking it out. I drew a diagram at the time and it went back in the same way it came out. I know the ultimate answer is going to be start cutting zip ties but so far everything looks right.

    The only thing that has changed is the PO had the Alt power lead going to the Ign switch Batt terminal and a lead from there to the battery. I corrected that with the power lead straight to the battery and a separate Hot lead back to the Ign switch.

    Obviously I cocked something up but it’s a strange problem. Just looking for a commonality between issues before completely cutting everything under the dash loose. My fat ass doesn’t seem to fit as well as it did 30+ years ago.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  2. Phil P
    Joined: Jan 1, 2018
    Posts: 492

    Phil P
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Double check the ground to your panel. Phil
     
    rfraze, Special Ed, fauj and 2 others like this.
  3. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    x2....Only will take minutes to add a ground jumper from a known perfect ground like chassis or battery, to know if it is that.

    Don't assume that the entire dashboard itself, or the body, is grounded correctly at this point.

    .
     
    rfraze likes this.
  4. Do the head/park/tail lights all work? If they do, I'll agree that it sounds like a ground issue.
     
    rfraze likes this.

  5. sevenhills1952
    Joined: Mar 14, 2018
    Posts: 956

    sevenhills1952

    As others mentioned the ground is as important as hot. A poor or no ground means anything supplied with power will find a ground somewhere so whacky things happen.


    Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk
     
    rfraze likes this.
  6. As mentioned above... check your grounds. sounds like its looking for a ground path through the instrument panel. I have troubleshot some weird electrical gremlins only to find a bad ground leg on a circuit.
     
  7. Ha. Easier than my last electrical problem. Slam the door .... the horn honked. WTF right ? Good luck !
     
    bobss396 likes this.
  8. Katuna
    Joined: Feb 25, 2005
    Posts: 1,822

    Katuna
    Member
    from Clovis,Ca.

    I’ve gone back through all my grounds but I’ll run a temporary ground to the batt.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  9. Boneyard51
    Joined: Dec 10, 2017
    Posts: 6,442

    Boneyard51
    Member

    Like I always told my helper, “ if it doesn’t make any sense, check your grounds “. Probably your problem or a loose connection.


    Bones
     
  10. choptop40
    Joined: Dec 23, 2009
    Posts: 5,114

    choptop40
    Member

    I ground engine to frame , frame to body , engine to body , also I clean the metal first , clean the copper ends, then paint over the connections...you gotta have connections..ha ha ha
     
  11. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 4,041

    gene-koning
    Member

    There have been some issues with Dolphin gauges in the past.

    I think I would disconnect the wire for the gauge lights and see if that corrects the problem. No where do I see where you have pulled the gauge light power from. The gauge light power should come from the instrument light power pin on the light switch, and the lights should have their own ground wire. Gene
     
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  12. Katuna
    Joined: Feb 25, 2005
    Posts: 1,822

    Katuna
    Member
    from Clovis,Ca.

    I appreciate all the suggestions. The grounds are all good. The two gauges in question are on the same side of the cluster. My guess is they are both losing “gauge power” when the lights are pulled on. The dash lights may or may not be related. That’s a secondary issue anyway. I’m thinking that when I fixed the alternator power lead/Ign switch I inadvertently swapped something up. There was some shaky electrical, although everything did work before.

    I don’t seem to be as bendy as I used to be. Might have something to do with this big pus gut I have. Keeps rolling up under my chin. I don’t recall it doing that in my twenties.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    61Cruiser likes this.
  13. Are you using standard bulbs or LED's? New LED's need a resister , they will back feed and will cause a lot of problems.
    Have seen gauges not work with lights on and will work with them off, seen dash lights blink with the turn signal on, head light go off when the brake lights come on and then back on when brake light goes off because some one put a LED in the right side and a 1157 in the left side rear. Good luck
     
  14. morac41
    Joined: Jul 23, 2011
    Posts: 531

    morac41
    Member

  15. Katuna
    Joined: Feb 25, 2005
    Posts: 1,822

    Katuna
    Member
    from Clovis,Ca.

  16. I had a problem with some So Cal gauges....assumed the "G" post on the gauges was for the ground. It wasn't. Switched ground and keyed 12 volt feed with each other and viola! Problem went away.
     
  17. Katuna
    Joined: Feb 25, 2005
    Posts: 1,822

    Katuna
    Member
    from Clovis,Ca.

    Just a quick update. Of course, frickin ground. Never found the break. Just ran a new one. All is well now. Thanks for all your help.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    Boneyard51 likes this.
  18. Truck64
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 5,325

    Truck64
    Member
    from Ioway

    May find you're not as bouncy as used to be either, say, falling off a ladder.
     
  19. Boneyard51
    Joined: Dec 10, 2017
    Posts: 6,442

    Boneyard51
    Member

    Thanks for letting us know what the problem was.



    Bones
     
  20. Two things I’ve learned playing with cars for 30 years:

    If it’s an electrical issue, it’s a ground.

    If it’s not running right, it’s NEVER the carburetor.

    The times when the above are not true are just the exceptions that prove the rule.
     
    Truck64 likes this.

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