Speedo / Gauge cluster - bad connection ?!?!

[Danishbanker]

Hi

I have had the complete speedo unit out of the car, and tonight when I should put it back in something fishie happened :-(

If I installe the unit and tighten the screws etc, and pull the headlight switch the instrument ligt dont work - but the high beam, and the L / R indicater lights.

If I loose the screws and let the cluster unit drop 1/4" everything works fine

I have had it out many times now, and cant figure out why and were things go wrong - any help ??

Thanks
Claus

[cook_dw]

Are you sure the upper center screw is making good ground with the metal wire that goes to the gauges?

[hotrod68]

 Run a ground wire from the back of the cluster to the dash. This exact same thing happened to me and that was the problem--a bad ground. The high beam indicator works because the center dash screw grounds it. When you dropped the thing down something on the cluster probably hit a ground on the metal dash. Not saying 100% this is your problem, but it was mine. Good luck!

[Danishbanker]

Thanks for your reply - and you are most likely 100% correct, since I havent payed much attention to the metal piece :-((

It is that one here, right ?? Where and how is that surpose to be??

[WayneinNZ]

Hi Claus
that piece of metal that is sitting up at 90 degrees should be laying flat in the small plastic groove that is under your finger.
The small loop on the end is supposed to be sitting over the centre securing screw hole so that when y ou screw the centre screw in you effectively JAM it against the metalwork of the dash panel and that created the ground for the cluster.
In my car all these metal bits were all rusty so I removed them all and gave them a light buff to get clean metal connections everywhere.'
I also ran a loose piece of wire from the back of the cluster to another ground point under the dash to make absolutely sure.
I hope that helps
Wayne

[Danishbanker]

Thanks - IŽll give it a try when I get home from work today ;-)

[Danishbanker]

Thanks ;-)

It was the missing ground wire. I straighten the metal piece out and made sure the center screw went thru it

Regards
Claus, Denmark