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1991 Chev Blazer Other - Electrical & Lighting Systems
Question: Have 1991 Chev. S-10 Blazer 4.3 engine 4wd. Pulled instrument cluster back to change burnt out bulbs in panel. Changed 6 bulbs. Put back togeather, now gas gauge not working and speedometer only reads up to 37 mph. Battery charge meter, oil presure and Temp. all seem to be working OK. All gauges worked before this repair. How can I fix this?
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Owner: Hello! Anyone out there?
Technican: Hello, Have you rechecked the connections to the cluster to ensure they are tight and the connectors are plugged straight in?
Are you confident that the bulbs you used to repair are the correct amp/watt rating? Have you verified the ground wire connection for the cluster is clean and tight on the body?
Have you checked all fuses for voltage on each side of the fuse when the key is ON and the park lights also ON?
Please advise.
Owner: Bulbs are the same bulbs that came out. Auto parts store looked them up on their computer. They are the correct ones for replacement. I was going to remove inst. cluster but could not due to ground wire. Looked at groung wire, it appears to be connected to steering wheel shaft with clip. It looked OK. I have some elctroic knowledge but do not understand " check voltage on each side of fuse" Checked fuse on multi meter, it was good. Some square circuit boards on back of panel were loose and were pushed back into place before putting unit back togeather.
Technican: With the fuses still in the fuse box I check for voltage on both sides of the fuse. You'll note that there is a tiny place on the top of the fuse above each blade of the fuse where you can access the fuse blade to test for voltage. Both blades need to be checked for voltage.
I would recommend that you recheck all connections and carefully inspect the position of the circuit boards that you mentioned. I hope none are cracked.
Owner: I checked voltage at fuse box. it was 11.3 volts. The circuit boards I"m reasonably sure are not cracked. They are small and have a flange around them to protect them. They are more of a module that plugs into the back of the panel, then a bare circuit board. I opened the inst. panel box slightly when I was trying to get to the back of the panel. This is when I realized I removed the wrong screws to get to the back of the panel. It was only open about three eights of an inch . Nothing fell into it to because there was nothing there to falll into it. I'm thinking maybe I pulled a connector out or someting inside the box. But that doesn't explain the speedometer only reading 37 mph when I know I was doing 60 mph. I'm thinking about removing the entire inst. panel box for close inspection. One note: there is a warning on the box that says not to open without static electricity protection. Just like when you work inside a computer. Also all the bulbs I installed are burning normaly when the inst. panel is turned on. The speedometer reads normaly under 37 mph. There is no cable that drives the speedometer. It is apparently electronic.
Technican: What I am trying to ensure is that all the fuses are indeed good. Unless the key is ON and the Park or Headlamps are ON, all of the fuses that pertain to the instrument cluster are not all "powered-up." It's the best way to check for a blown fuse.
The speedometer is electronic and gets it's signal from a speed sensor that is mounted on the transmission. It may be lazy due to a poor connection or impaired ground.
Consider taking a look at the screws that you removed on the back of the cluster. Are they all identical? Check the length, material they are made of, and if any have an insulating washer that allows mounting of the back without making contact with a printed circuit path.
It's odd to me that the gauges do not work but the speedometer wants to and the panel lights do work. I believe the fuse for the gauges to be different from the one for the panel lights, but not different from the one for the speedometer.
I agree that removing the cluster for a close look at all the connections, connectors, circuit contact condition and mount screw orientation is wise.
Owner: PLease give me some time to remove inst. box from car. I may have some more questions after I remove it and inspect it. I'll get back to you when I have this done and authorize payment It may take a few days to get done, so bear with me.
Technican: Thank you, I'll look for your reply when you can.
Owner: I got the box out and made inspection. Did not believe what I found. A connecter for the gas gauge had falllen through the box when I first removed the wrong screws. That connecter was so big I can't see how it could have falllen thru the crack . I found it at the bottom of the rectanguler hole in the dash that the box fits in. Just for your info that connecter wass the third connecter to the gas gauge. It was the one to the left of the other two. The connecters were in a trianguler pattern and the one that came out was the left one. When I receive your reply I will authorize payment . Thanks for the help! It was greatly appreciated Here's How To Get Guaranteed Solutions In Minutes
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