Dash Gauges Peg When Headlight Switch is Turn On

[Tyron68]

Working my way through getting my 1969 Charger road ready and the last of my items is getting all of my exterior lights working. I accomplished this, however, realized when I hit the headlight switch that my dash gauges peg out. Is this a grounding issue with the gauge cluster? I checked the headlight grounds and they are good. If this issue is with the cluster can someone please provide tips on how to fix?

 

[pnora]

You are losing the ground to the clusters circuit board. Run a separate ground from the dash frame to a circuit board to case screw.

 

[threewood]

Ground and check to voltage limiter on the circuit board.

 

[Tyron68]

You are losing the ground to the clusters circuit board. Run a separate ground from the dash frame to a circuit board to case screw.

Awesome. Sounds simple enough. My gauge lights don't work either but everything else does. Wonder if this will fix that problem too?

 

[pnora]

Awesome. Sounds simple enough. My gauge lights don't work either but everything else does. Wonder if this will fix that problem too?

They need a ground.

 

[Tyron68]

They need a ground.

Anyone happen to have a picture of the correct grounding spot on the cluster?

 

[dadsbee]

Quick check... do your wipers "park"? They won't with a ground missing...

 

[Tyron68]

Quick check... do your wipers "park"? They won't with a ground missing...

Nope. I have to manually time it just right to get them stopped where ther supposed to

 

[dadsbee]

Well there ya go...

 

[Tyron68]

What is the recommended spot on the cluster to ground to?

 

[pnora]

What is the recommended spot on the cluster to ground to?

I told you were in my response above.

 

[Tyron68]

I told you were in my response above.

Got it. Do you have to remove the gauge cluster to do this? Got up under my dash this evening and can’t see or access crap. The nuts in the back of the circuit board look like barrel nuts.

 

[pnora]

Got it. Do you have to remove the gauge cluster to do this? Got up under my dash this evening and can’t see or access crap. The nuts in the back of the circuit board look like barrel nuts.

Google 68 charger instrument cluster circuit boards. Might be in your best interests to bring it to a shop or someone familiar with working on cars.

 

[Tyron68]

Nope. I have to manually time it just right to get them stopped where ther supposed t

Google 68 charger instrument cluster circuit boards. Might be in your best interests to bring it to a shop or someone familiar with working on cars.

I don’t want to pay someone for something like this. That search took me to a video of removal of the gauge cluster. Since my dimmer switch, tach and dash lights don’t work I guess will be going down the rabbit hole of addressing everything since I have to take it out anyways…

 

[OneWheelPeel]

Man when I was much younger and knew even less I bought an 85 Mustang from a sorta sketchy dealership. It kept overheating badly but only at night. I freaked out at first but then started thinking about it and turned my lights off and saw the gauge go back down.