YJ gauge problems

[krankitup]

OK, I am getting ready to go on a trip over the pass and my gas gauge started freaking out on me last week along with my temperature gauge. I would like to be able to get these fixed before I go. The temp. works seems to work fine if I give it a tap and the gas guage turns on and goes up, but it's not even close to reading the amount of gas I have right. I know lots of other people have had trouble with the gauges and was hoping that they could give me some ideas of what to look at and what was wrong with theirs. All my other gauges seem to be working fine...TIA

[walc]

I just fixed a similar problem, thanks to Victor Rychlicki's tip:
www.jeepmadness.com/guages.htm

[Jeffery]

Punch the dash real hard, should do the trick!

[Ted_Grevers]

Hi,

A couple questions for you.

On your YJ, I had the same problem. There are 2 things you may need to address.

1) Do you have any water leaks in your YJ, and find that your carpet is wet?

2) Does your inst cluster also have a clock, and is it working, or runs slow?

The printed circuit board on the back of the cluster is only $25, and will probably fix your problem. The wiring harness that connects to the back of the cluster can come off slightly if you hit a hole, or slammed the Jeep in some way. Even an impact to the dash can make it worse.

I just sold an extra set of gauges, but I think I have 1 extra, which is either the temp or volt gauge. I'll have to check, so if you need one, I have an extra.

I had the same problem with my fuel gauge. I had to replace the rusted factory skid, so in the process, I installed a new fuel sending unit (not aftermarket, but original for $175.)

My gauge was still broken. So, between that, and a new circuit strip, I still didn't have a fuel gauge. It was the gauge itself.

I found a used cluster, and swapped out the gauge. No more problems. So, until you get it fixed, it's time to drive by the odometer.

-Ted

[krankitup]

Punching the dash does'nt work...I tried :D Yes I have water leaks but what YJ doesn't? The clock was working until I pulled out the cluster yesterday and fried one of the wires to the clock...oops.

[Ted_Grevers]

Originally posted by krankitup
Punching the dash does'nt work...I tried :D Yes I have water leaks but what YJ doesn't? The clock was working until I pulled out the cluster yesterday and fried one of the wires to the clock...oops.

Did you fry it, or was it green and corroded? Mine was brittle, because of the corrosion from water.

Punching the dash will also knock the harness off the back of the cluster. My volt meter was acting funny, and it was just a poorly seated connector.

-Ted

[krankitup]

No, it's fried...I accidentally touched it to some metal and it pretty much disengaged. Other than that all that, I checked all the connections and they are fine.