OK, found a blown fuse but the only light that work on the instruments is the speedo. Tach and fuel gauges don't light.

There is a red wire connected to nothing on the fuel/idiot gauges, is this the ground?

The speedo is very dim, like only one light is working - or are they always dim?

Help!!

 

Finally figured out how to get the speedo out... Only the harness plugs in?

 

The red wire is not factory. Someone added that for some reason. The factory grounds are stamped sheet metal pieces attached to the plastic dash that the gauge pods screw to. Someone may have lost one.

Have you verified that the rheostat in the headlight switch that dims the dash lights is set to full brightness? I've also found that rheostat to get corroded, causing dim dash lights even when rotated to the full bright position.

 

OK, explain this one to me...

With lights off, blinkers work fine. With lights on, they work fine outside but the dash has both lights alternate blinking. With high beams on, they flash like hazards...

Is it because I only have the speedo hooked up and not screwed in?

 

could be a combination of things - check ALL your related fuses (t/signals, headlights, tail lights, etc), make sure your ground straps are present in the gauge cluster (to ground the cluster pods) and also might want to replace your headlight switch with a new or known good one.


make sure the wiring to it is good and that you're not missing any related ground wires under the dash.


last, check all your related bulbs and their sockets to be sure they're ok.

 

Yes, without the speedo bolted to the ground straps in the dash, you don't have a ground path. The turn signals are grounding through sneak circuits. At least run a jumper from the speedo pod to ground.

 

Thanks fellas! I give up for tonight. I installed the speedo and idiot gauges and the lights worked. I installed the tach and it blows the fuse. Can you verify the wiring for the tach? See pics in my first post.

Thanks so much for all the help guys!