Help With wacky dash gauges

[Bobbycz]

I get in the 68 Dart GT this morning when it was still a little dark. All is well until I pull the headlight switch on and the left indicator light comes on (solid not flashing), the temp gauge travels way over to the hot side and beyond; the fuel gauge goes over to the full side and beyond.????

I pull over and turn off headlights and everything goes slowly back to normal. What is? Turn the headlight switch back on and on comes the signal light and gauges head outta sight.

Anyone shed some light on this one.

Thanks

 

[RedFish]

You've got electrical short circuit somewhere. When a turn indicator comes on with the park lamps the fault is lost chassis ground at that front turn fixture. this is somewhat common condition but should not effect the gauges. Do not allow your gauges to remain pegged or repeatedly pegging. They will die. Leave the ignition switch off and cure the left turn fixture/indicator issue first. Then report back.

 

[67Dart273]

This sounds to me like it HAS to be a short somewhere in the dash cluster itself. What else could feed high (battery) voltage to the downstream side of the instrument gauge limiter?

 

[green1]

Ground.

 

[RedFish]

This sounds to me like it HAS to be a short somewhere in the dash cluster itself. What else could feed high (battery) voltage to the downstream side of the instrument gauge limiter?

The park lamp feed is seeking ground through the turn signal circuit. It's seeking ground anywhere it can which would include the gauges even when the ignition switch is off.

 

[Bobbycz]

I finally got a chance to look over the wiring as was recommended and sure enough a bad wire was shorting out. I fixed it and all seems to be well.