Gauges

[michael]

I have a 1971 challenger
Rally dash cluster
All gauges work since I restored car in 2011
Yesterday went to car show 14 miles from my home
Early in drive I noticed all the engine function gauges were going back
And forth especially the gas gauge it would swing from empty to almost full
The whole drive. Oil pressure and temp gauge would do it also in concert with
Fuel gauge. Voltage meter would stay right in Middle and not move.
Was at car show approx 3 hours.
Fired it up to go home everything gauge worked normally
Car had been sitting for 3 weeks worked fine then
What gives?

 

[Challenger RTA]

What was the tach doing?

 

[Challenger RTA]

Voltage limiter going bad if the engine gauges where acting up. If tach was doing it too, It more than likely a bad ground. Check both battery terminals to start.

 

[Xcudame]

If you haven't done so already, get an electronic voltage regulator for your dash. The old points type goes bad and fries your gauges! Hopefully you're gauges are all still OK!

RTE limiter - rte

www.rt-eng.com

 

[michael]

I did not notice tach acting up
13 years ago when I put the gauge cluster in I replaced the the do hicky behind the gauges
That was lots better than the original Chrysler stuff.
So its a voltage regulator. Btw I'm real weak with the ins and outs of auto electronics.
I guess I would have to pull the gauge cluster out to replace?

 

[michael]

I think I got it from RTE is what I put in there

 

[Challenger RTA]

Getting the wrong voltage somehow at times. Be it a voltage regulator, alternator going bad, battery going bad. Check and clean battery terminals and chassis ground. Bad connection somewhere, bulkhead connectors. check voltage when running. If you don't have tools to check go to an auto parts store.This might be a start.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Usually the VR can be changed without pulling the dash

 

[Deathproofcuda]

In a rally dash, the instrument panel voltage limiter is only connected to the fuel, temp, and oil pressure gauges, so it makes sense that these were the only ones affected and that they were all responding similarly.

 

[michael]

Fired up my challenger this morning to go for a a drive. Drove approximately 8 miles all the gauges worked fine.
Ill clean all my grounds just because that's the easiest thing to do
Thanks for all your input

 

[Challenger RTA]

Fired up my challenger this morning to go for a a drive. Drove approximately 8 miles all the gauges worked fine.
Ill clean all my grounds just because that's the easiest thing to do
Thanks for all your input

That eliminates one possibility if it act up again.