Help with gauges

Boudreaux38134 · January 13, 2004

I just installed a white guage face overlay in my 01 Silverado. I didn't like the look with the white "dummy lights" so I modified the gauges to use the black portion on the dummy lights and the empty transmission temp gauge area. The results are really nice looking, but now my gauges are off. I haven't even driven it yet to see if the speedo works, but the tach won't move off 1800 rpms, and my gas gauge and oil pressure are off the scales.

The needles sits on round pins, so it is very unlike older models that had a flat part to ensure proper alignment. (Similar to older radio's knobs.)

Anyone have any idea how I can get the proper location back? I thought of unhooking the battery to reset the computer, but it was gettin late. I tried turning the truck off and letting it sit for a few minutes, then starting it again, but no change.

Any help is much appreciated!

tmf6902 · January 13, 2004

Uh...oh....you should have noted the position with the truck cold and in park, before you took them off. I'm not sure there is a way to reset them. The only thing I can think of is for the gas, get a full tank and put it at F, for the temp, put it at cold, in the morning when the truck is cold??? If the needles aren't moving at all, try pulling them off the pins a little, I had that problem when i changed my overlay, turns out the needle was rubbing on the overlay, so I pulled it off a little and everything works fine now.

Good luck dood

Shaners · January 13, 2004

I think your tach is on too tight!!! Pull it off a little.

About the best I can do is give you some approx. "COLD START NUMBERS".

Gas tank full = just over "F"

Oil Pressure = 55-60 psi

Volt = 14

Speedo = needle laying on the pin

Temp = 195-205 hot

tach = 550-600 hot

This may take a few tries, but I think you can adjust them in pretty close.

Boudreaux38134 · January 13, 2004

I think your tach is on too tight!!! Pull it off a little.

About the best I can do is give you some approx. "COLD START NUMBERS".

Gas tank full = just over "F"

Oil Pressure = 55-60 psi

Volt = 14

Speedo = needle laying on the pin

Temp = 195-205 hot

tach = 550-600 hot

This may take a few tries, but I think you can adjust them in pretty close.

Shaners, thanks for the numbers! I was pretty sure of the location when running at temp for the majority, but verification was helpful.

What I found out was wrong with the tach was that the four pins for the gauge were not seated in the circuit board properly. Seems that I lifted the clear plastic a bit too much when peeling the old gauge faces off, and allowed the pins to move. Once I got them seated properly, all was good to go.

After some tinkering this morning, they all seem to be working normally.

Thanks for the help!

Adam

tmf6902 · January 13, 2004

Good Deal

Shaners · January 13, 2004

I'm sorry when I said 14 volts on the volt meter. Mine runs more to the right and closer to what would be about 15-15.5 Volts with the motor on and a cold engine. It was a little early this morning when I replied to this thread, and my head must have still been in bed.

13.5-14 volts engine not running... (depending on battery charge and if the accessories are off...)

Boudreaux38134 · January 14, 2004

I'm sorry when I said 14 volts on the volt meter. Mine runs more to the right and closer to what would be about 15-15.5 Volts with the motor on and a cold engine. It was a little early this morning when I replied to this thread, and my head must have still been in bed.

13.5-14 volts engine not running... (depending on battery charge and if the accessories are off...)

I have mine set so that the volts are just over 14 when running. So I guess I am pretty close.

I appreciate the help!