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Gages acting up

Featured Replies

1985 2Dr hatchback. Oil looking dampness coming from under the dash near the gages. What causes this? The gages are acting up in that they go to the extreme high marks and then back down to normal. Will they blow a fuse before causing damage to the wiring? Or will this cause a fire first? Help needed please.

Some of the gauges, like the fuel and temperature, have a regulator circuit to provide power to them. This provides a stable souce to them. The problem you are having may be due to a problem with the regulator circuit.

1985 2Dr hatchback. Oil looking dampness coming from under the dash near the gages. What causes this? The gages are acting up in that they go to the extreme high marks and then back down to normal. Will they blow a fuse before causing damage to the wiring? Or will this cause a fire first? Help needed please.

 

The oil can be from the spedometer cable, May be time to replace it, or check it to make sure it is tight.

 

Yese there is a volatge regulator/reducer for the gauges. May be going bad.

 

nipper

  • Author
The oil can be from the speedometer cable, May be time to replace it, or check it to make sure it is tight.

 

Yes there is a voltage regulator/reducer for the gauges. May be going bad.

 

nipper

 

Thanks for the replies. I did just put some cable lube on the speedometer cable so I am guessing I put too much in and will have to check the back side of the cable under the dash.

AHA did you apply it from the bottom of the cable or the top. Should be applied minimally at the bottom. You may have to remove the cable and clean it.

 

Did the gauges start acting funky at the same time?

 

nipper

every time i have seen gauges go nutty, it was the alternator. namely the regulator inside the alt. what does your battery gauge do? if it sits at 18, thats most likely it.

  • Author
AHA did you apply it from the bottom of the cable or the top. Should be applied minimally at the bottom. You may have to remove the cable and clean it.

 

Did the gauges start acting funky at the same time?

 

nipper

I took the advise of a friend and soaked the cable in a baggie with the cable lube in it. I then put the cable back in. The speedometer only works once in a while.

thats WAY too much oil. do you have cruise control?

 

 

nipper

  • Author
thats WAY too much oil. do you have cruise control?

 

 

nipper

 

No Cruise Control. I am taking out the cable and wiping it down and see what happens.

too much oil wil make it jump around too. Wiping down may not be enough, and also dont forget there is oil soaked in the housing now. Insepct the cable and housing carefully, may have to get a new cable and housing as the problem may be a worn cable.

 

 

 

nipper

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