I got a gauge cluster from a buddy from an 89 iroc. I was gonna swap out the cluster i have in my 85 base camaro, mainly because it has a shitty 85 mph speedo. I already searched and found that the speedo will work fine since theya re both mechanical but my question is what about the oil temp, pressure and battery gauges? Currently the stock cluster is just lights no needls or anytyhing. Could I just plug this in or would I need to change over the sending units and stuff? Thanks

 

The gauges will work with the existing wiring if you swap the idiot light switches on the engine for gauge senders. Some of the warning lights will show up in the wrong positions.

 

Ok installed it adn only have a few more questions. Once I go over about 40 there is a rattling noise behind the gauges which im guessing is the speddo cable , but it is pushed all the way in and locked in well. Anyone seen this problem?

Next question, the gas gauge is all screwy now, all jittery. With my old one it would jump up and down a little when accelerating and breakign but this one is like +/- quarter of a tank when i accel and brake and it jumps up and down will idling too. Bad conneciton or what?

Last question, How can I run a wire to the tach for an lg4? Thanks

 

You may have a failing gas gauge. I had one go out too, same type of symptoms. Friend said it worked when he removed the cluster, but bad none the less. Found a working replacement gauge at the local junkyard.

 

Sounds like some lube is in order--the old is some 20 years old after all. Pull the cluster and unscrew the cable at the trans end. Shoot some Brake Clean down the housing until the fluid is clear. Do the same to the cable itself. With everything dry, spread a glob of Sil-Glyde (Napa), a product designed for lubing speedo cables among other things, in your palm and run the cable through your palm as you thread the cable back into the housing.

JamesC

 

Damn, sounds like a lot of work lol. But sounds like a good idea. Thanks

 

Should your trip odometer not function, check the following link:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...-fix-pics.html

JamesC

 

I followed htta link and also saw somethign about putting high intensity xenon bulbs in there to brighten up the gauges. Is that a direct swap or do you need to run somehting else too. And were cna I get the right size bulbs for that

 

Direct swap. I purchased mine from McEwen Motor Sports or something to that effect, but I think 194 high intensity bulbs are available at common auto stores.

JamesC

 

I had the xenon bulbs in my cluster as well at one time. super bright, but they seemed to burn out extremely fast. it seemed like every other week i'd noticed another burnt out bulb.

have you noticed a shortened service life with any of yours james?

my autometer gauges are running xenon bulbs with no problems, its just the cluster seemed to eat them up in no time. running stockers now with no problems.

 

No, but I seldom run the car in the dark.

JamesC

 

Hrm ill throw in maybe a cople bulbs and see how long they last give it a month or so b4 i invest in alol of them. Also shouldnt a tach work in a car that wasnt orignally set up with a tach or no?

 

Yes

 

Thats what i thought, mine is like just going to random rpms when i start it and it sticks there the whole time no matter how high or low the engine revs, bad tach? bad connection?

 

try pulling it out of the cluster and looking over all the connections. both the posts on the tach, and the clips they press in to.

 

alright hopefully its only a bad connection, ill check it out tonight. Thanks for the responsed guys!

 

YAY tach works! Pulled it out cleaned all 22 year old connection with some alcohol and popped it back in now its good. Now I get to see how bad my trans shifting is lmao