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Hello! I recently purchased a 1983 Camaro that I’ve been working on restoring. The three center displays (temp, battery, and oil pressure) do not work. I’ve replaced the cluster and cleaned the ground in the driver side footwell with no luck. Everything else on the cluster works properly.
The temp display does light up briefly when the key is turned to the START position. It does not stay on once the key is released.
I had noticed the prior owner had put a 25a fuse into the 10a gauge slot, so I switched that out prior to installing the new cluster. Any help/ideas would be appreciated. Thank you.
It's been awhile,.. but I'm fairly certain the 3 center "displays" are only active if there is a fault. They are simple 'dummy light' indicators that will light up RED when there is a problem. I guess they *might* flash red for a second at start-up,... but I can't remember. There are a couple "switches" ( NOT sensors ) on the engine that will turn the indicator lights ON/OFF.
The temp display does light up briefly when the key is turned to the START position. It does not stay on once the key is released.
That's what it's supposed to do. There's a "bulb check" function on THAT ONE - butt NOT the others - while starting.
Pretty sure the "battery" one should come on and stay on with the key on and the engine not running, then go out once the engine is running and the alt starts charging.
It's been awhile,.. but I'm fairly certain the 3 center "displays" are only active if there is a fault. They are simple 'dummy light' indicators that will light up RED when there is a problem. I guess they *might* flash red for a second at start-up,... but I can't remember. There are a couple "switches" ( NOT sensors ) on the engine that will turn the indicator lights ON/OFF.
Got you, thanks! I guess I’ve never seen dummy lights designed to look like gauges. When I seen the lines I assumed it would actually indicate. I’ve never owned a Camaro that didn’t have the standard analog gauges so this is new territory
That's what it's supposed to do. There's a "bulb check" function on THAT ONE - butt NOT the others - while starting.
Pretty sure the "battery" one should come on and stay on with the key on and the engine not running, then go out once the engine is running and the alt starts charging.
The old cluster did sometimes and didn’t others. This one so far has only came on once when I first installed it. Otherwise just the temperature “gauge” lights up and then goes off immediately once the key is released.
Which is EXACTLY what it should do; and of course, its other and more important function is, to light up when the engine temp gets too high.
What about the alt light?
What about the OP light? Should also be lit with the key on and the engine not running, since obviously, there's no oil pressure then.
No other lights. When the key is on, the choke and brake light are the only two on. The temp gauge lighting up when the key is turned to start is the only activity out of those three lights.
The old cluster I pulled out was similar, but the battery light would occasionally flicker on start and the check engine light was stuck on most of the time.
OK, so does the OP light come on if you unplug the wire at sending unit and short it to ground, with the key on?
I messed with it some more today. Looks like the harness may have been a little loose. Now, the oil pressure light illuminates with key on, engine off. It goes off when cranked and the temp gauge lights up. Battery light does not illuminate in either situation.
