The Ford Barn

rbecraft · 11-13-2011, 11:04 AM

Restoring 37 Ford Cabriolet, took dash out of car and painted workgrain, reinstalled the dash with different gauges. Fuel gauge and oil pressure gauge won't work. Amp meter, temp thermometer works. Replaced all wiring with new harnesses according to diagrams. Rechecked wiring connections, if I go to the oil pressure sender on the engine with a test meter, I'm reading battery voltage coming to the sender. If I ground that wire, my gauge will peg. The same with the fuel gauge. Re-installed original gauges as a test, they all worked originally, now they won't work. On the oil pressure, I removed the sender and installed a mechanical gauge. It reads 50 pounds when I first start. I replaced the sender thinking it was bad, same results--still does not work.

I'm at a deadend--need help!

Chris Nelson · 11-13-2011, 12:48 PM

Are you using teflon tape on the sender? It could possibly prevent the sender from having a ground. Senders do not like teflon tape as it acts like an insulater. Try not using anything but brass to cast connection.

cmbrucew · 11-13-2011, 02:37 PM

Make a good ground from the dash to the battery.
Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time

Gumpy · 11-13-2011, 02:56 PM

sounds like a ground problem...clean up you ground connections,,,that may help

rbecraft · 11-13-2011, 09:42 PM

I do not have teflon tape on my sender where it screws into the block. I feel like the dash has a good ground due to the fact the starter button works. I'm using brass to cast connection on the oil pressure sender and my fuel gauge shows the same symptoms as the oil pressure. If I ground that gauge wire on the fuel tank, the gas gauge will peg to 'full'. Any other ideas???

TomO · 11-14-2011, 12:17 PM

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By grounding the wire to the gauge, you have proved that the gauge and wiring are correct and the the sending units are not properly grounded. This could be due to faulty sending units or grounding connections.

Try running a wire from the body of the car to a screw that holds the gas tank sending unit. If your sending unit is OK the gauge should show the fuel level.

Do the same with the oil sender by holding a wire attached to the body to the brass connection of the sending unit.

rbecraft · 11-15-2011, 06:12 PM

FYI--instrument cluster itself did not make connection where it screws to dash. After dismantling cluster from dash and cleaning the mounting ears and re-installing, everything works. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

11-13-2011, 11:04 AM	#1
rbecraft Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lecanto, FL Posts: 34	dash instrument problems on 37Ford Restoring 37 Ford Cabriolet, took dash out of car and painted workgrain, reinstalled the dash with different gauges. Fuel gauge and oil pressure gauge won't work. Amp meter, temp thermometer works. Replaced all wiring with new harnesses according to diagrams. Rechecked wiring connections, if I go to the oil pressure sender on the engine with a test meter, I'm reading battery voltage coming to the sender. If I ground that wire, my gauge will peg. The same with the fuel gauge. Re-installed original gauges as a test, they all worked originally, now they won't work. On the oil pressure, I removed the sender and installed a mechanical gauge. It reads 50 pounds when I first start. I replaced the sender thinking it was bad, same results--still does not work. I'm at a deadend--need help!

11-13-2011, 12:48 PM	#2
Chris Nelson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Poulsbo, WA. Posts: 356	Re: dash instrument problems on 37Ford Are you using teflon tape on the sender? It could possibly prevent the sender from having a ground. Senders do not like teflon tape as it acts like an insulater. Try not using anything but brass to cast connection.

11-13-2011, 02:37 PM	#3
cmbrucew Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North of sandy ago, CA. Posts: 2,064	Re: dash instrument problems on 37Ford Make a good ground from the dash to the battery. Bruce Works good Lasts long time

11-13-2011, 02:56 PM	#4
Gumpy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sf bay area Posts: 1,464	Re: dash instrument problems on 37Ford *sounds like a ground problem...clean up you ground connections,,,that may help* __________________ "I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in Charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about". Quote by Henry Ford

11-13-2011, 09:42 PM	#5
rbecraft Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lecanto, FL Posts: 34	Re: dash instrument problems on 37Ford I do not have teflon tape on my sender where it screws into the block. I feel like the dash has a good ground due to the fact the starter button works. I'm using brass to cast connection on the oil pressure sender and my fuel gauge shows the same symptoms as the oil pressure. If I ground that gauge wire on the fuel tank, the gas gauge will peg to 'full'. Any other ideas???

11-14-2011, 12:17 PM	#6
TomO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 362	Re: dash instrument problems on 37Ford Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) By grounding the wire to the gauge, you have proved that the gauge and wiring are correct and the the sending units are not properly grounded. This could be due to faulty sending units or grounding connections. Try running a wire from the body of the car to a screw that holds the gas tank sending unit. If your sending unit is OK the gauge should show the fuel level. Do the same with the oil sender by holding a wire attached to the body to the brass connection of the sending unit. __________________ TomO

11-15-2011, 06:12 PM	#7
rbecraft Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Lecanto, FL Posts: 34	Re: dash instrument problems on 37Ford FYI--instrument cluster itself did not make connection where it screws to dash. After dismantling cluster from dash and cleaning the mounting ears and re-installing, everything works. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.