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#99580 02/27/2007 3:42 AM | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 79 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 79 | I started the truck up the other day.. Had a half tank of gas. Flipped on the headlights and the turn signal indication lights, highbeam indication lights all came on and the gas gauge went down to empty.... The highbeams and turnsignals all still worked, but the indication lights were visibly on. I turned the headlights off and everything went back to normal and the gas gauge went back to a half a tank. What do you guys think the deal is?? Ever heard of this? I haven't changed any wiring.. BTW, it's a 72 Chevy C10.. Thanks!!!! | | |
#99581 02/27/2007 4:55 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,102 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,102 | The best place to start is with the battery terminals and ground connections. Remove them and clean them up and you will probably solve the problem.
Fred
1956 3100 Pickup/Red/350/3sp OD/PS/Disc Brakes
1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe/Red/355/TH350/PS/Disc Brakes
2017 Silverado LT Single Cab SB/Black/5.3/6 Speed Trans
1947 Willys CJ2A w/F-Head engine
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#99582 02/27/2007 5:24 AM | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,029 Member | | Member Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,029 | At least one of the lights(tail or head light) has a bad ground and is finding ground through the indicator light filaments. Best guess would be a bad ground at the rear of the truck. The bed not being grounded to the frame would cause the fuel gauge to be affected. | | |
#99583 02/27/2007 5:32 AM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | smokinjoe3,
Pretty weird. Does the '72 have a printed circuit board instrument panel? I'm not real sure on this, but the fuel gauge might be giving you a clue. For all those dash indicator lights to come on, they had to get power, which might have found its way through the common ground. I don't know exactly how this would work, but if the fuel gauge was powered through its grounded side, it might have swung the needle to EMPTY.
If turning on the headlights initiated the problem, it could be a lamp that lost its ground that comes on with the headlamps. This could be a taillight or a dash light.
You might do this drill again at night, then walk around the rig and hunt for a dim exterior light. Check the dash for a dim or nonexistent light too. Something is feeding power back through the system in search of a ground...it's finding it, but lighting everything else up in the process. Good luck.
Stuart | | |
#99584 02/27/2007 10:29 PM | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | The 72 has a printed circuit. I believe it is not grouded . It has a ground wire built in the connector. You could run a test wire to the ground circuit or run an auxiliary ground wire. The ground circuit is pretty obvious, it has a screw in the copper print.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | |
#99585 02/28/2007 4:31 AM | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 79 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 79 | Thanks for the advise guys. I'll go out and check a few things that you mentioned and let you know.
~Joe | | |
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