1982 Gauges gone wild
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
1982 Gauges gone wild
Hello guys. I am having some issues with my gauges. I thought it was limited to just my fuel gauge but I am thinking its related to all of them now.
My fuel gauge never reads full when filled. The most it has ever read was 3/4 of a tank but most of the time its at 1/2 when the tank is full. The tank and the sending unit are new as of last year and it has been the same throughout the year. I am thinking that the fuel gauge is reading half of what it should.
Now moving on the oil pressure gauge, it usually sweeps up to H then as the engine warms it comes down to 3/4. I do not think this motor with 90,xxx miles would have oil pressure that high. I am thinking the reading is actually half that but I never installed a mech. gauge to see where it is at. nor do I know the PSI to OHM ratio.
Next is the temp gauge. it is always on the lowest portion of the scale. I have no confirmed this with a mech gauge either. I am thinking that this gauge is reading half of what it should.
Now if I am not mistaken the only thing that links the three gauges is the Constant Voltage Regulator correct? could the CVR cause this issue? or do I have a set of bad gauges (unlikely), bad printed circuit board? I removed the gauge cluster last weekend to try to find any obvious problems, removed the CVR cleaned the contacts and the back where it makes contact with the printed circuit board with no change in gauge readings. any advice?
also the needles are steady no jumping or dashing from side to side
My fuel gauge never reads full when filled. The most it has ever read was 3/4 of a tank but most of the time its at 1/2 when the tank is full. The tank and the sending unit are new as of last year and it has been the same throughout the year. I am thinking that the fuel gauge is reading half of what it should.
Now moving on the oil pressure gauge, it usually sweeps up to H then as the engine warms it comes down to 3/4. I do not think this motor with 90,xxx miles would have oil pressure that high. I am thinking the reading is actually half that but I never installed a mech. gauge to see where it is at. nor do I know the PSI to OHM ratio.
Next is the temp gauge. it is always on the lowest portion of the scale. I have no confirmed this with a mech gauge either. I am thinking that this gauge is reading half of what it should.
Now if I am not mistaken the only thing that links the three gauges is the Constant Voltage Regulator correct? could the CVR cause this issue? or do I have a set of bad gauges (unlikely), bad printed circuit board? I removed the gauge cluster last weekend to try to find any obvious problems, removed the CVR cleaned the contacts and the back where it makes contact with the printed circuit board with no change in gauge readings. any advice?
also the needles are steady no jumping or dashing from side to side
Senior Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 244
Likes: 5
I have a 1982 F-150 with the 302 v8 and my gauges went crazy as well and my fix was several things. My alternator was bad , my voltage regulator was bad all replaced. I am currently chasing grounding issues.
THe heat gauge in mine also read like almost empty on a gas gauge at10 oclock position. I pulled my thermostat yesterday and after 3 gaskets i finally got the 195 degree thermostat in . I read the back of the old one and it was 160 degrees way too low. MY heater works great now.
Your fading oil pressure could be explained by a few different things like maybe your oil pump is fading, it is 32 years old or the oil pump could be clogged some?. It coukd also be bad gauges?. The psi or OHM ratio should be had from your local ford dealership.Its also possible that an error in install of sending unit or even a new part failure this does happen as well. Come back when you figure it out and leave the fix this is interesting. I love my 1982 F-150 after i cuss at it a while
.
THe heat gauge in mine also read like almost empty on a gas gauge at10 oclock position. I pulled my thermostat yesterday and after 3 gaskets i finally got the 195 degree thermostat in . I read the back of the old one and it was 160 degrees way too low. MY heater works great now.
Your fading oil pressure could be explained by a few different things like maybe your oil pump is fading, it is 32 years old or the oil pump could be clogged some?. It coukd also be bad gauges?. The psi or OHM ratio should be had from your local ford dealership.Its also possible that an error in install of sending unit or even a new part failure this does happen as well. Come back when you figure it out and leave the fix this is interesting. I love my 1982 F-150 after i cuss at it a while
.