i just purchased a 92 cabby for my girelfriend and i got it home and noticed the fuel, water and tachometer are not working i pulled the cluster checked the plugs to no avail im kinda stumped any help would be appreciated . thanks.
-matt
-matt
gauge cluster not working
1 - 20 of 20 Posts
Re: gauge cluster not working (berlintsi)
Just wait until you find all the other crap that doesn't work!
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Check all fuses in the fuse box - particularly those related to the fuel system. I presume the car runs, but the instruments do not work.
Are your dash lights working? A short in the harness would prevent other things from working correctly.
You are probably going to need to use a voltmeter to test connections from the cluster connector to the fuse box (and other components). So a wiring diagram is going to be essential .
www.cabbyinfo.com
Just wait until you find all the other crap that doesn't work!
Check all fuses in the fuse box - particularly those related to the fuel system. I presume the car runs, but the instruments do not work.
Are your dash lights working? A short in the harness would prevent other things from working correctly.
You are probably going to need to use a voltmeter to test connections from the cluster connector to the fuse box (and other components). So a wiring diagram is going to be essential .
www.cabbyinfo.com
Re: gauge cluster not working (berlintsi)
All three gauges are powered from the voltage stabilizer's output. <edit, 18 May 2021; this is wrong, the tach is NOT powered by the voltage stabilizer>
The "Voltage Stabilizer" is a three pin, 10.0 VDC voltage regulator mounted on the instrument cluster circuit board.
Remove the cluster, visually inspect the key on power (from pin T14/14, black wire) and ground (from pin T14/2, brown wire) traces, best if you can test with a DVOM.
If the Voltage stabilizer has charging system voltage in plus a good ground but no 10.0 VDC output, replace it.
All three gauges are powered from the voltage stabilizer's output. <edit, 18 May 2021; this is wrong, the tach is NOT powered by the voltage stabilizer>
The "Voltage Stabilizer" is a three pin, 10.0 VDC voltage regulator mounted on the instrument cluster circuit board.
Remove the cluster, visually inspect the key on power (from pin T14/14, black wire) and ground (from pin T14/2, brown wire) traces, best if you can test with a DVOM.
If the Voltage stabilizer has charging system voltage in plus a good ground but no 10.0 VDC output, replace it.
Re: gauge cluster not working (tolusina)
It is located at the very top right side of the photo below (three pins to the circuit film and a flathead screw that holds the metal tab to the cluster.
| Quote, originally posted by tolusina » |
| All three gauges are powered from the voltage stabilizer's output. The "Voltage Stabilizer" is a three pin, 10.0 VDC voltage regulator mounted on the instrument cluster circuit board. |
It is located at the very top right side of the photo below (three pins to the circuit film and a flathead screw that holds the metal tab to the cluster.
Re: (berlintsi)
I've discovered that this is a common problem on cabs and had this very same issue on my '85.
My tach, fuel gauge, temp gauge and all the idiot lights/turn signal lights went out in the cluster. occasionally, hitting a bump would send them working again, before they'd crap out again. son of an electrical engineer that I am, I discovered that I could get this set working again by reaching up under the dash and wiggling the main plug that attached to the cluster. But this didn't always work, and I eventually forgot to reset my odometer and ran out of gas - because the gauge happened to be out.
My trusted VW mechanic told me his experience with this common issue and gave me the fix, which I performed myself. The problem lies with the flimsy/worn contacts on the cluster's main plug. (the "male" side) You will notice that the contacts simply wrap over the plastic male end of the plug. The fix is to pull back the contacts and wrap a bit of electrical tape over the plastic. When you rewrap the contacts back over the tape, you will now notice that you'll get a tighter fit when you plug the male end into the female side. Of course, spray it all with contact cleaner before you reattach it all and hopefully auto's cured.
I've discovered that this is a common problem on cabs and had this very same issue on my '85.
My tach, fuel gauge, temp gauge and all the idiot lights/turn signal lights went out in the cluster. occasionally, hitting a bump would send them working again, before they'd crap out again. son of an electrical engineer that I am, I discovered that I could get this set working again by reaching up under the dash and wiggling the main plug that attached to the cluster. But this didn't always work, and I eventually forgot to reset my odometer and ran out of gas - because the gauge happened to be out.
My trusted VW mechanic told me his experience with this common issue and gave me the fix, which I performed myself. The problem lies with the flimsy/worn contacts on the cluster's main plug. (the "male" side) You will notice that the contacts simply wrap over the plastic male end of the plug. The fix is to pull back the contacts and wrap a bit of electrical tape over the plastic. When you rewrap the contacts back over the tape, you will now notice that you'll get a tighter fit when you plug the male end into the female side. Of course, spray it all with contact cleaner before you reattach it all and hopefully auto's cured.
Re: (cabdash)
Love it! http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
| Quote, originally posted by cabdash » |
| The fix is to pull back the contacts and wrap a bit of electrical tape over the plastic. When you rewrap the contacts back over the tape, you will now notice that you'll get a tighter fit when you plug the male end into the female side. |
Love it! http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
Joined
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11,323 Posts
Re: (JPX)
Hell yeah!!! I got tired of the "reaching under the dash" fix... http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
Hell yeah!!! I got tired of the "reaching under the dash" fix... http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
Joined
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5,939 Posts
Re: (berlintsi)
Totally different plug. In fact I beleive it has two 14 pin plugs (CE1 harness). I had one in my car for a while. Finalyy upgraded to a 92 Jetta GLI MFA cluster with 1 28 pin plug froma CE2 harness.
| Quote, originally posted by berlintsi » |
| i have a gauge cluster and harness for an 89 jetta are the plugs on the bottom of the harness the same? it seems like the cabby has a unique cluster plug? |
Totally different plug. In fact I beleive it has two 14 pin plugs (CE1 harness). I had one in my car for a while. Finalyy upgraded to a 92 Jetta GLI MFA cluster with 1 28 pin plug froma CE2 harness.
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