Crazy ride home. Lots of dash stuff quit working. Options

[malcolm2]

Took a trip downtown to get some Brad Penn. Then to a favorite brewery, Honky Tonk Brewery. On the way home I hear the stereo stop, then start again. I then see almost nothing on the dash works. No RPM, speedo is working but too high. no oil temp or fuel, no a/f, no oil pressure, no blinkers, you name it. The G light is on cht gauge too tho. Hazzards and dash illumination work. Head lights work, fog lights work. All the rear lights work at once. No brakes, just tail, etc…

Guess i have a weekend project. Thoughts?

[Dave_Darling]

Note that the stock fuse block has its connections on the back, and they are quite close to the metal panel that holds the block. This panel is held onto the chassis with metal screws, meaning it is grounded (if often not all that well).

If your fuse block shifts a little in place, it can cause one of the connectors to momentarily touch the mounting panel, popping a fuse.

Guess which one popped on my car every few weeks if I went over bumps? Hint: The tach dropped to zero and the charging light came on...

In my case, one of the screws that holds the fuse block onto the mounting panel had gone MIA, and the block would shift sometimes when things got bouncy. I replaced the screw and I think I may have also put some split tubing along the edge of the panel to keep anything from bumping in the future.

I don't want to think about what might have happened if it had been the other side of the fused connection that had shorted to ground....

--DD

[malcolm2]

I don't want to think about what might have happened if it had been the other side of the fused connection that had shorted to ground....

--DD

I am leaving work now, looking forward to pulling that fuse #9! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

I have the JWest type that I inserted above. I will take it down and take a close look.

I was re-installing the fuse board once and the "L" shaped bracket that accepts the hold down screws had slipped under one of the relays. sparks galore...

I am much more careful now-a-days, but it is hard to be watching all the edges and brackets and corners as you wedge that wired board back in place. I probably should disconnect the battery to be safe.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[Spoke]

I was re-installing the fuse board once and the "L" shaped bracket that accepts the hold down screws had slipped under one of the relays. sparks galore...

Any time I drop the fuse panel I disconnect the negative cable on the battery. It's too easy to let the smoke out of wires and other items if there's a short.