Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

gavinmosher · 10-27-2010, 07:42 PM

anywho like i said im sorry guys i used the search button but to no success i give up....

I have a 84 C30 Crew cab that has the stupid Idiot lights but its having issues showing the blinker indicator lamps and also having problems with actual dash lamps working themselfs

ON the other hand i have a 84c10 Shortbed with a PERFECT set of gauges that has the gauges instead of the idiot lamps including the quarts clock.... Can anyone tell me what i need to do to get this to work on my truck....

I read so much about volt meters and what not and burning the truck to the ground has me nervous if anyone can help i would appreciate it Thanks guys

again im sorry

Gavin

85gmcguy · 10-27-2010, 08:53 PM

Should be pretty simple, just swap the gauge cluster and the associated sending units (on the engine). Voltmeters are pretty safe, ammeters were dangerous.

gavinmosher · 10-27-2010, 09:01 PM

will i need to swap around the wires in the plug or should it pretty much be plug and play?

85gmcguy · 10-27-2010, 09:27 PM

I swapped my cluster out for a tach cluster (fuel gauge different position) and it was plug and play. Shouldn't have to modify anything else. Only thing I'm not sure about is the clock, but it could be wired separately like the tachs are.

gavinmosher · 11-01-2010, 03:50 PM

Okay got out looking at my other gauge cluster... it has no tach and the gas deal is in the same location but after pulling the cluster i noticed two things that my crew cab does not have that this one does

This yellow Deal.... with these wires running from it into my speedo....

and on the bulb that is in the top corner there is some sort of ground looking wire running from the bulb to a location im not sure of...

Can anyone tell me what the heck that yellow deal is and how exactly and IF it can work in my 84 crew cab???

RandyP · 11-01-2010, 03:57 PM

Yellow thing is a vehicle speed sensor I am guessing. The other black wire going off your cluster lighting, is an optical light that goes over and feeds light to the ashtray. So when the dash lights are on, you get a slight glow in the ashtray area so you can see to put your butts out.

gavinmosher · 11-01-2010, 04:07 PM

so do i need that vehicle speed sensor or can i just take it out and swap my gauge in its place?

RandyP · 11-01-2010, 04:26 PM

If your old speedometer did not have it, then you don't need it. If it is indeed the VSS, it just is part of the cruise control and in '87 and up models fed information to the trucks ECM.

gavinmosher · 11-01-2010, 05:53 PM

Well i plugged in the new gauges... and NOTHING worked lol.... the fuel gauge dropped below E when i turned the left blinker on everything on the dash blinked the right blinker light stayed lit and even the volt meter went straight to zero..... im guessing i would have to cut the harness and rewire it in?

RandyP · 11-01-2010, 05:54 PM

Probably just need to repin the connector.

gavinmosher · 11-01-2010, 06:37 PM

so just pull the wires from my connector and put them in the original spot from my shortbed?

RandyP · 11-01-2010, 07:14 PM

You can remove the wires one at a time from the connector and reinsert them where they need to be. Simplest way to know what goes where, is to look at the donor and rearrange yours from there.
Every time I grab a cluster assembly at the salvage I cut the harness that goes with it, just in case something is different.

If you're going from non gauge setup to a gauged setup, I really think your senders are different. Hopefully someone else might step up and tell if I'm right or wrong.

Worst case, if you have a true "parts/donor" truck, just swap wiring harness's and call it good.

85gmcguy · 11-01-2010, 07:17 PM

First, recheck the plug and "fingers" on the printed circuit. If they bend over each other, and it's a common problem, your gauges and lights will not work correctly. It can be a real PITA.

gavinmosher · 11-02-2010, 01:49 PM

well the gauges that were originally in it have a screwed up printed circuit anyways.... can you explain what you mean by fold over??? like as in its not making a connection

babyJay · 11-02-2010, 02:10 PM

Couldn't you just pop the donor guages out of their native "assembly" and pop them into the trucks original "assembly" and change the senders?

motornut · 11-03-2010, 08:24 PM

i think the "fingers" are the copper tracks on the plastic mylar ending in the plug in,they can lift and flip around.i too am curious about swaping as my 78 has idiots and my 89 parts has factory gauges.....it's on the list lol

79'84'chevy · 11-04-2010, 01:26 AM

just put all new aftermarket gauges in it. i used all mechanical gauges that i could. looks good except for the gauges dont match. 2 autometers and 4 equis gauges. working on all autometer. expensive

babyJay · 11-04-2010, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79'84'chevy

just put all new aftermarket gauges in it. i used all mechanical gauges that i could. looks good except for the gauges dont match. 2 autometers and 4 equis gauges. working on all autometer. expensive

Aftermarket guages are expensive. If you're looking at that avenue you may as well go dakota digital. Board member CaptKaos is a site vender. His name is Chris, and he can hook you up....!!!!!

dswancutt · 11-04-2010, 12:08 PM

Going from no gauges to gauges IS NOT plug and play. There is one more wire on the cluster with gauges and the wires plug into the connector in different locations. What I am using is the 82 wiring diagram from the factory service manual, pretty sure that an 84 is the same, so below is how the wires go into the cluster. This is looking at the back of the cluster.

No gauge cluster

150 14
33 15
25 39
50 EMPTY
39 EMPTY
35 150
31 237
8 EMPTY
11 30

Gauges

35 150
150 14
30 15
39 237
31 EMPTY
39 931
150 39
8 33
11 30*

* No connection at this location with tach cluster

the numbers represent the wire colors. I might have a few wrong as the print is tiny and unclear.

10-27-2010, 07:42 PM	#1
gavinmosher Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: carthage missouri Posts: 81	Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) anywho like i said im sorry guys i used the search button but to no success i give up.... I have a 84 C30 Crew cab that has the stupid Idiot lights but its having issues showing the blinker indicator lamps and also having problems with actual dash lamps working themselfs ON the other hand i have a 84c10 Shortbed with a PERFECT set of gauges that has the gauges instead of the idiot lamps including the quarts clock.... Can anyone tell me what i need to do to get this to work on my truck.... I read so much about volt meters and what not and burning the truck to the ground has me nervous if anyone can help i would appreciate it Thanks guys again im sorry Gavin

10-27-2010, 08:53 PM	#2
85gmcguy Plays with trucks Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 433	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) Should be pretty simple, just swap the gauge cluster and the associated sending units (on the engine). Voltmeters are pretty safe, ammeters were dangerous. __________________ Gary My Dad's Old Truck 1985

10-27-2010, 09:01 PM	#3
gavinmosher Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: carthage missouri Posts: 81	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) will i need to swap around the wires in the plug or should it pretty much be plug and play?

10-27-2010, 09:27 PM	#4
85gmcguy Plays with trucks Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 433	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) I swapped my cluster out for a tach cluster (fuel gauge different position) and it was plug and play. Shouldn't have to modify anything else. Only thing I'm not sure about is the clock, but it could be wired separately like the tachs are. __________________ Gary My Dad's Old Truck 1985

11-01-2010, 03:50 PM	#5
gavinmosher Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: carthage missouri Posts: 81	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) Okay got out looking at my other gauge cluster... it has no tach and the gas deal is in the same location but after pulling the cluster i noticed two things that my crew cab does not have that this one does This yellow Deal.... with these wires running from it into my speedo.... and on the bulb that is in the top corner there is some sort of ground looking wire running from the bulb to a location im not sure of... Can anyone tell me what the heck that yellow deal is and how exactly and IF it can work in my 84 crew cab???

11-01-2010, 03:57 PM	#6
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) Yellow thing is a vehicle speed sensor I am guessing. The other black wire going off your cluster lighting, is an optical light that goes over and feeds light to the ashtray. So when the dash lights are on, you get a slight glow in the ashtray area so you can see to put your butts out. __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

11-01-2010, 04:07 PM	#7
gavinmosher Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: carthage missouri Posts: 81	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) so do i need that vehicle speed sensor or can i just take it out and swap my gauge in its place?

11-01-2010, 04:26 PM	#8
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) If your old speedometer did not have it, then you don't need it. If it is indeed the VSS, it just is part of the cruise control and in '87 and up models fed information to the trucks ECM. __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

11-01-2010, 05:53 PM	#9
gavinmosher Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: carthage missouri Posts: 81	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) Well i plugged in the new gauges... and NOTHING worked lol.... the fuel gauge dropped below E when i turned the left blinker on everything on the dash blinked the right blinker light stayed lit and even the volt meter went straight to zero..... im guessing i would have to cut the harness and rewire it in?

11-01-2010, 05:54 PM	#10
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) Probably just need to repin the connector. __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

11-01-2010, 06:37 PM	#11
gavinmosher Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: carthage missouri Posts: 81	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) so just pull the wires from my connector and put them in the original spot from my shortbed?

11-01-2010, 07:14 PM	#12
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) You can remove the wires one at a time from the connector and reinsert them where they need to be. Simplest way to know what goes where, is to look at the donor and rearrange yours from there. Every time I grab a cluster assembly at the salvage I cut the harness that goes with it, just in case something is different. If you're going from non gauge setup to a gauged setup, I really think your senders are different. Hopefully someone else might step up and tell if I'm right or wrong. Worst case, if you have a true "parts/donor" truck, just swap wiring harness's and call it good. __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

11-01-2010, 07:17 PM	#13
85gmcguy Plays with trucks Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 433	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) First, recheck the plug and "fingers" on the printed circuit. If they bend over each other, and it's a common problem, your gauges and lights will not work correctly. It can be a real PITA. __________________ Gary My Dad's Old Truck 1985

11-02-2010, 01:49 PM	#14
gavinmosher Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: carthage missouri Posts: 81	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) well the gauges that were originally in it have a screwed up printed circuit anyways.... can you explain what you mean by fold over??? like as in its not making a connection

11-02-2010, 02:10 PM	#15
babyJay Arrived on a Pale Horse Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SnagTown Indiana Posts: 2,524	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) Couldn't you just pop the donor guages out of their native "assembly" and pop them into the trucks original "assembly" and change the senders? __________________ Jason 87 V30 350TBI/400 White w/Boss V-plow 89 R3500 CC SRW



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11-03-2010, 08:24 PM	#16
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) i think the "fingers" are the copper tracks on the plastic mylar ending in the plug in,they can lift and flip around.i too am curious about swaping as my 78 has idiots and my 89 parts has factory gauges.....it's on the list lol Attached Images __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350 Last edited by motornut; 11-03-2010 at 08:25 PM.

11-04-2010, 01:26 AM	#17
79'84'chevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cody, Wyoming Posts: 76	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) just put all new aftermarket gauges in it. i used all mechanical gauges that i could. looks good except for the gauges dont match. 2 autometers and 4 equis gauges. working on all autometer. expensive __________________ deer hunting, fish catching, 4x4ing country boy

11-04-2010, 12:08 PM	#19
dswancutt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Franklin, NE Posts: 387	Re: Tired of diggin Appologize ahead of time (Idiot Lamp Swap) Going from no gauges to gauges IS NOT plug and play. There is one more wire on the cluster with gauges and the wires plug into the connector in different locations. What I am using is the 82 wiring diagram from the factory service manual, pretty sure that an 84 is the same, so below is how the wires go into the cluster. This is looking at the back of the cluster. No gauge cluster 150 14 33 15 25 39 50 EMPTY 39 EMPTY 35 150 31 237 8 EMPTY 11 30 Gauges 35 150 150 14 30 15 39 237 31 EMPTY 39 931 150 39 8 33 11 30* * No connection at this location with tach cluster the numbers represent the wire colors. I might have a few wrong as the print is tiny and unclear.

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