97 S10 Blazer gauges...

[tripovermyego]

Ok so I traded my 94 Dodge Dakota ext cab 2wd for a 97 s10 Blazer 4wd. The PO had cut the dang factory wiring harness for the radio instead of just unplugging it from behind. Anyway, I went out today to wire it back up so I can have a radio. As i was wiring everything up, I made sure that none of the wires crossed or touched or anything. I got it all hooked up and turned the switch on and noticed that my fuel gauge, temp gauge, tach, speedometer, odometer, and the part that shows what gear your in no longer works. The oil pressure gauge and battery amp gauge works. Also so does the SES light. All the other lamps no longer come on. Anyone have a clue as to what happened? Also, the compass in the center console on the roof no longer lights up unless the headlights are on. I do have dash lights and stuff too.

[tripovermyego]

Noone?

[HotWheels4000]

Did you check the fuses?

[tripovermyego]

Sure did. But if the fuses were bad, wouldnt the entire instrument panel be dead? The lights work as normal.

[cable666guy]

You really need a schematic. In the mean time, you could start chasing grounds. All that stuff in the instrument cluster is on one harness, the radio wires really shouldn't interfere with any of that. I installed stereos and car alarms back in the mid 90s and stuff like that almost always came back to a ground issue...Good luck...

[tripovermyego]

Originally Posted by cable666guy

You really need a schematic. In the mean time, you could start chasing grounds. All that stuff in the instrument cluster is on one harness, the radio wires really shouldn't interfere with any of that. I installed stereos and car alarms back in the mid 90s and stuff like that almost always came back to a ground issue...Good luck...

I figured it out. There is this valve looking thing that sits right next to the thermostat housing that was unplugged. I noticed it and plugged it in to see what it did and WHAM! I had gauges again!! Havent messed with it since. My service engine soon light is on. It comes and goes. Havent really worried about it to much as the Blazer is still running strong!

[cable666guy]

Glad you got it figured out and that it was a simple fix...That SES light is just there to annoy you!!

[tripovermyego]

Originally Posted by cable666guy

Glad you got it figured out and that it was a simple fix...That SES light is just there to annoy you!!

Well I actually lied. It wasnt that valve thing under the hood. Cause the gauges screwed up again. It was some wires where the radio is. I had to take one thats purple with a white stripe and splice it to the yellow power wire for the gauges. Still cant figure out why they wont work unless the parking or headlights are on. But oh well. I can deal with turning those on until I figure the issue out.