The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1973 - 1987 Chevrolet & GMC Squarebody Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-17-2019, 09:48 PM   #1
74chevylvr
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 19
Cluster problems, really need advice

Need advice:. On my 74 swapped in a full harness from a 78. Swapped the oil sender for an electric one, swapped the temp sensor. The cluster is from a 79. Circuit board looks good.

The only thing that works on the cluster is the gas gauge, the fasten seat belt buzzer and the left hand turn light. Nothing else.

I really don't want to spend hundreds just throwing gauges at the problem

Any advice? All of the light bulbs are in, however only the left indicator light works
74chevylvr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2019, 11:40 PM   #2
SunSoaked
Registered User
 
SunSoaked's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Yuma Arizona
Posts: 1,524
Re: Cluster problems, really need advice

Dakota Digital. You won't regret it.
SunSoaked is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 07:02 AM   #3
Dead Parrot
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 2,472
Re: Cluster problems, really need advice

While the physical cluster plug and socket stayed the same from 73-87, the pin assignments changed each year and from model to model in the same year. You need to figure out the pin layout for your 79 cluster and move the pins in your 78 plug to match.
Dead Parrot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 07:56 AM   #4
Palf70Step
State of Confusion!

 
Palf70Step's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Gulfport, MS USA
Posts: 46,608
Re: Cluster problems, really need advice

These may help you figure out the differences between the different years wirings.
Attached Images
   
__________________
Bill
1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside
2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD

Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC)

Bill's Gallery
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!
Palf70Step is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 01:09 PM   #5
74chevylvr
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 19
Re: Cluster problems, really need advice

Thanks. The pinouts look the same 78 & 79. Clearly the board is getting electrical or the gas gauge wouldn't work at all. I just can't figure out why none of the other gauges are working. Speedometer is clearly a cable issue.

Was thinking to just buy another circuit board, new clips and new lights. Other than that I am flummoxed.

One other question. The oil sender connection on the harness has what looks to be a rubber cap with two connections in there. The oil sender oil has one. Should I cut the connection off and put a spade on?
74chevylvr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2019, 06:10 PM   #6
Palf70Step
State of Confusion!

 
Palf70Step's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Gulfport, MS USA
Posts: 46,608
Re: Cluster problems, really need advice

The gauges side and fuel tank/speedo side get the 12V from different sources (pins) One of the things I found is to check the circuit board plastic thing. It is common for them to have cracks and all that will prevent circuit flow. You could always take and wire the stuff in the dash plugin directly to the individual points. I did that with the left turn signal on mine. I also wired in a better ground connection to the harness connector.
__________________
Bill
1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside
2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD

Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC)

Bill's Gallery
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!
Palf70Step is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 03:02 PM   #7
rgunlock
Senior Member
 
rgunlock's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tomball, Texas
Posts: 1,592
Re: Cluster problems, really need advice

Another place to check carefully is where the harness connector plugs into the back of the housing. The gold leaf connections where the plastic circuit sheet folds into the connector hole sometimes peel off the plastic leading to bad connections.
__________________
Rick

78 GMC K15 SWB, 350/NV4500/NP205/4.10s Project Hazel
71 GMC C25 350/TH400 - Project Angie
59 Chevy SWB Stepside (next in line? Not sure now )
2001 GMC Sierra K2500
rgunlock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 03:04 PM   #8
74chevylvr
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 19
Re: Cluster problems, really need advice

The circuit board is good. I just swapped it over this weekend to another plastic case and it was clean. If I can figure out do I clip the two prong connector with a single prong or just plug the sender into one of the prongs that would be very helpful
74chevylvr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2019, 03:15 PM   #9
Palf70Step
State of Confusion!

 
Palf70Step's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Gulfport, MS USA
Posts: 46,608
Re: Cluster problems, really need advice

I drew this out when working with mine, maybe it will help
Attached Images
 
__________________
Bill
1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside
2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD

Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC)

Bill's Gallery
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!
Palf70Step is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:18 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com