Volt gauge reads wrong...

[painterdave72]

anyone else have this problem?? mine has just started doing this..with all accesories on such as radio with amp .. lights .. neons. blower motor etc it reads about ten volts at idle.. which is not the case .. i used a test meter at the battery and it is about 13.8 at idle.. the battery itself is at 12.45 without the engine running.. i am assuming the gauge is just old and worn out and wonder if a new one will fix the prob.. where do they ground to if anyone knows. thanks.. Dave..

[A Van]

Check for corroded contacts on fuse 5

[DMCMW Dave]

Check for a dirty ground point just to the right of the radio (you have to remove the console). But I agree that the fuse is the likely culprit.

[painterdave72]

cleaning the fuse did not fix the gauge reading prob.. so next would be to clean the grounds by the radio?? is there no other way to get to them except remove the console??? Dave.

[content22207]

If the speed nuts that connect the dash volt gauge to the contact paper behind the instrument cluster work loose you will get improper readings as well.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[Bitsyncmaster]

One of my friends dash gauge also reads about 1 volt or more low. I wonder if the shunts (resistors) on some of the gauges have poor connections. I think my fuel gauge had this problem but can't say for sure. Some of those shunts you need to pull the gauge out to get at them.