Instrument Cluster Question

[SShaw]

Hello. I'm about 2 months into owning my DeLorean. So far so good.

I noticed that when I put the ignition in the run position my oil light doesn't come on. I've replaced the bulb and checked the connections. Everything seems ok. Also, my battery light flashes. After about 15 seconds it stabilizes, stays solid for a second and starts flashing again. After I start the car the light goes off and voltage is good.

Any ideas?

[Bitsyncmaster]

See if you have the alternator discussed in this thread. I fixed mine from flashing.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?12181-DMCH-alternator&highlight=alternator+flash

[David T]

Check the wire going over the motor and down to the sender on the left side. The light should light when you touch the wire to ground.

[SShaw]

See if you have the alternator discussed in this thread. I fixed mine from flashing.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?12181-DMCH-alternator&highlight=alternator+flash

Dave, that's the one I have. I actually just put it in. After installing I checked the run position. The light probably wasn't flashing with my old alternator, I just never checked. So, if it's actually an operation of the alternator I won't worry about it. I'm not good with electrical stuff so I'll probably just let it flash if it's not a problem. Maybe you can show me at a future tech day. Thanks.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Dave, that's the one I have. I actually just put it in. After installing I checked the run position. The light probably wasn't flashing with my old alternator, I just never checked. So, if it's actually an operation of the alternator I won't worry about it. I'm not good with electrical stuff so I'll probably just let it flash if it's not a problem. Maybe you can show me at a future tech day. Thanks.

It's a pretty simple jumper but you need a connector with the wire installed. I was able to pull a pin from an extra connector I had. The problem I saw was every 18 seconds the voltage would dip. You would probably only notice it if your watching the volt gauge.

[DMCMW Dave]

Hello. I'm about 2 months into owning my DeLorean. So far so good.

I noticed that when I put the ignition in the run position my oil light doesn't come on. I've replaced the bulb and checked the connections. Everything seems ok. Also, my battery light flashes. After about 15 seconds it stabilizes, stays solid for a second and starts flashing again. After I start the car the light goes off and voltage is good.

Any ideas?

I wouldn't worry about the alternator but you need that oil light working. It's more accurate than the gauge as far as the engine being in trouble, and more likely to get your attention. Ground the sender on the engine, if the light does not go on, check the connections at the bulkhead etc. It's a very simple circuit with only one wire and only a couple of failure points (sender, bulkhead, cluster connector, bulb/socket).

[Gregadeth]

When I start my car, the oil light doesn't come on. But the few times when I'm driving and the car stalls (driver error), the oil light does come on. What could cause this?


Hello. I'm about 2 months into owning my DeLorean. So far so good.
Congrats. Same here.

[Bitsyncmaster]

From the schematic, the oil light, low fuel light, brake light and battery light all share the 12 volt power connection. My guess is you have a poor connection in your gauge cluster. Do those other lights work?

[SShaw]

From the schematic, the oil light, low fuel light, brake light and battery light all share the 12 volt power connection. My guess is you have a poor connection in your gauge cluster. Do those other lights work?

Yes, all of those other lights work. I checked the connections and they look ok. But, like I mentioned, I'm not good with electrical so I could be overlooking something.

[DMCMW Dave]

When I start my car, the oil light doesn't come on. But the few times when I'm driving and the car stalls (driver error), the oil light does come on. What could cause this?


Congrats. Same here.

It won't come on while cranking the engine, but it should come on if you turn the key to the run position without starting the engine first.

[Gregadeth]

It won't come on while cranking the engine, but it should come on if you turn the key to the run position without starting the engine first.Yeah sorry, that's what I meant. The light doesn't come on when I turn the key to Run. The other lights do come on. And once I start the car, they all turn off.

[SShaw]

I grounded the sender, the oil pressure gauge went all the way up but still no light. Probably a connection issue in the instrument cluster, huh?

[David T]

I grounded the sender, the oil pressure gauge went all the way up but still no light. Probably a connection issue in the instrument cluster, huh?

The sender on the right side of the motor is for the gauge, the sender on they left side is for the light.

[SShaw]

The sender on the right side of the motor is for the gauge, the sender on they left side is for the light.

Ahhhh. I checked that one and the cable was snapped at the connector. I grounded it and the oil light came on. Once I repair the cable I should be back in business. Thanks for the help!

[Mark D]

Ahhhh. I checked that one and the cable was snapped at the connector. I grounded it and the oil light came on. Once I repair the cable I should be back in business. Thanks for the help!

Same thing happened on my car a while back. When you repair the cable/connector make sure you route the wire away from the exhaust so it doesn't melt.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

Same thing happened on my car a while back. When you repair the cable/connector make sure you route the wire away from the exhaust so it doesn't melt.

This is rather common as the wire runs near the cat conv. It also can ground and cause the light to come on. It's an easy fix but remember to add an insulation sleeve to avoid a repeat failure.
Rob

[David T]

This is rather common as the wire runs near the cat conv. It also can ground and cause the light to come on. It's an easy fix but remember to add an insulation sleeve to avoid a repeat failure.
Rob

That wire can get rather crispy. One sign is the oil light blinking when you drive the car in the rain. Get a fire sleeve on the wire or splice in a piece of high temp insulated wire.