88 gauge cluster keeps blowing fuze

[rangeron33s]

i baught my 88 ranger with no stereo and when i put the headunit in i had to run all the wires myself because the stereo harnes was nolonger in the truck. with the head unit needing 2 12v power wires and one being ignition on/off. i ran the ignition 12v to a red wire in the steering column and it worked. not too long after my gauge cluster lights started blowing the fuze. i would replace it and it would work for a short minute or two and then blow it again. i put a bigger fuze in and instead of it blowing the gauges just didnt light up. i just decided to pull cluster and check the bulbs. they are all fine but there is a blue with white stripe wire the comes off of the back of cluster behind the speedometer that is just a couple inches long and leads nowhere. the end is stripped so i know its supposed to go to somthing and i doubt it is a ground wire. could this be my problem? and does anyone know what this wire is supposed to be connected to?

 

[fyre82]

Start with taping off that wire and see if your fuse issue doesn't stop as well. That wire doesn't ring a bell for me and it doesn't look right, by memory at least.

 

[swynx]

You tapped into that wire now its pulling to much current for the lights so they shut off.

You'll have to tap somewhere else for power. Id recommend adding another fuse panel and using that.

Or you can plug it straight into the battery but won't have it work with the key.

There is a pretty nice electrical write up in the tech section. Used it many of times myself.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

You need to be careful with the dash light circuit I put in some LED lights and it fried the dimmer switch pulling too much current thru the spring. That is a possibility if you shorted the circuit?

 

[SenorNoob]

You need to be careful with the dash light circuit I put in some LED lights and it fried the dimmer switch pulling too much current thru the spring. That is a possibility if you shorted the circuit?

I thought LEDs used less power?

 

[rangeron33s]

Wasn't able to get on yesterday Internet crashed. It's really bugging me not knowing what that wire is for. If I wire can I tap into for fused ignition? Or how can I wire a new one in? And if I did short the circuit where is it located to tell if it is forsure blown? I've definatley learned my lesson about doing things half assed

 

[rangeron33s]

My gas gauge doesn't work. Is it possible that is what that wire is for?

 

[swynx]

I'm not sure about wiring into fused ignition. You would have to find the wire that's supposed to have power and give it power. Probably an answer if you search. Surely its been discussed before. Or tap into something else that runs hot off the ignition.

That wire could be for the gas change. Pull that cluster out and see what frayed wires are in it or missing.

You could give your stereo power by hooking it straight to the battery. Just wrap red and yellow together. Could hook it to a switch.

 

[swynx]

I actual think that there is a write up in the tech section that includes fused ignition. Pretty sure Jim wrote it. It is a great very detailed write up

 

[rangeron33s]

alright well i found out that wire was used to be super glued from the left plug in to the right. on the copper strips that go to the e brake light and the seat belt light. also the copper strips that go to the blinker lights on the gauge cluster are melted...this explains why they didnt work...also on the left plug in there was a red wire with a green stripe that goes was pulled out of the plug. anyone know what that wire is used for? also decided to pull the dimmer switch and found that 2 of the pins outlets are brown and melted. and the spring in the dimmer switch was poped out and had a bluish color in one spot from heat. i never did any electrical changes in he truck. i pulled the radio today and dug way deep in the dash and was able to find the stock plug ins (thank god one thing is rite) and behind the gauge cluster there was a couple wires cut. neither the fuel or temp gauges work and havent since i bought the truck. the fuel gauge would sometime go all the way to the top and slowly go down or just act goofy. got underneith and found that the fuel pup wires are plugged in using TRAILER LIGHT PLUGS! will post pictures in a few minutes of everything. not sure what to do im afraid to put the damn terminals back on the battery!!!! i need some serious help!

 

[rangeron33s]

these are the pictures

 

[rangeron33s]

im going to get a new gauge cluster soon but i dont want to get it and put it in without finding out what the hell the big issue is first. also is there a way i can move this thread? it started out as urgent but now its turned out to be alot longer

 

[adsm08]

Second to last picture of the IC. I think I see a melted spot in the plug contacts.

Now, there is a fuse in the fuse block for the switched power to the radio. Why did you tap into the first hot wire you found instead of going to find that wire and tapping into it? The wire is part of the fuse block, so part of it has to be there somewhere.

The red/yellow wire you used is power for the tach I think. Power for the gauges comes in on a black resistor wire. It can be seen in the other plug between the white and green wires in the first picture. Don't tap anything to that, it won't run anything but those gauges.

 

[swynx]

Id see if you can't find a new change cluster. My rheostat looks like that and still works

 

[rangeron33s]

Those arent melted spots on the plug contacts the previous owner had a wire superglued from one plug to the other. On the ebrake light and seatbelt light copper strips. And I was just being stupid and wanted a radio and couldn't find the original plug ins. I'm getting a new gauge cluster but first I need to find out what is shorting out. The dimmer switch plug had a couple pins that were melted pretty bad