Gages going goofy

Beaverman · 04-17-2008, 11:38 AM

I just found this forum while trying to find a answer to the problem that just came up with the gages on my 88 Chevy 1500, Silverado,4x4.
When I use the turn signal all the gages will fluctuate wildly as they blink except the speedometer. With the lights on I have to turn off the dimmer switch or else the temp gage pegs out and the fuel, oil pres., and volt gages all drop to 0.
I've cleaned the battery to body ground and pulled the plugs off both the head lite and dimmer switches with no changes.
Does anyone have an idea what is going on here? I'm pretty good at fixing mechanical things but when it comes to chasing little electrons, I can get stumped pretty fast.

gmctrucks · 04-17-2008, 11:58 AM

Welcome someone will chime in soon. I have noticed on my truck when I get on the gas pedal the gas needle goes down I guess that's normal since it's eating up my gas that's what happens when you drive a V/8 instead of a Echo car but I love my V/8. Be good! GMC

Case 7230 · 04-17-2008, 12:57 PM

I had a similar problem with a John Deere tractor many years ago. The problem started after the voltage regulator in the alternator allowed 18volts to hit the system. Replaced the alt. and reg. and was left with what you describe. Figured the high volts had damaged the little voltage stabilizer unit in the dash. Before all these digital gages they used to run the dash at about 8volts so that everything remained stable no matter what was going on with the battery. I would guess that is your problem.

crabtruck · 04-17-2008, 04:17 PM

Sounds like what you get with low system voltage, loose belt or overloaded flasher circuit. There was a problem with the 88 C/K IPs that they started replacements for in 87, yes I know that sounds backwards. Swapping the whole thing out through july 87. There was also a TSB 88-T-5 or Chev bulletin 88-06 you may want to track down. Good luck.

Beaverman · 04-17-2008, 07:02 PM

John Deere..Go figure. Dad has a '35 model A he bought new! I did have to replace the altanator last month. This gage problum happened a month or two before the altanator died but quit acting up till now with the new one installed. I'll do some checking with a meter. Thanks it will be a start.

04-17-2008, 11:38 AM	#1
Beaverman Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Palmer,Alaska Posts: 4	Gages going goofy I just found this forum while trying to find a answer to the problem that just came up with the gages on my 88 Chevy 1500, Silverado,4x4. When I use the turn signal all the gages will fluctuate wildly as they blink except the speedometer. With the lights on I have to turn off the dimmer switch or else the temp gage pegs out and the fuel, oil pres., and volt gages all drop to 0. I've cleaned the battery to body ground and pulled the plugs off both the head lite and dimmer switches with no changes. Does anyone have an idea what is going on here? I'm pretty good at fixing mechanical things but when it comes to chasing little electrons, I can get stumped pretty fast.

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04-17-2008, 11:58 AM	#2
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 1,606	Welcome someone will chime in soon. I have noticed on my truck when I get on the gas pedal the gas needle goes down I guess that's normal since it's eating up my gas that's what happens when you drive a V/8 instead of a Echo car but I love my V/8. Be good! GMC

04-17-2008, 12:57 PM	#3
Case 7230 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 226	I had a similar problem with a John Deere tractor many years ago. The problem started after the voltage regulator in the alternator allowed 18volts to hit the system. Replaced the alt. and reg. and was left with what you describe. Figured the high volts had damaged the little voltage stabilizer unit in the dash. Before all these digital gages they used to run the dash at about 8volts so that everything remained stable no matter what was going on with the battery. I would guess that is your problem.

04-17-2008, 04:17 PM	#4
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,464	Sounds like what you get with low system voltage, loose belt or overloaded flasher circuit. There was a problem with the 88 C/K IPs that they started replacements for in 87, yes I know that sounds backwards. Swapping the whole thing out through july 87. There was also a TSB 88-T-5 or Chev bulletin 88-06 you may want to track down. Good luck.

04-17-2008, 07:02 PM	#5
Beaverman Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Palmer,Alaska Posts: 4	John Deere..Go figure. Dad has a '35 model A he bought new! I did have to replace the altanator last month. This gage problum happened a month or two before the altanator died but quit acting up till now with the new one installed. I'll do some checking with a meter. Thanks it will be a start.