I have some used gauges that I'm trying to see if they are any good. Any way to bench test a set of gauges--oil pressure, temp, fuel and ammeter--OUT of the cluster and OUT of the car?

Speak slowly, in small words as I'm a electrical newbie.

Thanks!

--Paul

 

i think i read somewhere that you can use a 9 volt battery with test lead to check them but i'm not 100% sure on that. i bet someone else will pop in and verify this pretty quick though

 

I think the regulator for the instruments puts out about 5 volts. If you have one or borrow one an ohm meter might be the easiest. I guess this is after the little Fire problem you had, looking to see if the extras will work? Use the ohm meter to check for "open" circuits, no reading of resistance. The voltage signal sent to the gauge is increased or reduced by resistors in the matching sending units. An open circuit in the gauge will mean no matter what signal sent to it nothing will show on the gauge. Good luck, Jeff

 

My Ohm meter shows zero--so it should be ok. Two AA's hooked together makes the needles move slowly to 3/4 of the sweep. Good gauges?

--P