Jamie80 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Thanks for the add guys. Recently purchased a 1983 F150 XL. Looking for ideas and any help that can be offered. I will have to do some engine work to it (it runs and drives) but there is one cylinder that is not firing. Also need to replace the instrument cluster since only the speedometer works. I look forward to seeing everyone's trucks and ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee1986 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Welcome aboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Welcome Jamie! Your speedometer is mechanical, the other instruments are electrical. Do the instrument lights work? I'm suspecting a bad ground, as not everything is driven by the instrument cluster voltage regulator. But the ICVR can be problematic, and we have a solid state solution for that. You might check out the documentation for an Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual applicable to your truck. It's a great way to better understand what's going on, or has gone wrong, with your truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpin Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Welcome Jamie! Your speedometer is mechanical, the other instruments are electrical. Do the instrument lights work? I'm suspecting a bad ground, as not everything is driven by the instrument cluster voltage regulator. But the ICVR can be problematic, and we have a solid state solution for that. You might check out the documentation for an Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual applicable to your truck. It's a great way to better understand what's going on, or has gone wrong, with your truck. Welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Yes, welcome! Glad you joined. What part of SC? I ask because we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and I'd add you if I had a city. Jim is right, the gauges are electrical. But there are two versions - those with idiot lights for the oil pressure and ammeter, and those with true gauges. Which do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986F150Six Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Yes, welcome! Glad you joined. What part of SC? I ask because we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and I'd add you if I had a city. Jim is right, the gauges are electrical. But there are two versions - those with idiot lights for the oil pressure and ammeter, and those with true gauges. Which do you have? Welcome, Jamie80! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie80 Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 Yes, welcome! Glad you joined. What part of SC? I ask because we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and I'd add you if I had a city. Jim is right, the gauges are electrical. But there are two versions - those with idiot lights for the oil pressure and ammeter, and those with true gauges. Which do you have? I'm from Surfside Beach. Not sure which set of gauges I have. I will dig deeper into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie80 Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 Welcome Jamie! Your speedometer is mechanical, the other instruments are electrical. Do the instrument lights work? I'm suspecting a bad ground, as not everything is driven by the instrument cluster voltage regulator. But the ICVR can be problematic, and we have a solid state solution for that. You might check out the documentation for an Electrical and Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual applicable to your truck. It's a great way to better understand what's going on, or has gone wrong, with your truck. The dash lights up but the fuel, oil, temp, and voltage gauges don't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 The dash lights up but the fuel, oil, temp, and voltage gauges don't work. You now on the map. On the gauges you might read this: Documentation/Electrical/ICVR. If that thing fails none of those three gauges work. But the page here gives some troubleshooting tips: Documentation/Electrical/Gauges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie80 Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 You now on the map. On the gauges you might read this: Documentation/Electrical/ICVR. If that thing fails none of those three gauges work. But the page here gives some troubleshooting tips: Documentation/Electrical/Gauges. *Update* So i went to my local pick n pull and found a 1982 F 150. I was able to pull the instrument cluster from it and install it in my 83 150. Gas gauge and oil temp needles actually moved, although I'm not sure how accurate the gas gauge is, but nothing lights up on the cluster now. I'm assuming this dash cluster was semi bad as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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