So sporadically this last week, when I drive.. the RPM gauge will go crazy, dropping to 0, then up to 3000, and anywhere inbetween. but the engine sounds fine, it's not actually doing these things, the gauge just says it is. As well the speedometer goes from 65, to 0, and anywhere in between, but I'm maintaining a constant speed(65).

I remember about a year ago my fuel gauge doing this, and it hasn't worked since. It doesn't show how much gas I have in the tank. It is always on empty according to the gauge, but I'm usually at least 3/4 full. My gas gauge will show when I'm on empty, the yellow gas tank symbol will light up, but it won't ever show how much gas I have in the tank via the gauge.

Anyone know what is causing the gauges to go crazy? Sometimes the speedometer/RPM works normal, sometimes they go crazy. How do these systems work? is something loose? Any help is appreciated.

Regards,
John

 

I think you have more than one prob!

 

But kind of hard to help since there is no info abouut the vehicle! It is Dakota right?

 

o yea, sorry. It's a 1995 Dodge Dakota Sport Pickup, 113k miles. 4wd. 3.9L engine. The truck runs great, I don't have any problems. Just these gauges.

 

dont worry your not alone, i swear every single usmc HMWV has the exact same problem semper fi

 

huh?

 

Sounds like you got an eletrical problem. Check your ground and power wires.

 

Here is a diagram http://www.mitchell-auto.ru/UserFile...-dakota-wd.pdf

 

i would check the plug going into the back of the cluster too, mine had backed out a little and the lights for the gauges stopped working all i had to do was push it back in, it was just barely unplugged. but check grounds too like crazy said.

 

So I checked all the grounds I could find. some of them under the hood, were a little rusty. So I undid them, took a wire brush to them until there was bare metal all over, and I put them back. Still the same problem though.

Bad96_3.9, where is this plug? I have to take out the instrument panel..and there is some plug behind there?