1st Gen Dakota Tech 1987 - 1996 Dodge Dakota Tech - The ultimate forum for technical help on the 1st Gen Dakota.

Help With Gauges

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 25, 2024 | 12:19 PM
  #11  
Leftysdad's Avatar
Leftysdad
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Default

Guess I will have to get another whole gauge cluster....those gauges will not work, not matter what I do....so I'll get another cluster and swap.....
it's just odd that it's all 4 like that
 
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2024 | 04:03 PM
  #12  
HeyYou's Avatar
HeyYou
Administrator
Veteran: Air Force
Community Favorite
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,397
Likes: 4,213
From: Clayton MI
Default

Originally Posted by Leftysdad
Guess I will have to get another whole gauge cluster....those gauges will not work, not matter what I do....so I'll get another cluster and swap.....
it's just odd that it's all 4 like that
Gotta be a failure within the cluster itself. Unfortunately, so far as I know, wiring diagrams for the cluster itself, simply don't exist anywhere....
 
Reply
Old Jan 25, 2024 | 06:33 PM
  #13  
bronze's Avatar
bronze
Record Breaker
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 473
From: North Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by HeyYou
Gotta be a failure within the cluster itself. Unfortunately, so far as I know, wiring diagrams for the cluster itself, simply don't exist anywhere....
I see lots of clusters still on ebay.
 
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2024 | 07:20 AM
  #14  
Leftysdad's Avatar
Leftysdad
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Default

Update.....
I bought a used cluster at a local salvage yard, swapped them, and everything works perfectly now except gas hand.....but this gas hand reads past empty....is it float controlled?
thanks
 
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2024 | 08:47 AM
  #15  
onemore94dak's Avatar
onemore94dak
Champion
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,723
Likes: 152
Default

Yes. Now the fun, the pump, the filter and the float are all one unit and in the gas tank.
Most remove the bed or unbolt it and lift one side to get at the tank. If you do that protect the opposite side corners from scratching on the rear bumper. Or you can drain it and lower the tank.
The float arm should point toward the front of the truck when it is positioned correctly. Otherwise it hits the inside and doesn't work.
 
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2024 | 09:25 AM
  #16  
bronze's Avatar
bronze
Record Breaker
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 473
From: North Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by Leftysdad
Update.....
I bought a used cluster at a local salvage yard, swapped them, and everything works perfectly now except gas hand.....but this gas hand reads past empty....is it float controlled?
thanks
Good news! Yes the gauge works off a float inside the tank as 94 said. The pump, sending unit, and float are all inside the tank. It seems your pump works fine but the sending unit and/or float could be screwed up. As 94 suggests, you can inspect the parts. Lifting the driver's side bed is the easiest way. 8 bolts holding the bed to the frame, unscrew filler neck from behind the flap, remove spare tire crank tube from behind license plate, detach tail light harness, jack her up. Not hard. OR, just use your tripometer as a fuel gauge. Also, your gas pump dash light should illuminate when you're down to about 2 gallons (that's on a separate circuit). If you choose to replace your fuel pump assy, return here for recommendations. Many pumps suck so you want to get a good one.
 

Last edited by bronze; Jan 31, 2024 at 09:28 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2024 | 02:02 PM
  #17  
onemore94dak's Avatar
onemore94dak
Champion
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,723
Likes: 152
Default

I forgot to mention if the sending unit isn't working well there is a thread in the FAQ section about doing that. Also be careful of the overflow valve. It tends to be very brittle at this age and breaks easily when you try to remove it.
 
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2024 | 02:48 PM
  #18  
bronze's Avatar
bronze
Record Breaker
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 473
From: North Carolina
Default

Just for grins, I replaced my fuel pump a few years ago. It died and I had AAA tow it to one of their shops. They checked the fuel pressure and determined the pump was kaput. They quoted me more than $500 to replace it. Uh, no. Had AAA tow my truck home. Spent I dunno, maybe $120 on a new Delphi pump and did it myself. $300 and I woulda paid it. Not $500.
 
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2024 | 07:16 PM
  #19  
ol' grouch's Avatar
ol' grouch
Grand Champion
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 721
From: S.W. Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by Leftysdad
Update.....
I bought a used cluster at a local salvage yard, swapped them, and everything works perfectly now except gas hand.....but this gas hand reads past empty....is it float controlled?
thanks

The float is on the fuel pump. However, it's also possible you have an open circuit in the wire to the float. If it was shorted, it would read full and then some.
 
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2024 | 12:47 PM
  #20  
Leftysdad's Avatar
Leftysdad
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Default

Why are these two not plugged up....where do they go, thanks in advance guys

 
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:42 PM.