Rallye Gauges (fuel, temp, oil) pegged when key is on?

[Cuda Cody]

If all 3 of your gauges (Oil, Temp, Fuel) go full max when you turn the power on, that means you're getting the full 12 volts from the battery and not the 5 they need.  Don't let them stay on very long if you can help it.  They are not designed to get that much power and it could damage them.

Double check and make sure they are getting a good ground.  Ground is always a good place to start when something electrical is not working.  But in this case if all three gauges are getting to much volts then it most likely is the Instrument Voltage Limited on the back of the gauge cluster.  It's an easy fix and can be done without removing the dash.  There are a few places that sale them new.  Here's a photo of what the Voltage Limiter looks like.  It's the rectangle box with the 2 wires plugged in to it.

[wanderlustin]

Excellent tip @Cuda Cody!  These limiters can sometimes be a weak link.  I recently had an experience with an upgraded solid state limiter that worked well for about 400 miles.  On a trip to the coast, the water temp, oil pressure an fuel gauges started reading about 25% lower than what was normal.  Shortly thereafter all three gauges failed.  I measured 12vdc (with key on) at the voltage limiter feed.  The output however was 0 vdc, completely shot.  Output should have been around 5.3 vdc.  We still do not know what caused the failure.  A replacement limiter (OEM housing w/solid state guts) was immediately shipped out and has been working fine now for the last 2000+ miles.  This device may very well be added to the "spare roadside repair parts" inventory in the trunk as this is a road tripping car.  It be a real shame to stare at a restored cluster with limp needles all the way home from a weekend jaunt  ;D

[Cuda Cody]

That's a great idea to keep a spare in the car.  They are small and easy to put one on the glove box.  I'm going to do that!   ;D

[Chryco Psycho]

You were lucky at least it was lower not higher with excessive voltage & damaging the guages

[screamindriver]

I'm not sure what brand you're using but RTE's limiter has a blinking LED to show power is present to the limiter...It also has a built in fuse that shuts the output down if the unit detects a short saving the limiter and your wiring...So, if the limiter shuts down it may not be a faulty limiter just the breaker/fuse doing it's job..

[nsmall]

Where do you buy the "Instrument Voltage Limiter"?  Heard of the part, not sure I have one.  Do they come stock on rally gauges?

I have rally gauges and I must have a bad ground or something as I recently have a new problem:

Now with the cold weather (could be a coincidence)  I sometimes get NO reading on any of my gauges or stereo (aftermarket CD player) when I start the car.  If I let the car warm up for a couple of minutes, I then turn the ignition off, start the car and BAM my gauges and stereo work fine.

Any guess whats going on?

THANKS

Neil

[Cuda Cody]

Sounds like a ground or connection issue.     Grounds are normally the cause of most issues, so it's easy to start with checking that.

Where do you buy the "Instrument Voltage Limiter"?  Heard of the part, not sure I have one.  Do they come stock on rally gauges?

I have rally gauges and I must have a bad ground or something as I recently have a new problem:

Now with the cold weather (could be a coincidence)  I sometimes get NO reading on any of my gauges or stereo (aftermarket CD player) when I start the car.  If I let the car warm up for a couple of minutes, I then turn the ignition off, start the car and BAM my gauges and stereo work fine.

Any guess whats going on?

THANKS

Neil