Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place

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    Author Topic: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place  (Read 3411 times)

    Offline Grec

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    Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « on: September 20, 2017 - 05:41:33 PM »
    Hey, guys.

    Had a bit of gauge weirdness today... all three gauges that are tied to the RT Eng limiter (gas/temp/oil) started intermittently dying... then coming back up to correct readings... then dying... then coming back. Repeat.

    Anyone ever seen this before?
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    1973 Challenger Rallye
    - 440 Six Pack
    - A833 4 Speed, 18 Spline
    - FE5 Rallye Red on Black


    Offline 734406pk

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    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #1 on: September 20, 2017 - 08:07:16 PM »
    Yes I have seen that before. Check that the screw is tight that holds the solid state limiter to the dash frame, a good ground is needed. Check the ignition power feed connection into the limiter and the small 5 volt output harness from the limiter to the three gauges. The quick connects can get loose and/or corroded making an intermittent power loss. Good Luck!  :2thumbs:
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    1973 Challenger 440 6 pack auto 3.91 rear
    2012 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 6.7 Cummins Fleece EFI Live
    1973 Challenger 318 2bbl auto 2.73 rear 22.5 mpg RIP
    1970 Challenger TA 340 4bbl auto-Sold and sad
    1999 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 5.9 Cummins Fleece tuned VGT-sold
    1995 Kawasaki ZX1100E & still alive

    Offline Grec

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    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #2 on: September 21, 2017 - 06:28:47 PM »
    Copy that. Thanks, bud!
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    1973 Challenger Rallye
    - 440 Six Pack
    - A833 4 Speed, 18 Spline
    - FE5 Rallye Red on Black

    Offline 734406pk

    • Andy
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    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #3 on: September 28, 2017 - 09:31:49 PM »
    good luck!  :thumbsup:
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    1973 Challenger 440 6 pack auto 3.91 rear
    2012 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 6.7 Cummins Fleece EFI Live
    1973 Challenger 318 2bbl auto 2.73 rear 22.5 mpg RIP
    1970 Challenger TA 340 4bbl auto-Sold and sad
    1999 Dodge Ram 3500 dually 5.9 Cummins Fleece tuned VGT-sold
    1995 Kawasaki ZX1100E & still alive

    Offline shadango

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    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #4 on: October 28, 2017 - 11:37:12 AM »
    Hey Grec...any luck with this issue? I am having the same issues.

    I bought an IVR3 some time back……worked great for all that time. Years.

    But my gauges started acting up this past summer...…sometimes the fuel and temp would work, sometimes not. Always both at the same time. Sounds like your issue.

    I assumed it was a bad connection at the limiter. Fished my hand up behind and found when I twisted the connector that feeds the gauges, it would work, let go and it would stop. I figured it was corrosion etc and the dash would need to come apart.... So I let it go til the weather turned to crap.....today....LOL

    I pulled the cluster out today to access the Limiter and found that it had what appeared to be a cold solder joint on the terminal that feeds the gauges.

    Certainly out of warranty of any sort I figured I would try soldering it.

    I did, and lo and behold, upon hooking it up to a battery on the bench  (positive to the 12v terminal, negative to the cluster frame), the LED started blinking,…..then after reinstalling the cluster in the car, it worked for 4 cycles of the ignition. 

    But then on the 5th (not sure why I went for a 5th but glad I did before I reassembled everything), it stopped. Even wiggling the terminal does nothing.

    Checked my 12v source in the dash, its fine…battery is charged…..pulled the cluster again to bench test the same as before, and no LED.

    The solder joint appears ok.  If I had damaged it with solder heat, I wouldnt think it would have worked at ALL.....

    Picture attached

    So I am at a loss…..any thoughts on what the issue could be? maybe its just toast altogether now?

    According to the website where I bought the RTE IVR3 from, RTE was sold to Dashworx which is now shut down as well.

    So I may try opening up the unit and see what I can see but aside from that, not many options I guess.

    I tried emailing "Greg" from RTE at his old address, but I would guess he wont get that.

    I do have an old style one, but not sure it works or not....I guess I can bench test that the same way....but will have to measure the output rather than look for a blinky light I guess...

    Any other options as far as the digital style or was RTE *IT*??

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    Offline shadango

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    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #5 on: October 28, 2017 - 01:22:32 PM »
    Well, in theory  I solved my issue....at least until it breaks again.

    Made a short video

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbocE0-HaP8
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    Offline jason340

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    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #6 on: October 28, 2017 - 02:48:38 PM »
    I was told by Dave at Performance Graphics to leave out the capacitor/suppressor. I left mine off and everything seems to work well.
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    Offline shadango

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    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #7 on: October 29, 2017 - 05:49:11 PM »
    In my case the issues seems to be that the ground between the case and the circuit board was not good.....
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    Offline dodj

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    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #8 on: November 12, 2017 - 08:42:55 AM »
    Quote from: shadango on October 28, 2017 - 11:37:12 AM

    Any other options as far as the digital style or was RTE *IT*??
    It is quite easy to make your own solid state regulator. Buy an NTE960 or equivalent. I replaced mine with one in, I think, about 1990 and still fine. The 960 is a TO220 case that has a tab with a hole that is the regulator ground. Gut the limiter you have on hand and bolt the solid state regulator inside. The two outside 'legs' are input (12v) and output (5V - rock steady).  Cost me about $3.
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    Scott
    1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
    2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
    Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

    Offline JayBee

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    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #9 on: November 12, 2017 - 09:28:44 AM »
    Making your own is a great idea, here's the PDF of the NTE960
    https://www.alliedelec.com/m/d/99df1d8cb7584608efc996776e72e19e.pdf

    Vans Auto sells there version of the limiter. I have one on my spare cluster and it's a steady (not pulsing) 5v out. Bet the inside is a 960.
    https://vansauto.com/product/voltage-limiter-solid-state-ivr3/
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    John

    1970 Barracuda convertible
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    Offline cv70chall

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    • 1970 Challenger
    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #10 on: January 23, 2018 - 07:52:55 AM »
    Hi everyone,

    So, I'm running into some electrical issues- mainly with the gas gauge, turn signals and AC blower. Every so often- maybe once or twice a month, my turn signals and AC blower stop working. (I'm figuring it might be a fuse- as they share the same one I believe)
    The gas gauge has always worked- new gauge, sending unit, ground strap installed during my resto a while back- but the other day when I filled up, it read full, then died. I drove the car for 15 minutes and shut her off. After coming back out, I started it up again and the gauge was working normally.
    Weird.
    Any thoughts?
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    Offline 70chall440

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    Re: Gauge weirdness w/ RT Eng voltage limiter in place
    « Reply #11 on: January 23, 2018 - 12:26:16 PM »
    My first thought would be a bad ground some place that is either loose or corroded and making intermittent connection. Other than that, it would be a similar issue on the power side; since you say they share a fuse I would start there and make sure the connections are clean and tight. In instances like this I like to add a small amount of silver connector grease on the terminals.
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