Dash voltgage limiter problems.

[Racer57]

70 Cuda Rallye gauges

Gas, oil and water temp gauges don't work. There is 12v power to the solid state voltage limiter and 1.2v coming out. I'm assuming that's not enough ?

Here's the real issue.... I had an old original that worked perfect and replaced it last summer with a solid state one that a friend had. Gauges didn't work.  I assumed it was bad,  so I put the old original one back in and everything worked fine. Then this winter when I had everything back out I bought a new one from Roseville thinking its best to stay ahead. At times it works, then it goes dead. I first thought the spade connectors were loose, but after fixing them nothing changed. Do I have bad luck or is there something else going on ?

[dodj]

Gas, oil and water temp gauges don't work. There is 12v power to the solid state voltage limiter and 1.2v coming out. I'm assuming that's not enough ?

Correct. You need 5V out of a solid state. If you went through a couple, maybe your dash grounding may be an issue. Make sure the four screws holding your cluster to the dash frame have a clean ground connection. I've had a solid state (home made) limiter in place for ten years so I know they should last longer than you are experiencing.

[Topcat]

I'm in the same exact problem.
Put in my old one and they started working.

I noticed a screw adjustment on the limiter.
Would that be something to try or test?

[dodj]

I noticed a screw adjustment on the limiter.
Would that be something to try or test?

If there is an adjustment screw, definitely check the o/p of the reg and set it to 5v. 

[Topcat]

If there is an adjustment screw, definitely check the o/p of the reg and set it to 5v.

that would be great if I knew how much to adjust it to.

[ToxicWolf]

that would be great if I knew how much to adjust it to.

If you have a voltmeter you could hook it up and see what changes while you turn the screw.   

[Topcat]

O.K I'll look into that. I have an SLA battery for bench test.

[dodj]

Connect the +ve battery lead to the input of the limiter and the -ve to the case. then put your voltmeter +ve lead on the output connector and the -ve lead to the limiter case. If it were me i'd adjust it for about 5.1 to 5.3volts because when you are bench testing there is no load on the regulator. If instructions came with the limiter regarding voltage setting/checking, it would have been handy, eh?

[Racer57]

Connect the +ve battery lead to the input of the limiter and the -ve to the case. then put your voltmeter +ve lead on the output connector and the -ve lead to the limiter case. If it were me i'd adjust it for about 5.1 to 5.3volts because when you are bench testing there is no load on the regulator. If instructions came with the limiter regarding voltage setting/checking, it would have been handy, eh?

I tested the first solid state limiter that I had used that didn't work. It reads 4.94v.  I moved the little screw as far in as possible and as far out as possible with no change in volts. So either the screw does not adjust the volts, or whatever is wrong with mine has effected that also.

I don't feel like taking my dash out for the umpteenth time so I made leads with male/female spade connectors on each end to fit my old original limiter and the wires going to it. I then bolted the limiter and noise suppressor along with a grounding wire together. I unplugged the leads from the one on the dash after twisting myself into positions that my 60yr old body didn't like and plugged in the leads from my "new" set up, fastened the ground wire to the radio strap and everything now works perfect. This coming winter I'll pull the dash and do it right.