Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 - Forums - Official C3 Vette Registry

SPONSOR AD

Support our Vendors! | Advertise Here

Topic: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975

in Forum: C3 General Discussion

Already a Member?
Login
Not yet a Member?
Register for Free!

Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (1/11)
3/10/14 6:11pm

KSNBRUCIE
Former Member
Send Private Message

Bethlehem, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray currently, 1971, 1989,1992, 1995, 2001

Joined: 2/13/2014
Posts: 9

Howdy Everyone,

New member here with a 1975 Stingray. Not the most horses but it is still a Vette and the year I graduated from High School and joined the U.S. Navy. It is my 2nd C-3 and 6th Vette I have owned. Anyway, I bought it a month or so ago. I was told it had the original engine(confirmed) and 74k miles. I was also told the the Tach and clock do not work....Come to find out NONE of the gauges work. Even the gas gauge. Now after I bought a Service Manual, I found out they all have the same grounding point. Anyone know where that is, and is that a common issue?? I think it is behind the gauges and I tried to take off the bezel, but there are 2 studs coming out the bottom of the bezel, with nuts on them...Which I can't seem to get to. Is there a special tool or a contorstionist I can hire to get to the nuts ?? I only looked at the from the drivers side and it is not gonna be fun. I haven't tried the passengers side ...yet. So, that's where I am at. I don't mind some of the gauges not working, but I'd like to get the gas gauge working. There is a troubleshooting procedure for the gas gauge, but since they all are not working, I figure it is a common problem, with all the gauges in the cluster. Any help would be appreciated.

|UPDATED|3/10/2014 3:11:49 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Quote

Our Sponsors help support C3VR

Re: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (2/11)
3/10/14 11:11pm

Adams' Apple

Lifetime Member
Moderator
Send Private Message

Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20128

Check the ground at the blower motor....the ground for the instruments/gauges piggy-backs from the blower motor ground. The black wire from the blower motor should be attached to the backside of the gauge cluster.
I can e-mail you the wiring diagram, if you would like. Or you can view or download any of the '68-'82 Corvette wiring diagrams from my web page.

Of course, I'm sure you have already checked all the fuses? Does the blower motor work?

|UPDATED|3/10/2014 8:11:16 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link

(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Quote

Re: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (3/11)
3/11/14 1:12am

HighDesertDave
Former Member
Send Private Message

Carson City, NV - USA

Vette(s):
Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior

Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239

I just installed my vert gauge cluster last sat. There is a silver lining, you don't have to completely remove the nuts on those 2 studs that attach it to the front of the center console. Just loosen them. The mount tabs on the console are open ended not holes. You can get a view of the nuts even with a stereo in there once you cram you head into the right spot on the floor. I used a couple of 3/8" box wrenches. One very slim with a 90 degree head....my dad calls them distributor wrenches. But I also was able to get a 1/4" drive socket on it....enough to loosen and spun it down with my finger after. But don't take the nut off!
The bad news...once its loose and you removed the side screws and wiper bezel at the top you now need to remove the e-brake housing (easy, 4 screws), and then the center console screws, which there are 2 up front under those removable side flaps. I think you can then pull the console back releasing the gauge bezel from the front of the console where those little studs are. I don't think you will need to pull the console top plate but I installed that over a month ago and can't recall if there were a couple of anchors under there or not. Do all the rest and give it a yank...you'll know. You only need to pull it reward less than half an inch to release those studs. Have fun!
Dave

______________
My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?

Quote

Re: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (4/11)
3/11/14 11:02am

KSNBRUCIE
Former Member
Send Private Message

Bethlehem, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray currently, 1971, 1989,1992, 1995, 2001

Joined: 2/13/2014
Posts: 9

Joel,

Thanks for the reply. The blower motor works and I checked the fuses. I have a 1974 Service Manual with the 1975 Supplement, so I have the wiring diagrams. I wanted to know where the actual physical location of the grounding to the chassis was, to check continuity. They are pink wires, according to the diagram. I just have a feeling they got lifted or corroded and need to be re-landed. Thanks again

Bruce

Quote

Re: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (5/11)
3/11/14 11:07am

KSNBRUCIE
Former Member
Send Private Message

Bethlehem, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray currently, 1971, 1989,1992, 1995, 2001

Joined: 2/13/2014
Posts: 9

Dave,

Vette looks SWEET. Merry Christmas !!! Thanks for the lowdown on how to remove the Gauge bezel. As they say "Love will find a way"

Bruce

|UPDATED|3/11/2014 8:07:05 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Quote

Re: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (6/11)
3/11/14 1:07pm

Adams' Apple

PINK grounds?!?
Unless you have a car made in Australia or something( LOL

), the PINK wires on the diagrams are POWER from the fuse(image 1). Pinks, or reds, are always power circuits, with Pink normally a control circuit.
Check the following sections of the wiring diagram....all of the pinks coming from the cluster come from the fuse box. You'll see the cluster ground terminating at the lower right of the diagram.
There should be a ground also right under the shift console, just rearward of the gauge cluster. It will be screwed into the metal bracket/support for the shifter/gauge console. I'll see if I can find a decent pic....don't hold yer breath tho.... LOL

btw...that diagram is one I made from the two pages, and just kinda spliced them together, but the PINK circuit is correct.... Thumbs Up

We try to stay away from posting LARGE images here, so I had to improvise.

Well...this is the best pic I can find right now, but it should give you an idea of where to look. Hopefully your car is not as torn up as this one is! I was putting insulation in it at the time.

|UPDATED|3/11/2014 10:07:11 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

______________

Quote

Re: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (7/11)
3/11/14 2:38pm

rraider1
Former Member
Send Private Message

Woodland, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1977 T-Top,350,Auto Black Ruby Pearl,Steeroids R&P conversion

Joined: 10/14/2003
Posts: 1165

This might Help

http://www.C3VR.com/member_pages/4201_4300/4221/74-dash-grounds-b.jpg

Quote

Re: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (8/11)
3/11/14 3:10pm

Adams' Apple

Thanks(again!) Bob. The #3 ground(far right of the 3 circled) in that diagram is the one on the lower right corner of the diagram I posted. It is to the left of the speedo/tach cluster, below the headlight switch, screwed into the cage metal. Big smile

______________

Quote

Re: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (9/11)
3/11/14 3:53pm

1mkuhl
Former Member
Send Private Message

Gilbert, AZ - USA

Vette(s):
1969 convertible, 350/350 undergoing a complete frame-off resto.

Joined: 10/3/2011
Posts: 16

Just adding my 2 cents of experience...Check ground continuity from the bird cage to the frame as well. I had this problem while restoring my car. There is a ground wire from the bird cage to the frame just behind the driver's side front wheel that can get messed up with road grime. Good Luck!

______________

Quote

Re: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (10/11)
3/12/14 9:22am

KSNBRUCIE
Former Member
Send Private Message

Bethlehem, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray currently, 1971, 1989,1992, 1995, 2001

Joined: 2/13/2014
Posts: 9

Hello again !!

Thanks to all you guys for the help. When I looked at my Service Manual, the Pink wires looked to be all going to one point. So I assumed it was a ground. I thought it was kinda weird, but what do I know. Anyway, I can't wait to take apart the interior of the Vette to see what fun stuff I have going on behind the plastic. HA !! Thanks again and I'll keep ya posted. I need a good stock AM/FM radio. Anybody have one for a '75 ?? My Vette was a base model. No A/C, No power windows, 4 speed standard, so I don't need the fanciest radio that was available. I have an old Kenwood AM/FM cassette in now. Thanks !!

Bruce

Quote

Re: Gauge Grounding Point for 1975 (11/11)
3/12/14 1:27pm

Adams' Apple

Wiring diagrams can be confusing...don't feel bad. It takes time to be able to read them without goin stark-ravin NUTZ!
Good luck on your project, and remember....no matter what you find, or what problem you might run into chances are someone here has already btdt. We're here to help best we can. Thumbs Up

______________

Quote

Our Sponsors help support C3VR