I thought I would see if I could get some advice here before I see the mechanic recommended by the local Corvette club. My problem is the gauge cluster and tachometer. Here is the short version, apparently when put my foot to the pedal to get a feel for the power, the tach and gauges quit working. With further research I found there was a fuse for the gauges which seemed to correct the problem ... and the tach too, although the tach doesn't zero (didn't when I picked it up and I know there are circuit board rebuild kits for that). By the way, the Corvette has been sitting for nearly ten years. Today, when I went for the emissions test, during which the car is wound up to 2500+ RPM for a full minute, the fuse had blown again. I bought another fuse thinking I could easily repair the problem but it blew apparently soon as I put it in. I stopped for more fuses and after going through five and determining it was blowing as soon as the key rotated to "On" I gave up and decided to wait to speak to the mechanic. Any ideas, besides the tach circuit board rebuild? Thanks! plynth2007-04-05 15:42:07

I don't know the answer ot your wiring problem, but it's normal for the tach to rest at whatever point the car was idling when it was shut off. If you turn the switch to on, the needle will drop to zero. When you remove the key, the needle returns back to where it was. The same holds true for most of the gauges.

Dang new fangled electronic dodads.....

You'll have to pull the Speedo/Tach cluster. It's kind of a PITA to wiggle out. I pull the panel below the steering column off and loosen the 2 nuts that hold the column up. This gives you a little extra room to slide the cluster out. Also I remove the ventilation duct under the driverside dash to give me room to release the speedo cable from the back of the cluster.

My bigger concern is this, 'The car was sitting 10 years'.  Please tell me the car was completely tuned up with EVERY fluid changed including the PB/PS and Trans and rear and coolant.  Please tell me the car was tuned and professionally safety checked.   Blowing fuses is not good, its a sign something is wrong.  If nothing was recently changed like Darryl mentioned, again the car was sitting for 10 years..  My hunch, you have corrosion SOMEWHERE causing a crossover or you have 2 or more wires that the insolation dried up on and they are either touching or having a static charge.    My .02, if your not handy with a multimeter and have a lot of patience, bring it in to a pro.  AND Please have this car serviced and checked or your gonna hurt yourself and or the car...   Just the insurance guy talking here... 

KeBo is right on.  Also, as it set for 10yrs could critters have had access to it?  Mice love wiring insulation and carpet backing and all those warm bits that make up a nest.  It is possible that you have a rats nest (figuratively and literally) behind your center console or behind the cluster or kick panels.

And do go thru it end to end for fluids, rubber line leaks on the brakes, loose steering, etc.  Better safe than wrapped around a tree.

Thanks Darryl81, KeBo and dnv! First I'll correct myself, it wasn't ten years, but seven...not too much difference, huh? I did have the brake system, transmission fluid, power steering, and coolant flushed and replaced. Apparently "we" did overlook the rear axle, so I'll add that to the top of my list. No new aftermarket stereo but I plan to replace the speakers, then consider possible stereo options. Plenty of other work before that though.