I'm looking for a little guidence on the correct way to test my fuel/temp gauges. They are both dead and replacing the voltage limiter on back of the console didn't work.

(71 Dart)

On RARE occation the gauges would kick-in and work, but they haven't in the past 6 months or so. I read I can test grounding the temp sensor wire or the fuel sender wire and if the gauge pegs that's a good sign. How can I ground it? I took the connection off but I would have to stick something long into the fitting to reach the contact point. Any specific advice on how to do this?

If the gauge doesn't peg, what more could I do to test to find the problem? Could I ground something on the pack of the panel?

WIth the gauges in the car, the sensors ought to look something like 77 ohms (low,cold,empty) to 10 ohms (high,hot,full). I just put some power resistors in a box and use it to check my gauges; very handy.

If the gauges are out of the car, use a +5VDC@1A supply to feed them using the same resistors.

Keep in mind that these are not precision devices, but can be rather delicate and easy to fry with overcurrent.

The gauges are in the car. I assume I check the ohms while the wires are plugged into the sender?

Also, can I do this by touching the pin with the gauge wire plugged into it? I'm trying to figure out if the wire going to the senders from the gauge cluster is bad. I read before that you can peg the gauge by grounding the wire, but I can't figure out how to ground the wire since the contact is far inside the connector. I assume stick a screwdriver in there or something? I want to be sure i'm correctly grounding it.

i know in my 64&65 it's easier working on it with the cluster out, i used a jumper from the gauge to a good ground to check if it is the gauge or not

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64 barracuda
64 valiant convertable
65 valiant sedan
65 signet
74 vw beetle convertable
79 E-250 4WD van
94 dodge dakota