my car's an 84 base. problem started yesterday afternoon as i left for work. i noticed the tach wasn't working, and also the fuel guage and amp guage. it being dark when i got home, i also noticed the backup lights was also no longer working. this morning i realized all the idiot lights don't light up either. what ever is effecting these things, i can't seem to find it. i can't say if this also affects the temp guage as i'm using the stock one. no blown fuses. the alt still seems to be charging(used volt meter). i do remember that one of the wires in the 2 wire plug for the alt will cause the idiot lights not to lightup if not connected. search isn't really giving me anything, maybe just not found the right keywords. any ideas?

 

Check all fuses, also check to see if the engine is grounded to the body. Check for loose wires, and dirty connectors. However, when you loose so many electrical components it is probably a ground issue.
Mike

 

Yup. Get a cheap $4 battery terminal/connector cleaner brush, you know, the kind that has internal and external wire brushes to clean off the corrosion. Works good.

 

Check METER-BACK fuse

 

fuses r fine. it's not a ground issue. i moved the part of the harness that would be under the bin on the driver's side and things work again but now the f/p isn't. if this damn rain would stop so i could get something done i'd be ok. seems to just be a poor connection somewhere, just a matter of finding it. thanx for the help.

 

here's what i've been able to figure out so far. the check relay would click when u turn the switch on, now it don't. probing the wires going to it, the f/p is activated.