I've been running into some strange issues with my gauges after having the engine replaced in my car. Ideally, I would like to try to fix this issue on my own before trailering the car across the state to take it back to the shop.

The gauges in the car seem to work when the key is turned to ACC. The odometer comes on along with the fuel, temp, and oil pressure gauges. After I start the car, all of the gauges stop working along with the odometer. The weird thing is if I turn the steering wheel 2 degrees to the left, the tachometer starts working along with the odometer. the oil pressure and temp gauge still dont work.

I've done some research into this issue and I think it might be because the dash cluster needs a better ground, but its also strange that everything starts working again if i turn the wheel just barely to the left. If it does make sense to add another ground, where might the best place be to do it?

the issue i'm having is pretty much the same as the one described in this thread: RX7 FD3S Instrument panel not working - AusRotary

In addition to a new engine the car is now using a haltech ecu.

 

I was able to locate the X14 connector. The emissions wires have been removed. It looks like the black wire that is cut is the one that I need to extend and ground to the chassis. It would be great if I could get a second opinion on this in case I've got things wrong.

 

 

Are you showing a picture of that connector because it was unplugged or just to clarify what connector?

If the gauges start to light up when you move the wheel that says to me you have some damaged wiring somewhere. May also be worth sending the cluster to Michael Gagne for a full go-over on it to make sure it isn't just the cluster going bad.

Dale

 

showing the picture to verify the connector. the wire colors are matching the diagrams i'm seeing online for the x14 connector on the EM side. I totally agree with you on the part where everything lights up when the wheel is slightly turned. Does it make sense to still try grounding the black wire that is cut in that picture?

 

Get out the shop manual and figure out exactly what that black wire is for. Don't just ground a black wire - some wires are black/white stripe, for example, that are 12v!

May want to look at wiring around the steering wheel under the dash and see if anything has been hacked into or is damaged.

Dale

 

updating this thread in case anyone runs into the same issue. The black wire in the bottom left of the x-14 connector matches up to the common ground for the dash cluster. it runs through the EM harness that was deleted in my build. I extended that wire and grounded it to the chassis and my gauges are now working as expected. thanks for the help Dale, I will do a little more investigation around the steering wheel under the dash to make sure that wiring looks good as well.

 

Glad it was something not too crazy!

Dale