mcmlvii
Well-Known Member
As one of many Mopar owners plagued by the dreaded voltage limiter in use during the 60s, I decided to delve into getting my temp and fuel gauges working. I pulled the gauge set out of the dash and hooked 5 volts to the temp and fuel gauges. The temp gauge worked but the fuel gauge didn't. *sigh* So I drilled out a couple rivets in the fuel gauge face and removed it. What do I find but a hair-thin wire burned off, leaving two stumps. The circles highlight the broken wire. The blue arrow points to the offending voltage limiter integral to the fuel gauge.
(larger image here: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AL9s/yLkF7oDS_Dk/s1600/IMG_0093_annotated.jpg)
This is how I fixed the broken wire. I got some thin copper wire, wrap the ends around a needle, then slipped the coils over the two stubs of wire in the gauge. I crimped the coils onto the stubs, then put a dab of glue on for good measure. I did try to solder onto the stubs but the solder wouldn't stick to the resistance wire. I don't know how well my fix will last but at least for now it's working for the time being.
(larger image here: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AL98/GGZqKbBurMY/s1600/IMG_0094_annotated.jpg)
(...and here: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AL-M/c1hT7FSm_D0/s1600/IMG_0095_annotated.jpg)
I superglued the face back onto the gauge since I couldn't reuse the two small brass rivets previously drilled out.
(larger image here: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...uI/AAAAAAAAL-g/BDFiZmc-T98/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG)
It was time-consuming but the gauges now work on the bench. My next step is to build one of those 5v power supplies that some folks on the net show how to do with a few basic parts from Radio Shack (or wherever), so I don't get bit by the dreaded Mopar voltage limiter again.
(larger image here: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...vI/AAAAAAAAL_E/tD3UuSG5HXo/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG)
(larger image here: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AL9s/yLkF7oDS_Dk/s1600/IMG_0093_annotated.jpg)
This is how I fixed the broken wire. I got some thin copper wire, wrap the ends around a needle, then slipped the coils over the two stubs of wire in the gauge. I crimped the coils onto the stubs, then put a dab of glue on for good measure. I did try to solder onto the stubs but the solder wouldn't stick to the resistance wire. I don't know how well my fix will last but at least for now it's working for the time being.
(larger image here: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AL98/GGZqKbBurMY/s1600/IMG_0094_annotated.jpg)
(...and here: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AL-M/c1hT7FSm_D0/s1600/IMG_0095_annotated.jpg)
I superglued the face back onto the gauge since I couldn't reuse the two small brass rivets previously drilled out.
(larger image here: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...uI/AAAAAAAAL-g/BDFiZmc-T98/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG)
It was time-consuming but the gauges now work on the bench. My next step is to build one of those 5v power supplies that some folks on the net show how to do with a few basic parts from Radio Shack (or wherever), so I don't get bit by the dreaded Mopar voltage limiter again.
(larger image here: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...vI/AAAAAAAAL_E/tD3UuSG5HXo/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG)