Drove without gauge cluster in. FRIED THE ELEC.

**Circa307** · 03-13-2009, 08:58 PM

First off,,,,I have been driving without my gauge cluster in the car for a couple of day while my LED bulbs come in the mail. ( i know not the smartest thing to do). well today i got off work and cranked the car up. i noticed that when i first cranked the car up, that my radio lights looked kinda dim but i didn't think anything of it. I got on the road with my lights on and the radio going. I got almost home and then my radio goes out. them my lights got dimmer and dimmer. then my car started sputtering, then the car died completely. I tried to re crank and it sounded like my battery was dead cuz I

could hear the starter trying to engage. WHAT HAPPENED???? i replace my alternator about a month ago and the battery looks fairly new. Hope i didn't fry my computer with the cluster being out. please help fellas. thank you

**SVG210** · 03-13-2009, 09:07 PM

sounds like you had a short

**Orcus79** · 03-13-2009, 11:10 PM

double check that alternator and get that battery tested, I had battery that "looked" fairly new, but was really 10 years old and craped out.

**edbird** · 03-14-2009, 01:42 AM

A month ago ,when you changed the altenator, did you have the charging system tested? Sounds like battery but I would take it in and have it load tested.

**Circa307** · 03-14-2009, 06:34 AM

ok ill get the battery tested today and we will see if that is it or not. Thanks for the fast resonse.
i was thinking earlyer that maybe my volts meter being taken out of my car might have killed the battery. Maybe its like a current..>>>>>>Power from Alternator>>>>>gauge cluster>>>>>Battery. maybe i disrupted the current. what yall think about that ????

**slphwk1** · 03-14-2009, 07:02 AM

Doesn't the bulb/gauge affect the field wiring in the alt? I thought the alt wouldn't charge w/the bulb being blown or missing? If your not seeing operating voltage at battery with the car running i would plug the cluster back in and recheck for operating volatage again.

**Cutlass** · 03-14-2009, 07:13 AM

^^^^^^ BINGO!!!
Yep the cluster has 470 ohm resistor in it that is wired to the alternator "L" terminal to excite the alternator. Your alternator wasn't 'turned on' and wasn't charging.

Put your cluster back in, recharge the battery, and you'll be fine

**JoshieDoom** · 03-14-2009, 07:17 AM

Bulbs/Gauges shouldnt affect the alternator. I do know it cant keep track of mileage and it might have caused a parasitic drain that way.
Get the cluster back in and start at step 1 with the basics.Battery connections, Battery, alternator, etc etc
Subscribed.

**Circa307** · 03-14-2009, 01:37 PM

thank guys for the imput. ill try that tomarrow and let yall know whats up. I wonder if they do that so you cant drive the car without putting miles on it ??? oh well thanks