CUCV Glitch

[Jersey4x4]

Ok, I have known about this glitch for awhile and just have not cared enough to post but here goes. If I ground the rivet holding the volt gauge n the dash(either side) the volt gauge will read battery voltage. Is this normal? The key does not have to be on or anything. I found this by accident when the gauge was touching the dash due to a insulating spacer falling out and every time I got in the truck the gauge would move. Now if I need to check battery voltage I just use a screw driver from the gear selector to the rivet and instant voltage reading. I have had other CUCVs before but never checked to see if they all were like this one (85 M100 Anyway, just a thought.

 

[doghead]

I just went out and tried it with mine. No go. Nothing, nodda, zip, zilch.

 

[Jersey4x4]

I just went out and tried it with mine. No go. Nothing, nodda, zip, zilch.

I wonder what could be causing it to do this.

 

[Anubis8472]

Interesting .... if not 'normal' then perhaps one of the terminals on the backside is bent or in some way contacting the housing where it shouldn't.

I really don't want to try mine. I recently shorted mine out while tinkering with the dash panel. (accidently bumped the dash with one of the terms, didn't realise the volt meter was mounted on the panel)
Thankfully it just blew the fuse, a new 10A and it works fine.

My fist thought was "Oh man, why the heck didn't I pull the batt cables first" after it came back to life I feel like I 'got away with one'.

Does the gauge illumination light work normally?

 

[Jersey4x4]

Interesting .... if not 'normal' then perhaps one of the terminals on the backside is bent or in some way contacting the housing where it shouldn't.

I really don't want to try mine. I recently shorted mine out while tinkering with the dash panel. (accidently bumped the dash with one of the terms, didn't realise the volt meter was mounted on the panel)
Thankfully it just blew the fuse, a new 10A and it works fine.

My fist thought was "Oh man, why the heck didn't I pull the batt cables first" after it came back to life I feel like I 'got away with one'.

Does the gauge illumination light work normally?

I know nothing n the gauge is touching because I insulated and used shrink wrap on everything. Could there be a wire wrong on an alternator causing this issue? I have gone over everything with a fine tooth comb and it all looks good according to the diagrams. It is not causing any issues it was just a weird fluke thing I thought of today and was curious if anyone else had a gremlin in there truck.

 

[KsM715]

Sounds like you have voltage going to it all the time but its not grounded properly.

 

[Jersey4x4]

If I remember correctly it does have voltage all the time and the relay is what gives it the ground when the key is turned on.

 

[ryan77]

I think that gauge is off a relay maybe its stuck!! Or you have a short!!!