EL CAMINO Instrument Panel wiring issue

[Boots]

Purchased my Toy here 7 years ago and it is nearing completion , will send more pics of completed car when done. Anyways I'm fighting with the Instrument Cluster Wiring . Instrument Cluster had been removed for clean up and painting . Once gauges were put back into car they did not work properly , Start car up Tach worked and the clock as well as the lights so to me this ruled out a ground issue. These all worked when I started this process and new sending units have been installed and checked. What I have found though is the Connector plug that goes into the back of the Gauge cluster if I wiggle this the gauges seem to work. There is nothing holding this plug in Solid other than a piece of plastic on the Dash itself . Any ideas as to how to fix this because I plain out of ideas. One would think this plug would snap into cluster . Any help would be great .

 

[57 Handyman]

Boots, here's a tip you can try. The metal contact clips for the harness have been sitting in the back of the instrument panel since the manufactured date. More than likely, they have lost the necessary pressure to make good contact. Try lightly pulling on the free edge of the clip.

 

[ssn696]

While you have it apart, polish the contacts with a Scotch-brite pad.

 

[79 USA 1]

I agree with ssn696 above, also when I changed the dash in my 79 Monte Carlo to gauges I also used a O Ring pick to lightly bend the center of each brass strip outward so as to contact the printed circuit when reinstalled.
Hopefully these ideas may work.

 

[ELCAM]

Use a pencil eraser to clean the copper traces on the printed circuit plastic, gently erase out toward the edge of the contacts, Agree with above clean the brass contacts and bend them ever so slightly out where they stick out the most.

 

[g0thiac]

Clean the connectors, and also try gently having all of the contacts bent slightly, so that it fits more tight for whatever clusters.

The other alternative which I would honestly consider if theres damage, is bypass the plug and solder each wire to the respective gauge. Check the schematics available if you so choose.

 

[Boots]

Boots, here's a tip you can try. The metal contact clips for the harness have been sitting in the back of the instrument panel since the manufactured date. More than likely, they have lost the necessary pressure to make good contact. Try lightly pulling on the free edge of the clip.

Hey thanks , seems to have done the Trick and all Gauges seem to be working . To my surprise even the Clock has seen fit to go . Thanks again 57 Handyman

 

[57 Handyman]

All right!!!! Always glad to hear when something works. Enjoy!