Dash and/or gauge replacement

[dadstoy]

Interesting discovery! When I turn on the running or headlights, the ammeter really drops. I discovered that if the rheostat for the dash lights is off, then no dramatic drop on the ammeter. The dash lights don't light up very well either and are almost impossible to see at night.

Has anyone replaced their dash and or gauges? Has anyone repaired their dash/gauges?

[streamquest]

I suppose I can answer "yes" to that.

And by the way, I really enjoyed the photos of your recent trip, especially seeing two generations behind the wheel. There must have been a lot of emotions running through your head along the way.

Charly.

[barts]

Offhand I'd guess that this is a shunt type ammeter (e.g. wires to ammeter are small) and the ground line connection to the dash is poor.

- Bart

[dadstoy]

Originally Posted by streamquest

I suppose I can answer "yes" to that.

And by the way, I really enjoyed the photos of your recent trip, especially seeing two generations behind the wheel. There must have been a lot of emotions running through your head along the way.

Charly.

What brand of gauges did you use?

[dadstoy]

Originally Posted by barts

Offhand I'd guess that this is a shunt type ammeter (e.g. wires to ammeter are small) and the ground line connection to the dash is poor.

- Bart

I bet you are correct about the bad ground.

[streamquest]

The gauges I used are made by "Marshall". I believe they're located out on the West Coast.

[alfalsetto]

Hay if you good people out there find some good cheap gauges out there. Place till me I have to replace mine

[dadstoy]

Yup, gauges can get expensive and the cheap ones look cheap!

[alfalsetto]

Looks like I have to go big time. Looks like about $1,000.00 for all the gauges for my new dash!!

[dadstoy]

Originally Posted by alfalsetto

Looks like I have to go big time. Looks like about $1,000.00 for all the gauges for my new dash!!

Which ones are u looking at?

[barts]

I've put a couple of the Autometer stepper gages in the truck; wide sweep and very nicely built. Available in limited sweep as well for less money.

- Bart

[dadstoy]

Originally Posted by barts

I've put a couple of the Autometer stepper gages in the truck; wide sweep and very nicely built. Available in limited sweep as well for less money.

- Bart

Hi Bart,

Do you remember which model of Auto Meter you used? Also do you know what is stepper motor gauges?

Thanks
Dean

[alfalsetto]

I'm putting in a mew dash and all my gages going bad. The old ones look bad in the new dash

[dadstoy]

Originally Posted by alfalsetto

I'm putting in a mew dash and all my gages going bad. The old ones look bad in the new dash

Post some photos. I would love to see what you are doing!

[alfalsetto]

I have the dash apart, But I have more job to do. #1 make a table, #2 new door for my gen. #3 new rubber around my windows , thin by dash, ( just getting things in line for the dash

[Mike Leary]

The wiring under the dash on our coaches is, to say the least, atrocious. I'm very carefull when pulling the dash for fear of doing more damage. Most of my gauges have been replaced with Isspro, but the grounding problem is a factory screw-up.

ISSPRO.com Your home for quality Gauges, Tachometers, Speedometers, and more!

[alfalsetto]

I see your going with the best gauges. All the gauges I put in trucks & bus in 50 years thay have been the beat!!

[barts]

Originally Posted by dadstoy

Hi Bart,

Do you remember which model of Auto Meter you used? Also do you know what is stepper motor gauges?

Thanks
Dean

Auto Meter (AutoMeter) Gauges from egauges.com

I used the GS series since they matched the truck's gage colors..

[jhenry]

Good Morning , snow and -16 c so cold and windy, time to get some projects done! How do you fix the ground problem of the dash? Run another ground and where to attach it? Also would this cause wipers to Quit? Thanks Jonathan

[barts]

Originally Posted by jhenry

Good Morning , snow and -16 c so cold and windy, time to get some projects done! How do you fix the ground problem of the dash? Run another ground and where to attach it? Also would this cause wipers to Quit? Thanks Jonathan

I've not worked on an Airstream dash, but... the ground connection is going to come from the cases of the light bulbs... typical color is green, but someone may have gotten creative.

Get a DVM and go exploring. A wiring schematic will help a lot; being methodical and deductive will make sorting this out straightforward if a little tedious.

- Bart