2000 79 series speedo and fuel gauge fail

[Blowhard]

Hi All,
Had a double gauge failure last night.
Speedo and fuel gauge (single tank model), both stopped working simultaneously, travelling on a pretty rough gravel road. Thank goodness for phone GPS speedo Apps!!! 200k's from home and plenty of cameras and HWP.
Speedo reads zero, odometer/trip meter not increasing, fuel gauge also at zero.
Couldn't find a fuse listed for these, but checked and didn't find and blown fuses in the football fuse panel.
Any hints - before I start dismantling stuff?

Cheers
Alan
2000, 1HZ, DTS turbo

 

[Blowhard]

"Couldn't find a fuse listed for these, but checked and didn't find and blown fuses in the football fuse panel."

Sorry spell/grammar error

This should have read
Couldn't find a fuse for these, but checked and didn't find any blown fuses in the footwell fuse panel.

 

[roscoFJ73]

The earlier models were earthed at the dashboard to the dash frame.

 

[Blowhard]

Thanks Rosco, I have had some serious unearthing issues previously with this truck .
Previous owner had done some less than brilliant wiring.
I'll do some more searching for dash earth points.
Cheers

 

[roscoFJ73]

My 73 series nearly went up in flames one night because of the POs wiring mess. My 75 series ute was ok but my current troopy has had issues with wiring from the PO.
I thought the dual tanks were standard on the 79 series.

 

[Blowhard]

Hi Rosco,
We looked at plenty of 79s before dropping the cash on "Earl", as a project. There were quite a few single tank examples not sure if when dual tanks became standard.
I have the spare under the tray and the 3 inch exhaust through where the second tank would mount.
As far as Earth probs. We had to get the cab floor replaced, so removed the brush bar/side step units from each side, jumped in and click but no cranking. Checked everything, plenty of juice in the battery and was down to thinking the starter solenoid or motor had crapped out. But there was one odd thing happening..whilst checking under the bonnet, whilst the Bride, worked the key, I burnt my self on the metal pipe from the clutch cylinder to the clutch slave..it was getting red hot when the ignition was on.
Had my nephew, a Sparky and car savvy, come over and it turned out the earth from the battery was routing thorough a couple of cables the size of spaghetti and the whole chassis had current through it everywhere. Instead of going to the starter motor the battery current was looking for the fastest way to earth which was the clutch pipe. Two new earth straps off the neg terminal to chassis and motor solved that issue, but have struck the dreaded bad earth with lighting and radio work.
My first thought were another earth issue!!
I've added it to the list, heater air vent cable gonski, rear axle seals require replacing, front right disc stuffed after pad contamination from swivel joint seal leak, replacing both and pads, hand brake to be investigated, barely holds on anything steeper the perfectly level, will do that whilst the rear seals are being done..then I'll look at the instruments. Who needs a speedo.
Earl has thrown us some challenges but I love my truck....the Bride has started dropping the maybe we should trade him for a later model..hmmmm...V8 diesel... love that noise with some open pipes.
There's always something.
Cheers
Alan

 

[roscoFJ73]

I read they made dual tanks standard after 1995(in Australia) ,but obviously its wrong or maybe it was troopies only.
Those big to do lists get whittled away pretty quick once you get into it.I'm doing a bit of a refresh on my troopy
I did the engine oil and filters last week
Done the suspension eye bushes and rear brakes the other day (I got to go back and do the handbrake) . This week the fronts and brake fluid change.
Then an oil change for diffs g/box/t/case
Then water pump ,timing belt and coolant flush
Then rear shocks
Front axle service
Seepage from high pressure connection underneath P/S pump
Somewhere along the way I need to get the sticky sliders cleaned on the drivers side window.