Grounding Instrument panel

[bob7four]

After reinstalling the dash on my 69 Barracuda, the gauges are not operating properly. I've been told that it might need additional grounding. Is there any way to do this without having to dismantle the entire dash assembly?

 

[Murray]

The printed circuit board is grounded/screwed to the metal housing. If you can locate one of these screws you can attach a ground wire.

 

[Dana67Dart]

the gauges are not operating properly

Define not operating properly.

Did they operate properly before?

 

[cudamark]

To diagnose to see if grounding the cluster will cure the problem, use a jumper wire with alligator clips on both ends. Fasten one end to the cluster housing, and the other end to a good ground on the metal dash frame. If the gauges now work properly, you need to add a ground. If not, adding a ground won't help. If it turns out you need a ground, find a screw that goes into the cluster housing (one holding the circuit board is what I would use) and attach one end of your new ground wire there. I would then run the other end down to the steering column ground wire and add it to that. Just be careful adding the wire connector to the back of the cluster. It would be easy to short something there with the wrong connector or attaching to the wrong screw.

 

[matthon]

I built a mini ground harness, one wire to each grounded screw on the back of the cluster housing (circuit boards, gauges), into 1 wire, connector, then wire goes to ground, in my case a ground hub under dash.

Connector makes it easy to disconnect if I need to pull the cluster.

The screws that go into the plastic bezel, through the metal housing, then into the dash, ground the cluster.

Those screws will ground, then not ground, then spark, then drive you nuts.

 

[RustyRatRod]

It's a 69 Barracuda. It'd take me literally 20 minutes going slow and taking my time to get the whole cluster out and I'm old. Don't risk it trying to cut corners and end up burning your car to the ground. I don't like doing unnecessary work either, but sometimes it's the best way.

That said, As far as I know, even on those cars, the screws retaining the cluster are the grounds. They are on my 64. I added a 12ga ground wire the first time I had the cluster out probably a week after I bought the car, even though everything worked. These old girls need all the help they can get electrically. I highly recommend the extra ground wire. It's a smart move.