Question about gauges and fuses

[Gleeson]

Gday,

This is my first post on here, I really hope this is in the correct spot!

Here's my question, I went and looked at a 1990 SR5 hilux on the weekend.

the battery gauge, fuel gauge, temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, taco and aircon all didn't work, I was told this is because of a wiring short that occurred while hooking up a roof mounted spot light (the wiring short blew a fuse). Are all of these things on the same fuse and is it as simple as putting in a new fuse to fix the problem?

Any help will be muchly appreciated!

Cheers, Aaron.

[Manxman]

Beware! it's a custom installation, and it could have had ANYTHING happen. Make owner fix it 1st or don't buy at his $$$$$. You need to allow for worst case: totally burned out gauges, instruments and wiring. If it's so simple, why hasn't he fixed it? Modified electrics are very risky-moreso when not working. a bigger rated fuse may leave vulnerable parts of circuit overloaded-particularly the instrument cluster PCB. $$$$$ depends on where the power feed is taken from.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Manxman

[GC_AUS]

Hey Aaron,

in NSW its always a good idea to get a pink slip & a bill of sale & a Revs check when you buy a car second hand - go have a search on faitrading NSW for "buying a car" - there is some good stuff in there for you.

if it can pass a pink slip then you at least know it did before you started with it - as long as the pink slip is genuine & its harder & harder to fudge them.

this shouldn't necessarily put you off that car if its really what you want but the price must reflect the quality of the car IE: if it doesn't function as it is meant to then "its a project" -

tread carefully man!

[Gleeson]

When I said "while hooking up a roof mounted spotlight", I think I misled you. he wasn't installing the spot light set up, he was simply hooking the spot light to the pre-existing set up (the handle and wiring was already there, he just removes the spotlight when not in use). He said one of his mates was hooking it up and it earthed out on the car which blew the fuse?

What I really need to know, is do all of the instruments I mentioned work off the same fuse? I wont purchase the vehicle until the problems are fixed, Id just like to know for the sake of my own knowledge.

The vehicle already has rego and a pink slip on it.

Thanks heaps for your replies. I hope what I am saying is making sense. I'm only 17 and I'm trying to gain my own knowledge basis rather than relying on dad (in this situation, he is also unsure)

Cheers, Aaron.

[GC_AUS]

roger that,-

don't worry we all have to start somewhere - good onya for having a go!

It is possible that all that got "fused" when it shorted but to kill all that in one go would suggest the short was left in place for a reasonable time.

The AC is a high current draw & should be on its own circuit - the gauges are possibly all on one fuse.

you need someone with the same (roughly) year model to see what is on the same circuit - or this may be a silly question - did you try putting in a new fuse?

if things don't work after being fried with a new fuse then you could be digging out some nasty burnt wiring in there & if you are not electrically minded then it could cost some $$$ to fix. for that era Lux it might be worth hunting down a replacement wiring loom & just replacing the whole lot. usually after a good fry-up you'll find any number of wires that may have melted either all the way or partially through the insulation & so its often a slow process of replacement until you get everything working again.

understand yep car has rego etc but its a good idea to get a pink slip when it changes hands so there is no question of roadworthy when you go to transfer it into your name - remember he might not care what it costs you to fix it once you signed the papers & handed over the cash

have a hunt for 1990 hilux wiring diagrams & you might do well. Might also be worth checking out another forum iH8mud - there are some pretty well informed dudes there

[GC_AUS]

actually thinking that through maybe 4wdaction maybe be a better spot as I'm not sure there is much Lux stuff on iH8mud

sorry bout that..

[Manxman]

ebay has maintenance cd's which are very good, if complex. electrics are not for amatuers, and remote diagnosis is very difficult. Much depends on how it was wired in in the first place. the instrument fuse isn't normally able to run a spotlight at all. something is defective, and it could be expensive. If your instrument cluster PCB is burned out you might have to get a comp unit. repairing one can be very fiddly., if not impractical. I'm a computer designer and builder tech. I know how hard the job can be. be suspicios, trust no selller. until you have proof it's ok.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Manxman