why do my guages go crazy when I turn the reostat on my headlight switch?

Asked by foreevergoat Sep 01, 2014 at 10:20 AM about the 1965 Pontiac GTO

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

When I adjust the resorts on my headlight switch my temp, oil, and gas gauges pin until
I completely turn resorts all the way counter clockwise. ANY IDEAS?

2 Answers
63,195

BoholMark answered 10 years ago

Did it get wet? Or..........You haven't been messing around with anything electrical lately have you?

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Norm answered 10 years ago

The rheostat is probably bridged with metal worn off over time. Then that happens, there is a surge of current draw at different areas of the rheostat. You can get an authentic aftermarket replacement switch for that car from Ames Performance, OPG, or Performance Years. I would agree with JS08016 also - check the ground to the instrument cluster as well as the ground connection at the headlight switch. Any stray voltage coming off the rheostat seems to be finding it's way to ground via the gauges.

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