1992 s-10 blazer. instrument problem

[mpcolburn]

This vehicle has 160k on it 4.3 vortec and runs perfect. Recently it began what appears to be a short of somekind in the instrument cluster. It is intermittent and does not affect the engine as far as I can tell. No loss of power or anything like that. The alternator is probably 8 months old as is the belt. The exact symtoms: water temp goes high and engages the check guages light, volt meter goes low. 10 volts or so. speedo jumps around. On occasion they all go dead and both turn signal lamps (on dash) come on as does the parking lamp. All dash lights go off. Head lamps do not. All fuses are good. Fiddled with alternator connections this morning and it was charging at near 17 volts and the problem did not happen. Although I only drove it a mile or so. So I can't say I fixed it. I hope I did. Normally reads 15 volts not 17 though and runs warm at 210f. Really like this truck. Had it for a long time now. Only problem I have ever had is the fuel injection which I replaced last year. $1200.00. Not unreasonable for it's age. I'll stop rambling. Any help would be great.

[troubles789]

If it is the digital dash, this is a common problem when they start to go out. They sell reman of those somewhere. Cant remember where right of hand.

[mpcolburn]

No it is analog

[hecksterz]

Quirkey -I just posted last night about troubling short problems -on my second blazer this one a 89 -last was a 86. Both developed short problems -the old one went to the scrap yard with it`s problem as I never could figure it out. It would jump the guages everywhere and pop the dome light -finally had to run at night with the dimmer off and no guages but wouldn`t drain the battery -weird. The 89 I just figured out today-it buzzed as battery wasn`t charging and killed the gas/oil/temp guages and blew the dome. Turns out the stock radio is somehow shorted and when the radio fuse is removed everything returns to normal-to bad I spent 100$ on a new alt before I figured it out. I wish you luck in tracking it-thankfully it`s currently intermit. and not letting you sit.

[Skeeter6755]

Check this out....could be similar

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=323641

[hecksterz]

Skeet -I`ll reply him and see if he ever figured it out.

[ad6kb]

Mine started doing that shortly before alternator failing. DUe to low voltage as all of the guages are electronic whether digital or not. Yours could be that or maybe the battery.

[mpcolburn]

Ignition switch? Hmm. Interesting because it has had a problem with that forever. Turn it over, nothing. turn it over, nothing. Then all the sudden she fires. I never thought much of it since it does it rarely and always eventually fired. Is the switch in the steering column or like old chevy's controlled through a long arm under the dash? Because all things considered that does sound like a likely culprit. And thanks for your input, much appreciated.

[mpcolburn]

Oh and yes the radio is affected as well. Not a stock radio and i didn't wire it so I don't know. I haven't dug into the problem yet. Looking for some clues before I get too involved.

[mpcolburn]

I have located the problem. Not sure how to attack it. It appears to be in the gear selector. If I put it in neutral it stops or if I lift the lever slightly towards neutral while still in drive it stops. Any suggestions?

[Mikado14]

Originally Posted by mpcolburn

I have located the problem. Not sure how to attack it. It appears to be in the gear selector. If I put it in neutral it stops or if I lift the lever slightly towards neutral while still in drive it stops. Any suggestions?

Here goes, the '92 ignition is as you or someone said, a rod that goes down to activate the switch which is mounted to the side of the steering column. The lockset moves a rack which in turn moves the rod. When it starts to wear, the switch does not get set properly. A way to check this, but it is not a surefire way is when it does this, wiggle the switch to see if it changes.

[mpcolburn]

I have wiggled the switch. I assume you mean the ignition switch. It has no effect. It is when I adjust the gear selector from drive to neutral that it stops. Or just moving it up slightly while still in drive. As if the mechanicals are touching something to cause this and once in drive or gears below it is causing the short. Thinking a wire that is close to the mechanicals that does not get interfered with until that point that may be frayed or loose. Of course I am guessing and don't know what wire that would be.

[mpcolburn]

Oh and I have replaced this ignition switch system on my old 77 Cheyenne and understand how it works and assume it is similar and the switch is on it's way out to explain the starting thing. Not too worried about that right now it is this short that is driving me nuts.