The gauges in a car are the diagnostic tools that the car uses to display information about its various systems. The gauges help you to recognize when are the issues starting to arise. Gauges are displayed on the dashboard of your car behind the steering wheel. They help in catching fluctuations or issues before they cause serious damage. Also, it is the least common and likely the most expensive problem to fix. These gauges are fully integrated circuits. So in this article, we will be talking about why are my car gauges not working and how to fix them.
Table of Contents
What Are The Different Gauges In A Car?
The number of gauges on a car will vary depending on the vehicle’s make and model. However, these are the basic car gauges in every car.
- Speedometer– It helps in indicating the speed at which your car is traveling. It can be either electronic or mechanical depending on the type of car.
- Fuel– The fuel gauge informs the driver of the quantity of the fuel. As we know the engine will not work if there is no fuel.
- Temperature– This gauge helps monitor the car’s engine coolant temperature to make sure it doesn’t get overheated.
- Tachometer- The tachometer measures the revolutions per minute of a car’s engine. It shows the rate at which the engine is rolling.
- Oil Pressure- It helps to monitor the force pushing the engine’s oil rather than checking the level of oil in the machine.
- Voltmeter- With the engine running, system voltage differs from battery voltage by about two volts. So, a fully charged battery will display voltmeter readings.
- Odometer- An odometer is a device used for measuring the distance traveled by a vehicle. The odometer is situated in the vehicle’s dashboard.
Why Are My Car Gauges Not Working?
If all the car gauges have stopped working then this can be caused by a defective car gauge or a blown fuse. So we have listed and explained them for a better understanding.
1. Defective Car Gauge
There are a lot of different types of car gauges but when all of the car gauges in a car stop working altogether then there is a defect in the gauge itself. The problem can also be either a fuse or wiring problem. Wear and tear are also a reason for car gauges to go bad.
Some electronic car gauges don’t have separate gauges that receive independent senders. You will need to replace the defective car gauge in this case.
2. Faulty Wiring
If you have checked the codes, setup, and everything. Then you can suspect an intermittent wiring problem, probably a faulty ground circuit. This same circuit might be affecting a number of systems, the fuel gauge and one of the car’s computer circuits or sensors. Start from the battery wiring connections keep them clean and tight.
3. Blown Fuse
This is a guaranteed cause for a nonworking car gauge and happens when the gauges completely stop working. A fuse should be checked first before you jump on the lights and bulbs. To verify, access the engine box in the engine compartment. The fuse may be labeled gauges, clusters, or something similar. This fuse should have power on both sides with the ignition in the on position.
How To Fix The Gauges On Your Dashboard?
It might be or may not be easy to fix the gauges yourself if you are unsure about the problem. If a gauge doesn’t work, start the trial and method to fix it with the most obvious cases.
Case 1: None Of The Gauges Are Working
As we have mentioned above, a blown fuse is a reason for none of the gauges working. But even if a single gauge is working then the reason can be something else.
However, if you think your gauges are giving low readings this could be the cause. You can use a multimeter to check this. You can also take your vehicle to an auto mechanic if you have no idea what to do. Your mechanic will check the individual gauges for power. This will result in the removal of the entire gauge and may take a lot of time.
Because you will need to remove a few trim pieces and unscrew the cluster to remove it.
Case 2: Single Gauge Isn’t Working
This is caused due to gauge, sender, or wiring problems. This is for the coolant, oil pressure or gas gauge isn’t working. If you are comfortable locating and removing sending units and sensors, you can do this on your own.
The diagnostic procedure involves locating and disconnecting the sending unit. You can fix it yourself if you can find the sending units and sensors. Remove them so that testing can be done in the gauge to know whether it is faulty or not before replacing it with a new one.
How To Keep Gauges Clean?
Many of the car gauges are electronic sensors nowadays, so they can be cleaned by a licensed technician only. However, you can clean the plastic covering over the dashboard display much like any other surface in your car. The clear plastic cover over the dashboard gauges needs to be cleaned from time to time just like the rest of the car.
Wipe off the majority of dust with a damp paper towel. Mix a soap and water solution with a dish detergent. Dip a soft mild cloth in the soap solution and wring it out. Wipe down the dash gauge covers with the rag. Dip the soft cloth in a bowl of plain water. Wipe the plastic cover with a dry rag and you are done with it.
Conclusion
Driving with non-functioning gauges leads to unnecessary problems. It is very important for your car gauges to work properly as it is responsible for the maintenance of your vehicle and safety on the road. So if you notice any signs of your car gauge not working, confirm the issue ASAP. This will solve the issue repaired or replaced before anything serious occurs.
So these were the reasons and solutions for car gauges not working if you have an idea of it fix it with the help of this article.