Doka from the rude north..

[swe_hero]

Hello everyone

Just registered becasue I got a bit of a mess to sort out. I truly hate electrics since nothing ever seems to go my way, no matter how much I try to understand it.
I own a 1991 Syncro (ZZZ24ZMG011972) and Im trying to put it together. It WORKS, its just that theres some minor flaws to it, and since it is my first syncro I have no clue other than what Im trying to pick up from the internet..

First things first. I will get to other bits and questions later (:
So yeah, the Doka. Heres a picture of the mossy beast.


Now. The fuel and petrol gauge aint working. I had a hard time finding information about this. But yesterday I found out that it could due to a faulty transistor. So I spent half the day trying to figure out what and where that was, and where I could get it. I finally sorted those things out so I bought a pair, but it did not help... :/
Just to make sure it wasnt the gauges, I tested it with direct power from the battery, and the patrol gauge went up to half (that seems alright, I know its not full).
However, Im not sure on where to go from now or what to test or even HOW to test it.

I know that there are many things you will ask me, since I know I will miss out on remembering what to write, I just ask of you, Im having a struggle with this in my own language, so bare with me and if you can help me, walk it through slowly.. I dont know/understand all the names of things. I have to look up pretty much every single word like PCB and instrument cluster. I've never had to use these words before..
And as I said, Im an extreme beginner when it comes to car wiring...

So hello, appologies and thank you for every help I can get.

[tforturton]

Click on the Wiki (look up the top of the page, on the left) and type 'Gauges' in the search box, and there are a few articles on this very subject.

[lloydy]

Some very small spotlights on the front there....

[jed the spread]

I noticed a lot of vehicles far north have big spot lights. I went to Norway once so can totally get why

Jed

[ninja.turtle007]

From memory the cluster runs at 7v, so be careful if you put 12v through it.

I had the same issue as you and it was just a bad connection where the plug goes onto the sender at the tank.

[Syncrobaz]

Welcome

Nice truck

Good luck

[Syncrobaz]

Oh, and good English !!

[hotpod]

both times my fuel guage hasnt worked it was to do with the plug on the sender at the tank end.
if you go to the rear wheel arch on the drivers side and look on the left hand side above the chassis, you should be looking at the side of the fuel tank with a 120mm (ish) round metal plate with about 8 nuts holding it in place. in the middle of the plate should be a wiring connector with a rubber sheath on it. take it off and check its condition. give it a good clean and then check the guage again.
i have had to put a new plug on one van as the old one was corroded too much, and a new sender unit ( the round plate which bolts into the plastic tank) on the other van as that was corroded too much.
and welcome. lovely truck.

[swe_hero]

Hi again

Thanks for all the advice. I'll have to get to it, working my way through them slowly. For example, I had no idea that it used 7v..couldve gone bad I suppose!
The wikipart was great. I had read something about turning the regulator "upside down" prior to reading those articles, but I almost got more confused by reading it again..

I think I can cut the regulatorpart out of the equation, since it's now, brand new.
Today I disassembled the instrument cluster, and tried to check everything. The connections on the PCB looked fine to me, but I gave it a bit of a clean just to be on the safe side. When I "flipped it open" I could see that nr 7 was named "tank", and that a purple/black wire was connected to it.
I dont know if its even supposed to work this way, but I took one of those pens that got a light in it to check if theres any power.
When having ignition on only 5(uhr), 8(+allgem), 9(KL1) and 10(blinkerkontr) showed light.
Both 6 and 7 gave nothing... Was this a good way of testing it?

I will need to check you advice hotpod!
I was just kind of hoping that since it seemed to be a common problem when both gauges dont work, it was the transistor.

Thank you all for the welcome, and not starting of by telling me I should clean it.
I had some trouble opening the forum last night, but I will be back asap with updates from your tips.

[swe_hero]

Hi again.

I've been trying to ask people for help on swedish sites, but no one seems to know how to help..
Since I'm not sure of what Im doing and/or finding the words, I'll attach pictures..
There was no power from the wiring connector back at the tank


I (think I)followed the wire, going across to the other side of the car and up at the passanger seat. Is this correct? If so, where does it go from there?


Then I tried see if there was any power from number 6 and 7. But nothing.
However there was from 5,6,9 and 10. The PCB itself I thought looked good.


And I traced the purple and black wire, down to the relay board. No power from there either..


So it seems to me that its not to do with the PCB nor the regulator. There's just no power to the wire itself.
Someone said that petrol gauge, temp gauge, oil and charging got its power from "nr 15". I've tried to find wiring diagrams but I've sofar only found from 1985 and campers. And since Im not used to reading them, it really confuses me.
I might be on to something, but can anyone tell me where does the purple/black wire get its power from? Or have any idea why it doesnt get any power? I tested the nr 18 relay and it clicked fine. Perhaps that's not the relay for it..


I'm sorry I come with these types of questions. Just to make it a bit better, here are some other pictures of the car itself.
I hope you all are enjoying the weekend.

[Syncrobaz]

Nice !! Like the hoist Have you considered investing in a Bently manual ?? Pricey but invaluable

[jaded]

Hej, swe_hero, whereabouts in sweden are you?

[swe_hero]

Nice !! Like the hoist Have you considered investing in a Bently manual ?? Pricey but invaluable

The hoist makes up for the rugged appearence
I might have to get a hold of one of those manuals.. I know a manual probably something you should have in your garage before you attempt to do repairs, but theres always tips and trix that are not included in those books.
I just thought that someone might've have this problem before me, or could tell me "the wire go from here to there through this and that and check such and such" just really narrowing down the search for me.

Hej, swe_hero, whereabouts in sweden are you?

Well.. I've built up a reputation now havnt I? I almost feel ashamed saying I'm from the south of Sweden..

[ducce999s]

Hi the transmitter gets it's power, as you have noticed, from plint 7 on the PCB, through the connecting on the fuse box. So the problem is either the voltage to the instrument panel or the voltage regulator. If you have 12v at plint nr 8 on the PCB then is the problem the voltage regulator on the backside off the instrument house. Connect the instrument to the PCB and measure on the incoming leg on the diode it should be 12v if not then you have problem with the folie, if it's ok measure on the outgoing leg to the instrument and there you should have ca 7v. If not then you need ti change the regulator.


If you don't have any voltage at plint 8 must you check the back plate on the ignition key plate at plint nr 15. If you don't have voltage there when the ignition is on, then you have to change the back plate.

E D I T: added some pics
For 1985-91


For 1980-84 multi-point connector