Gauges quit working

[szorno]

Our 94 2500 CTD has a weird problem. The gauges quit working. We had the power lead for the spray valve plugged into the fuse box onthe side of the dash. It pulls a max of 5 amps. It worked fine and then one day the cover came off the fuse box and the wire tap got bumped. it blew the fuse it was plugged into. We replaced that fuse and everything was OK EXCEPT the gauges. The back light works when the headlights are on but none of them read at all. No fuel, no speedometer no nothin'. We took both negative battery cables loose for about 2 minutes, then re-hooked them up. No change. We checked every fuse and replaced the ones ajoining the one we used as the tap. Still nothing. Any ideas where to start? :confused: :confused:

[CraftyBigDog]

Fuses under the hood

[szorno]

Tried them too. All OK. Any other thoughts??:confused:

[szorno]

This turned out to be a major electrical "meltdown". We had to replace 3 of the main wires into the dash system. All is well.
*** NOTE **** When installing accessories and tapping into the fuse box, make SURE you get the "fused" side not the "hot" side of the fuse. Also make sure you have an inline fuse to protect the accessory. We did neither, and the results were major and could have been catastrophic.omg

further note to self- check son's electrical work more carefully before considering it done.

[John DiMartino]

Scott ,good info.I alwasy use a test light to get see which is the fused side of the accessory,and take power off there.Im glad you got it straightened out,and didnt burn the truck to the ground.