QuestionI recently bought a 1986 240 DL sedan with problems on the instrument cluster: clock, odometer, and the temperature gauge all were broken. I pulled the cluster to check the odometer drive gear (sure enough, missing two teeth) and when I put it back I hooked it up according to my diagram. Only problem is (yup, you guessed it) the red and white wire was off when I pulled it and I assumed it had fallen off when I eased the cluster forward, so I put it back right next to the orange/red wire. So here's what happens when you hook up the tachometer wire to your cluster, folks: when I tried to start the car, the starter was hyperactive, the speedometer needle started moving crazily around, and it didn't start. I then remembered that assumptions are very bad, that the red/white wire probably didn't belong on the cluster, and pulled it. Now the speedometer is broken too.
Questions:
-Did I damage anything besides the speedometer with my mistake?
-Is the speedometer now damaged beyond reasonable repair? (I'm assuming now with 4 damaged things I should just replace the cluster)
-When I get a new cluster, does it matter which of the two prongs between the speedo/odo and temp gauge the orange wire attaches to? If so, is it the right or the left (looking at it from the back side)?
PLEASE no harsh comments... I feel stupid enough. Thanks!
AnswerAmy, I dont do harsh comments because when I first started working on these cars, I did the same thing. Lesson learned. Unfortunately, you did burn up the speedo head. That red/white wire is for cars with a tachometer. A cluster from 86-90 will work. I so happen to have a modified cluster listed on EBay. It looks nice and it has the tach on it. Check it out. Your car must have cruise control on it. Thats what the orange wire is for and no it doesnt matter which side its on. Roger
