Digital cluster won’t turn on after I put on battery.

[chevy0079]

I had replaced my steering column, took off my battery for the install. Put it back on and left the keys on the “on” position. Since the fans came on that’s how I knew. Went to turn the key to off and notice the cluster was flicking on and off and after the truck not wanting to turn on the cluster is dead nothing at all. Any ideas where to start? I’m hoping I didn’t blew anything up. I would like to figured this out first and see why the cluster don’t come on. Not sure which gauges these are as they were on when I bought the truck. Thank y’all very much.

 

[Vbb199]

Year make and model would help, though I dunno any 73-91 trucks with a digital dash

Is this an aftermarket attachment?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Dead battery?

 

[chevy0079]

Year make and model would help, though I dunno any 73-91 trucks with a digital dash

Is this an aftermarket attachment?

My apologies. 79 Chevy c10 stepside. And yes it’s a aftermarket cluster. Everything was working perfect till now the cluster don’t come on and the truck just cranks doesn’t start. Kinda has me in a dead end.

 

[chevy0079]

Dead battery

 

[chevy0079]

Dead battery?

Don’t think so, this battery has been in and out the truck due to me having it in storage. I recently put it in and was working fine then I changed out my column and boom my cluster is dead.

 

[Vbb199]

Perhaps you have no power on igintion/switched power ?

I believe that's your pink wire(s)

 

[chevy0079]

Perhaps you have no power on igintion/switched power ?

I believe that's your pink wire(s)

Interesting, Maybe I just need a new ignition switch. The one that came with the coloumn was new but it was universal that may be the problem. Just gets me wondering more since I had turn it on and it came one perfect but disconnected to fix a turn signal issue then left the key on the on position then boom cluster dead when I put the battery on.

 

[Vbb199]

A multi meter or a test light is your friend, start probing your ignition/switched circuit

 

[chevy0079]

A multi meter or a test light is your friend, start probing your ignition/switched circuit

Any tips on that? I have some experience with a multi meter but what do I need to check for on where? Thanks again brother!

 

[85K304SPD]

Maybe a ground wire came loose. Make sure that you have a body ground on your engine and battery. Maybe the ignition switch on top of the column is not functioning correctly. That rod can be tricky if its worn or bent.
Why did you change the column, and what kind of column did you put in?

 

[Bextreme04]

Crank, no start and no power to the gauge cluster makes me think you have a blown fusible link. You have two wires coming off your starter with fusible links and one coming off the lug on the firewall above the brake booster that also has a fusible link. One wire on the starter is for Batt power and one is for ignition power. They power different circuits in the fuse block. This is the most likely way to get a vehicle that cranks but wont fire, since the ignition coil isn't getting power. Climb under the truck and make sure you don't have a loose/disconnected wire at the starter or a swollen/blown fusible link on one of them.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Who's cluster? I would be checking grounds first, then power wires. If it's a Dakota setup, something may have come loose from the brain box.

 

[chevy0079]

Maybe a ground wire came loose. Make sure that you have a body ground on your engine and battery. Maybe the ignition switch on top of the column is not functioning correctly. That rod can be tricky if its worn or bent.
Why did you change the column, and what kind of column did you put in?

Thank you for your reply. So I changed out the column due to my ignition cylinder being able to turn wwith out the key. And the column had a lot of glue stains for some reason. So I replace it with a universal gm column from cj pony parts. Came with a key already and a ignition switch. After I had install it the truck would cut off outta no where ( my truck ran great before) and my turn signal would cause my horn to go off. So I took out the battery and fix the horn issued then when I put the battery that’s when I left the keys on the on position and my cluster is dead.. kinda bums me out because electrical is pretty new to me. So I’m hoping it’s something I can figure out.

 

[chevy0079]

Crank, no start and no power to the gauge cluster makes me think you have a blown fusible link. You have two wires coming off your starter with fusible links and one coming off the lug on the firewall above the brake booster that also has a fusible link. One wire on the starter is for Batt power and one is for ignition power. They power different circuits in the fuse block. This is the most likely way to get a vehicle that cranks but wont fire, since the ignition coil isn't getting power. Climb under the truck and make sure you don't have a loose/disconnected wire at the starter or a swollen/blown fusible link on one of them.

Thank you very much for the reply. So I’m very new electrical work on trucks so please be patience with me. So I got under my truck and believe I found the fuses. Not to sure how they look but I was able to find something close to it online. My question is how do I know if they are blown? Is it possible to check it with a meter? With your input it makes perfect sense because my truck ran great. So it’s very weird how it won’t start now. I believe I found the other fuse around the brake booster. I attached photos. Also there isn’t no fuse I can check under the steering wheel?