TyCor

I replaced the power antenna this weekend with a non-power regular version. now when I turn the blinkers on, headlights on, or step on the brake the fuel gauge needle slowly moves clockwise until it is pegged off the right hand stop and the blinker lights are fully illuminated.

anyone ever see anything like this -- how is the power antenna tied into these gauges.

wombvette

Sounds like you knocked the ground off the gauge panel.

...Roger...

What year ? Was the power antenna factory ? Was all your work confined to the left rear fender of the car or did you get into the dash ?

TyCor

I did not get under the dash. I spliced in two new fittings onto the two pronged alternator, they were brittle and breaking off. as for the power antenna, I cut the two wires connected to the antenna. One was a power supply and the other was the signal wire telling the antenna when to turn on.

...Roger...

Usually when the dash blinker lights are involved the front park/turn lights have lost their ground. There is a ground lead at the alternator that effects the front lights, could you have left it off or the wire broke ? I dont really understand the fuel gauge issue although when it comes to missing grounds anything can happen.

78 silver 78

Are the two power wires just hanging there ? You should have pulled the wire connection at the antenna relay.

TyCor

antenna relay? where's that?

...Roger...

Exactly ,thats why I ask what year and was the antenna you removed a factory one !

78 silver 78

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If your antenna is factory,one wire powers down,the other powers up,the third is ground. On my '78, the relay is under the console behind the E-brake handle.

SIXFOOTER

Check the bonding wire that was on the old antenna, the tail light grounds may have been connected to the same ground lug.

speedreed8

on my 79 the ground wire for the fuel gauge and power antenna case, were on the same grounding screw attached to the frame and i believe the tail lights are grounded on the same screw.

...Roger...

Good call , you guys might have it.