So last week I was driving my car and just cruising along and the stereo quit working, so I knew that my alternator had gone out again. I verified this by testing it. I went home parked it and the next day I swapped to my fail safe alternator that always works, but just makes some noise. When I start the car up again none of the gauges are working and I have checked the fuse and it tested good. This is the 3rd Carquest brand alternator that I have gone through, I think its cause they don't like the 7000+rpm. Anyways has anyone else had there gauges quit working? I am thinking it may have something to do with the alternator going out, what do you think?

 

A ground issue somewhere?

 

Possibly a ground, but if it lost regulation and the voltage went wild it could have fried the gauges. Check fuses first, just in case it took the fuse out.
I had a voltage regulator go out on my Toyota truck and the voltage went to over 18 v. which took out the gauges and the radio.

 

Well thats what I was thinking, because I have never had a problem before. Is there a way to test the gauges themselves?

 

Fuel level should be 0-90 ohms. Thae tach is next to impossable with out a signal generator. The speedo is mechanical. The temp and tach are the only on the I could see frying. Unless you took out the printed circuit on the back of the gauges, which it is common for those to fail. I got 50 bucks for a used on set up for idiot lights.