here is a short for fuse number nine, which is for the cruise control and the gauges. so for now, i have no gauges or cruise control (that isnt that important). ive unplugged and removed the gauges as well as the sending units and there is still a short somewhere. should i spend the hundreds of dollars for a pro to try and locate it (ive also torn the dash apart looking for it with no luck). or should i just get aftermarker gauges and mount them in the dash myself? how hard is it to hook up the gauges for the fuel, oil pressure, water temp, ammeter, and tach?

 

If you have a short now, what makes you think the new gauges will be any better???

 

From your post, it seems that you looked at the gauges, but did not check the cruise control, which is also on the same fuse. May want to try disconnecting the cruise control.

 

yes, i already disconnected the cruise control, and that wasnt the problem either. ive had the dash apart the last two days, and i havent found any melted, burnt, or cut wires. whatever the issue was, it used to do it to the previous owner, and i thought i had fixed it with a loose connection on the tach, but that apperently wasnt the issue. it started when i launched it to race a guy and it hopped instead of spinning (i guess there was a dip or a pot hole). so far, i tallied up all 5 gauges for about $140 from autometer.

 

well, i just went ahead and ordered the gauges, which would probably be better for the long run anyway.