Here's what I'd do:
1. Put a volt meter on the voltage connection that supplies the meter.
2. Start pulling fuses, one by one, untll the volt meter shows zero volts.
--now you've isolated the voltage going to the meter, if the wire has been "butchered" it may not be according to the schematics. There could be two feeds going to the harness. One of the feeds may have a huge non-standard fuse, or no fuse.
3. Check the amperage on the fuses. If the gauge fries then one of these possibilities are occuring:
--a. The gauge is acting as the circuit fuse, and cannot take the current passing through it.
--b. The fuses are by-passed, so they can't blow. Then resistance from the wire to the sender is goes very high, causing the current draw through the gauge, and frying the meter movement.
Start there and let us know what you're finding... several heads are better than one.
Good Jeepin'
Larry
1. Put a volt meter on the voltage connection that supplies the meter.
2. Start pulling fuses, one by one, untll the volt meter shows zero volts.
--now you've isolated the voltage going to the meter, if the wire has been "butchered" it may not be according to the schematics. There could be two feeds going to the harness. One of the feeds may have a huge non-standard fuse, or no fuse.
3. Check the amperage on the fuses. If the gauge fries then one of these possibilities are occuring:
--a. The gauge is acting as the circuit fuse, and cannot take the current passing through it.
--b. The fuses are by-passed, so they can't blow. Then resistance from the wire to the sender is goes very high, causing the current draw through the gauge, and frying the meter movement.
Start there and let us know what you're finding... several heads are better than one.
Good Jeepin'
Larry
