Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Got in the 968 this morning and noticed the voltage gauge shot up well in to the red. Turned it straight off as I didn't want to fry any electronic and used the wife's car. At first I though voltage regulator on the alternator.

So went I got back I got the multi meter out and connected it to the battery terminals to check. 12.4V with the engine off, started it up and it went to 14.2V. I'm pretty sure this is about right. However am i testing it right? Does the gauge measure something different? And finally is there a way to easily test the gauge?

I've had a look at Clarks Garage site and the usual US forums but not found anything

Mine was the opposite - constantly reading low then up and down ...

Then I recalled the 'rugby ball' contact thread a while ago and whipped out the clocks to clean up my balls... The contacts weren't dirty, but I took the opportunity to clean up the ribbon cable contacts and when I put it all back the gauge was nice and stable.

I wish I could say the same for my oil pressure gauge which despite the same cleaning process is still suffering from St Vitus' Dance...

G

Cheers will do a search for the rugby ball thread

It'll be quicker to do the job than find the thread I think ...

Just pull the steering wheel off ... (hopefully you don't have airbags) and there are 8 screws holding the outer facia into the dash (check the Clark's guide) then there are 4 more screws holding the clock/gauge unit in the dash, undo those and wiggle it out then unclip the 3 ribbon cables and Robert is your Mother's Brother ...

Turn the unit over and you'll see the black oval chaps with a 7mm brass nut holding them in. Unscrew the nut, abrade the posts of the rugby ball (you'll see them when you pull them out) and gently do the same to the contact pads on the flexible circuit board. Refit the 'balls' then take a minute to clean up the exposed contact pads of the ribbon cable - don't go mad here !

Refitting is the reversal of disassembly...

HTH

Greg

Having a go this afternoon will post how it goes

I had a similar problem with my volt meter after my alternator fried my battery.

I resolved it by replacing the volt meter.

In my case the needle shot straight to the top every time I turned the car on, and adjusting the screw on the side of it made not difference.