During winter storage(I know I was very late getting the Fairlane 500 ´57 on the road again) the gas and temperature gauge have stopped working. Could it be the "gauge voltage regulator" which has stopped working?. Any ideas on how to do some fault finding?

Best regards,

Claus

First, I'd check the fuse, both for good contact and the element. Next, I'd look for 12 volts on one side of the resistor and 6 or so on the other. I know that's a pita to get to, but that's the start. If all that checks out, look at the ground at the tank, and maybe tighten temp sender. But it's really long odds to lose two grounds at the same time. More likely the supply side power.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

It's the voltage regulator. Get a new one from Dennis Carpenter, Macs, or Concours.

When both the temp gauge and the fuel gauge quite at the same time it will be the reg. It controls both and I is the only thing they both have in common. I've been down this road with my 57 Lincoln, my Dads 58 Skyliner, our 64 Mustang, my 79 F250 and my brothers 64 Fairlane.

You can get the regs at NAPA but they are 3 times the price.

Thanks. I had almost also come to the regulator conclusion. And the location of the regulator - caught a glimps of it under the dashboard. What a nightmare to change. Any good ideas to change it?

I've never tried changing one from behind. I pull the gauge panel and thats no fun either. Along the bottom edge of the panel is four studs with nuts plus the two screws on the top front. You have to disconnect the speedo cable and when you can pull it out a little bend the two  metal brackets that hold the wiring harness. It's difficult because this is opposite to how the factory did it. The last time I did it I only installed the two outer nuts on the studs. I'm getting ready to remove mine again to replace the temp gauge and repaint it.

On a Lincoln the cluster does not come out by itself without pulling the dash but you can get to the regulator from the back side.  In my case I lay down on the seat with my head under the dash and my legs over the seat backrest.  I slide sideways until my fat belly is kind of shoved under the steering wheel.  The regulator is fastened to the backside of the speedo head.  It's kind of tricky getting a socket on the screw one handed but it can be done.  There's not much room to shove an arm up there.  It usually helps to pull the front speaker for space (it's mounted on the tranny hump under the dash).  The trick is to get it changed before getting light headed.  

I used the grandkids, till they got bigger than me. Now (since his Dad works for an automotive company) sometimes I can borrow the kid next door. Gives them a chance to learn, and keeps my chiropractor out of work.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Now my son could get in handy. Just figuring out where stuff was behind the dashboard was really a pain in the back. Bad sign of getting older.
Well -first some shopping and then work.
Best regards,
Claus