Re: Fuel gauge, clock and lights not working

Posted by HH56 On 2024/3/9 11:15:21

Second the suggestion for getting the service manual and wire diagrams. Here is the link to the stand alone 53 wiring diagram. The manual can be downloaded from the service, shop and training manual section

The temp gauge and fuel gauge voltage in terminals are connected in parallel and both get their power via voltage coming from the instrument voltage regulator located on the back of the cluster. If the temp gauge is working, chances are the issue is with the connecting wire or the fuel sender at the tank. This is a rather frequent issue and new senders are available. If the car has never had a cutout made in the trunk floor for access, the tank will need to be dropped to check or replace the sender. If using an ohmmeter to check, the sender should read approximately 70 ohms to ground at empty and about 10 ohms at full. Once caution if you need to drop the tank. If you try to remove the drain plug to empty the tank and it has never been out -- or not out in a long time -- there is a good chance you will find that the steel plug has rusted. Use some penetrating fluid first and make sure to use something to hold the tapered connection the plug threads into at the tank side from turning when trying to remove the plug. The tank fitting is only pressed and crimped to the tank metal and if it turns when trying to remove the plug there is a good chance a very hard to fix leak will be the result.

The stock turn signals are very dependent on having the correct resistance in the circuit. If the value is very far out of expectations they will fail to work. Sockets can be an issue particularly if they have been wet and Packards are well know to have issues with rust and corrosion developing in the ground connections between the fender sheetmetal and the pot metal housings that contain the bulbs. I would suggest as a first step to go thru and clean any areas where the bolts and studs holding the housings are making contact with sheetmetal. On the front parking light assys, corrosion has also been found in the crimp area where the socket is fastened to the reflector. It that has happened it often requires adding a separate ground wire directly between the socket shell and a good sheetmetal connection.

Headlights could be the circuit breaker but can also be caused by an issue with the dimmer switch or a dirty headlight switch. The switches can be taken apart and cleaned but the dimmer switch is relatively inexpensive and will most likely be easier and quicker to just replace it.