Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Guys, I have a 55 clipper resto project. I started the car up and the gauges don't work, however, the red lights on the oil and generator gauge do work. The gas gauge, temp, oil and amp gauge do not move. I checked the fuse box and everything was good. Is there any other obvious spots to check before I pull the gauges out and start checking for bad grounds?
Thanks
Bill

The 51-6 gauges are thermal or bimetal type and are not grounded except thru the sender. There is a voltage regulator on the back of the cluster which does need a ground and gets it through it's mounting screws. It is a rectangular can with 2 terminals centered roughly under the speedo. That supplies power to the temp and gas gauges in your case, and gets its power from the fuse labeled instrument cluster. Check for 12 volts there. The output is a nominal 5v but is a rapid pulsing voltage of 12v, 0v, 12v, 0v in an on/off cycle, the speed depending on load which gives an average of 5v to the gauges. Your meter may not be able to read that very well. If the regulator has failed and supplied a permanent 12v to gauges, they may be damaged. If 0v out and fuse is good, then regulator needs replacing. If you have a voltage on the regulator or "in" terminal of the gauges (voltage in side of gauges are tied together with a short jumper) coming from regulator, then by grounding the other gauge terminal, the gauge should move. DO NOT leave the ground attached--just keep it on long enough to see if gauge moves. If they do, then do the same thing at the sender end. If no movement, check wiring, if gauge moves you need sender. If no movement with the voltage present from the regulator, then gauges.

There is a service manual and most technical bulletins on site you can download or a wiring diagram only is herepackardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/wirediagrams/1955%2055th%20Series.pdf

55 NC Clipper -

For 1955-56, all Packard and Clipper models came from the factory with temp and gas gauge, but only the Patrician Four Hundred and Caribbean models had oil and amp gauges.

In place of the oil pressure gauge and ammeter, the Clippers and the 1956 Executive were fitted with battery discharge and (low) oil pressure indicator lamps (aka - idiot lights).

The factory wiring diagrams may be a source of some confusion since they show both sets of equipment in one diagram, but its an "either...or" situation - not both.

So, unless someone has made some sort of custom modification to your '55 Clipper, you won't see any (needle) movement of an oil and amp gauge.