97 gauge fatigue?

[Mojave Jack]

Hello everyone, I have a stock 1997 Expy EB with a towing package...as I was towing our 5600lb travel trailer up to Barton Flats Friday (up around 6500ft), my water temp needle climbed in the normal range but almost on the H (not the red zone), and then I pegged all the way to the maximum (to the right), while the oil pressure dropped to all the way to the left (no pressure), and the ammeter gauge also dropped all the way to the left (no amperage produced), so of course I pulled over immediately, no check engine light came on, let it idle (idled fine), opened the hood, smelled for leaks, burning, smoke etc...looked, smelled fine, all fans working, belts good, no leaks on radiator hoses (i had to put in a new radiator last March did myself so thoughts abounded...)...then I turned off the ignition, waited for my companion vehicle behind me, then started again, and the gauges were back to normal...even the levels (not hot, good oil pressure, good amperage)...this happened several times up the mountain which is over 6% grade...unnerving to say the least...it has 193000 miles on the 5.4...sure wish they made a td 6.0 expy!!! What about the gauges? Thanks!

 

[stamp11127]

It isn't gauge fatigue, it is an electrical problem that is intermittent. I would start in the cluster but seeing that you also have pats to deal with, I wouldn't worry about it until it failed. One of the simple things you can do is to reseat all the connectors to the cluster. The rest are more involved.

 

[Mojave Jack]

Thanks,

Honestly, I didn't know what else to call it...I have never seen this gauge problem until pulling this time after a 2 year break...even with these crazy local temps this and last month in inland empire (up to 103), it doesn't overheat at all, even with AC, so I hadn't seen the intermittent electrical gauge problem until I was pushing a high mileage vehicle...thanks for the suggestions and the quick reply!!!!