Condensating Gauges

[Tony R.]

Greetings. The back-story: I was traveling through Georgia on the way to Florida in my 1971 SB 4-sp coupe during the evening when I noticed large droplets developed on the INSIDE of my tach and speedo gauges! The needles on each gauge stoped in their tracks! I had no way of knowing my RPM's and my only way of knowing my speed was from my Garmin.

What caused this and what can I do to prevent a recurrence?? (Before embarking on that trip, I had an AC-Delco authorized shop repair the trip meter assembly and calibrate the speedometer.)

Current dilema: I am replacing all wiring harnesses, including the dash harness. I am also replacing all dash pads. Do I need to replace the speedo and tachometer to avoid the condensation from recurring? Once I reassemble the dash, I do not want to re-open the dash to repair the gauges, again. If replacing the gauges is recommended, what source(s) is/are recommended?

Thank you for your valued advice!
Tony

[Michael W.]

Re: Condensating Gauges

I'd put the gauges out in the sun for a few hours to dry them out.

[Paul J.]

Re: Condensating Gauges

The sun is good, but the important thing is to air them out. They need to be out of the cluster without the lenses and sit in an area of good air flow in a lower humidity environment. I'd also leave them out there a while.

[Joe R.]

Re: Condensating Gauges

Tony,

When you were traveling to Florida, was it raining cats and dogs? Large droplets just don't develop on their own!!! You have a leak around the front window or your AC system is giving some problems.
Find the source of the moisture and then follow the advise above of completely drying out the speedo and tach. If you don't find the source of the water (not moisture here) you will repeat this problem.

JR

[Jim T.]

Re: Condensating Gauges

I have original owner 1968 and 1970 Corvettes and have never had this problem. I have driven in down pours of heavy rain years ago in these Corvettes. I am wondering how the large droplets developed inside your tach and speedometer?

[William F.]

Re: Condensating Gauges

Sure your heater core isn't leaking??

[Tony R.]

Re: Condensating Gauges

Tony,

When you were traveling to Florida, was it raining cats and dogs? Large droplets just don't develop on their own!!! You have a leak around the front window or your AC system is giving some problems.
Find the source of the moisture and then follow the advise above of completely drying out the speedo and tach. If you don't find the source of the water (not moisture here) you will repeat this problem.

JR

JR,
Thank you for the reply.
No leaks around the window, but...It was HUMID cats and dogs...it was thicker than pea soup...with molassas! (yuck)
Seriously, the humidity and consequent dew was all around. The windows were down as it was unbearable with them up. (warm AND humid night).
The air conditioner does not yet work-not a factor.

The speedo and tach have been out of the car all winter as I am replacing all wiring harnesses.
Do you suppose the same problem would occur with new gauges?

Tony

[Tony R.]

Re: Condensating Gauges

Jim,

You and I would both like to get to the bottom of this one! As I told JR, the humidity/dew was very thick and I had my windows down to have some wind to make the drive bearable in those conditions.

Tony

[Tony R.]

Re: Condensating Gauges

William,

The core is good! The dew was thick and all around.

Tony

[Joe R.]

Re: Condensating Gauges

Tony,

Changing the gauges will not help your problem. Staying out of Georgia might be your only solution!!!!!!

JR