Engine gauges?

I asked this question yesterday and got no replies so I thought I would ask in a different way. Last week several of my engine gauges quit working. I lost my tach, my tilt/trim gauge, my voltage meter and my fuel gauge. The only gauge that still works is the water pressure gauge.<br /><br />With most accessary wireing problems the solution is simple I just pull the bad wires and replace them. However these wires run through the engine wireing harness. I have two questions. First would the 4 gauges that went out give a clue as to where to start trouble shooting since the water pressure gauge still works? Second, am I better off pulling the whole wireing harness and replacing it and how difficult is this or should I look for a bad ground somewhere? Any advice would be apreciated. <br /><br />By the way this is a 98 115 Johnson.

Re: Engine gauges?

The 4 gauges that don't work probably use a common ground. Trace them back from the gauges and you will probably find a bad connection.

Re: Engine gauges?

All of the gauges that are out use 12vdc. The water pressure gauge does not. If the gauge lights work then most probably the common ground is ok since it is common to the lights and for gauge operation. The problem would then be more likely with the 12 volt source to the gauges. The gauges are usually connected at some point to a purple wire from the ignition switch that provides 12 volts only when the key is on. The gauge lights are usually connected to a different 12 volt source that often feeds the navigation lights as well, but no guarantys there.