dash voltage regulator replacement, '91 Truck?

piece of cake, just remove the instrument cluster and replace the regulator.

I must have done a few hundred of them in my 15 years(and still counting) as a Nissan Tech

Nisstech,

You were right on the money about the voltage regulator...$43 bucks at the dealer, and I was able to replace it myself in about 30 minutes. I now have my fuel gauge and temp gauge working again.

But it always seems like 3 steps forward, 2 steps back with my truck lately...I noticed that the very center of my instrument cluster is no longer illuminated...right behind the fuel gauge. I have an illuminated tach and an illuminated speedo, but the center part of the dash is dark. Any ideas? Is this a fuse or a replaceable (I hope) bulb?

Thanks again,

Dave

Just out of curiousity, what are the specs of this Nissan Voltage regulator? Is it just a 12V DC regulator? If so, a 3-terminal linear voltage regulator which can handle around 1 ampere should only cost around $1 from an electronics supplier. $43 sounds like a rip off, but I guess that's what the dealers charge ...

Re: your bulb problem -- they are all replaceable bulbs. They are in little bayonette type sockets that are on the back of the dashboard pcb. Just give it a 1/4 twist. You can test for a dead bulb by swapping from one position to another. On my '87 truck, some of the bulbs are real oddball types, like for 'low washer fluid'. I think it was a #72, or something. I look EVERYWHERE for it. Finally I gave up and had to go to the dealer --> $6 each!!!!! Ouch. The ones behind the instrument cluster should be easier to find in an auto parts place, though.

El,

Sheesh, I wish someone had mentioned that electronic supply places carry Nissan dash voltage regulators...I never would have gone to the dealer in the first place. I tried the local auto parts places first, and no one had anything close to what I needed...first dealership quoted me $45 bucks for it, but they were out of stock and would have to order it...second dealership had one in stock, and the quote for it was $43, which, to me, was far better a deal than having to take it and get screwed over labor costs by dealer mechanics who probably would have taken two hours to complete this 20-minute job.

Just curious - a brief google search through online electronic suppliers looking for this voltage regulator turned up nothing for me...do you actually have a source you use for these types of auto electronic parts that you could share?

Thanks for the info on the bulbs...will be looking at this after work today!

Dave

I didn't mean to imply you can just go to an electronics supplier and ask for a "Nissan voltage regulator". You would have to actually know the specifications of the voltage regulator. There are a gazillion+ types. Really, you would need some knowledge of electronics to ascertain the function and suitabilty of a (somewhat) generic substitute part. I don't have direct knowledge of what this regulator on the instrument cluster requires. I was merely conjecturing that

Sorry for the confusion. All things considered, your $45 was probably well spent.