96 Ranger Supercab 4.0 Auto, unfortunately stock...

My odometer was not working so I removed the instrument cluster. I wanted to verify the worm gear was bad, it is. I left the instrument cluster out so I don't have to remove it again to put the new gear in. I drove the truck to work yesterday and it was fine. Today the headlights were dim then there was a beeping like a UPS when the power goes out. The truck was losing power, I turned the lights and AC off to make it the last mile to work. The battery is drained, the alternator is not charging.

If you remove the instrument cluster (including volt gauge) will this make the alternator not charge?

I never heard that before

I can't imagine why it would matter but it is just too coincidental... I have to wait until I get home to plug the instrumential cluster back in and see if it begins to charge. Only I had plans to do something else tonight...

if the cluster is out, the alternator will NOT charge. the battery light in the cluster is part of the charging system.

__________________
Krylon Fusion is for Amateurs.

Put a new worm gear in from the junkyard. Odometer is working and the battery is charging. It all worked out but what a pain that was...

Is there a way to bypass it? Like if you're doing a swap and want to replace the cluster with all custom gauges?

wire in a light bulb that is tucked away in the dash somewhere.

__________________
Krylon Fusion is for Amateurs.