How are gauges, power windows, and turn signals related electrically?

[spdrun]

This morning, I started the car and noticed the fuel and temp gauges intermittently flicking between showing a reading and zero. When they were at zero, the power windows also didn't work, neither did the turn signals. The HVAC blower and headlights worked fine the whole time. I re-seated all of the fuses, and that seemed to fix the problem. Since all of those accessories are on different fuses, and it's unlikely that multiple fuses would lose contact at once, which single fuse being loose would cause those symptoms? Does one of the fuses control a relay that in turn controls other things?

Car is an '83 240D.

[cooljjay]

I believe they all share the same ground....being the instrument cluster....there are 2 bundles of grounds.....also did you exam the ends of each fuse and make sure they are intact....it is wise, if you haven't done so to replace all the fuses with ceramic body and either copper or brass filaments...

[spdrun]

^^^

Thanks. Not grounding. It was the turn signal fuse, that also operates some of the dash gauges and trips the power window relay when the ignition is on. Aluminum end was sort of slid off the tip of the plastic fuse capsule. Changed it and all is good!

Where can I get the ceramic GBC type fuses? Better yet, where can I get the glass capsule type GBC fuses?

[cooljjay]

Best beat its to Google them...we're not really allowed to point to outside sources for parts and I am not sire if the ones sold here are ceramic....if you Google auto haus az that is where I got mine..