Check gauge's light turned on

Tiny
JTBUZZARD
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 DODGE RAM
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 208,300 MILES
I was driving home from work on the freeway all of sudden I had no power steering. The temperature gauge went all the way up voltage gauge all the way down. Oil pressure gauge at half way mark as it always is. The check gauge's light came on. I got home parked turn off the truck waited then I started it up light came back on the gauges went back to low voltage temperature all the way up. So turned off the truck opened the hood the water reservoir empty but I saw the serpentine belt was shredded. Could that be the reason why I am having this problem or is it this and something else? If you can tell me what is or might be please let me know. Thank you
Saturday, August 10th, 2019 AT 10:01 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi JT,

This could definitely cause the issue. If the belt is shredded then the water pump is probably not turning very well, if at all, and the same thing with the alternator. The check gauges light does not mean there is an issue or failure with the gauge. It is a way for the system to alert you to check them to see which is causing an issue.

Also, the water reservoir being empty did not help. I would fill this and replace the belt and then retest the vehicle after the vehicle cools down overnight.

Let me know what you find and we can go from there. Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 11th, 2019 AT 10:39 AM
Tiny
JTBUZZARD
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
First I would like to say thank you for your response and in put I here to let you know out come well today. I went to change the belt and to my surprise I found that one of the pulleys was destroyed. So I went back to the auto parts store to get a new one so after that I changed the pulley changed, the belt filled up the reservoir. Put the key in gave it a turn and it's safe to say everything is working fine now. Just letting you know the outcome. Once again thank you for your time.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, August 11th, 2019 AT 9:17 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Great information. Thanks for the update. Glad you got it squared away. Come back and use us in the future.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 6:46 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links