Dash gauge readings with nav lights on

[jhiestand]

Activated the nav lights on our '08 this past weekend for the first time in a LONG time and noticed a number of the gauges immediately started showing wonky readings. I about had heart failure when I noticed engine temp was 200F, voltage was reading under 12V at just above an idle and oil pressure way low around 10 psi. Switching the nav lights back off and all the gauges went back to normal ranges.

My first thought is it could be a ground issue, but not sure how to start troubleshooting. Anyone experienced similar?

[bturner]

I'll go with a power problem not specifically ground. The interesting part is that these are digital gauges but the lighting aspect could be the wild card here. First step is always the same... prep yourself for some extended time laying on your back with contact cleaner, a scotch pad, a phillips screwdriver and a nut driver. If you want to go "all in" I would start by doing a nut and bolt on all the connections on both the power and ground buss bars. If anything looks tarnished or corroded pull it off hit it with the scotch pad then the contact cleaner and reinstall it.

You could try the short cut and just hit the lighting circuit and see if that buys you anything. Also make absolutely positive that your battery connections are solid and clean before heading under the dash. Can't help but think that the added load from the lights may be causing a low power condition which would have a tendency of pointing back to the battery connections.