Technical italian electrics

[delta]

wondering if anyone can help,
serviced my girlfriends tipo (95 model) plugs oil, etc, and changed the clutch, everything was fine, until i noticed that when starting the car, then pulling away, the petrol gauge and rev counter would stop working, both needles dropping at the same time. at first this was intermitant, now both refuse to budge at all.
i could understand this if we were busy with something on the dashboard, but all the work was done under the bonnet and we touched nothing on the electrics.
anyone had a similar problem, do they share a common earth? is there a schematic anywhere? why do i always have electrical problems with italian cars? why do i buy italian cars?:bang: yeah i know, more soul than opel!!:slayer:
any help gratefully recieved, the petrol guage not working is a bit of a pain in the a#se.
delta

 

[mt-tuning]

under battery holder is couple of earth cables fitted to the body of car.. check the earth there, clean with sandpaper...
i had same problem long time ago.. half of dash didnt work and this was reason why.. /sorry for my grammer/

 

[delta]

thanks for the reply, could be the problem, had to dismantle the battery box to remove the gearbox.
will check the connections at the weekend and let you know if thats the problem.

thought i was drawing a blank on this till now!!!

delta