On the gauge regulator, it can fail two ways. If it fails open, the gauges won't work, and if it fails closed, then the gauges will be burned up, as in dead, and ruined. I would not put another mechanical regulator back in the car either, especially because it probably would be made in china. There is a solid state regulator made by Real Time Engineering that if it falls it does it so the gauges won't get burned up.