temp gauge not working. buttstuffog cluster,already swapped sender

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temp gauge not working. buttstuffog cluster,already swapped sender

July 11, 2009, 10:52:30 AM

Hey guys, I been working on my car only a couple hours a month I've been very busy with work plus I'm currently taking classes working towards a Bachelor's Degree. I don't want to run the engine anymore without a working temp gauge just so I can keep an eye on my temps. Right now my car has a problem with fouling spark plugs 1,2,7,8.. but I want this gauge working right before I continue to work on that.

I already tried a known good sender, still not working. Its completely on the bottom. Does anyone know what resistance range it operates in. I have a decade box in work and would like to test the gauge to see if I have a wire or gauge problem. Also where does the wire travel to the gauge has anyone traced it all the way back? Do you think it might be easier to just run a new wire to the gauge?

temp gauge not working. buttstuffog cluster,already swapped sender

Reply #1 – July 12, 2009, 02:12:41 AM

From my DIY, see below. Ill assume for now your dash IVR is good. The ECT prob has nothing to do wth the coolant temp sender in your case so just read below and test. you could just hook up your decade box to the red wire bootie and dial in a low resistance and observe the needle.

just ground out the red wire and the needle should max out.

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Coolant Temp sensor (1 wire)feeds the dash display in parallel with dash resistor.
resistance measurements are taken from the threaded stud to the housing
With a bone cold motor the resistance should be high or open
First , remove the single wire and ground it with key on
you needle or guage should max out
next unhook your oil presure switch and reconect temp sensor and retest
next , with a hot motor, unhook the single wire
your resistance should be very low approaching a short
next clean the end of the sensor with scotch brite ect and retest
if high temps persist, replace coolant temp sensor and ECT as a matched set.
if that does not work, start looking at your coolant system parts.
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temp gauge not working. buttstuffog cluster,already swapped sender

Reply #2 – July 13, 2009, 07:36:10 PM

Ok so far I unhooked the wire and shorted it to ground and it pegged the needle. So we have a connection. I have to wait till the weekend till I run the motor again. I'll bring home the decade box tomorrow and start throwing so resistance values to it. Any idea on the range of the gauge? 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4 what type of values of resistance should it read?

temp gauge not working. buttstuffog cluster,already swapped sender

Reply #3 – July 13, 2009, 11:47:28 PM

I did the same test and yes it peg the dash gauge so that means I need to unhook the oil sensor? Are they tied together? I did notice that the temp sender wire has a plug connection floating about a foot back in the harness from the plug. Kind like something is to plug in there. So should I just buy a new sender and call it good or is there a chance that won't work.

Stuckman