Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Temperature gauge not working #2520924
07/12/18 09:48 AM
07/12/18 09:48 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive
DUFFMAN  Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
1972 B-Body with standard gauge cluster.

My temperature gauge decided to quit work. The needle stays to the left at cold no matter how warm the engine gets.

I replaced the temp sensor. I also inspected the board at the back of the gauge pod and there was no visible defects. My engine harness is a replacement from Year One and is in excellent condition.

Are the gauges themselves known to go bad? I noticed the light bulb on that end of the cluster doesn't come on with the headlights. I haven't pulled the bulb yet to see if it's burn't out. Likely just a coincidence and not related.


No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2520931
07/12/18 10:28 AM
07/12/18 10:28 AM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,443
Morristown Tn.
7
71birdJ68 Offline
master
71birdJ68  Offline
master
7

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,443
Morristown Tn.
Are the rest of the gauges working?

Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2520958
07/12/18 11:25 AM
07/12/18 11:25 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,658
A
Andrewh Offline
master
Andrewh  Offline
master
A

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,658
yes it can go bad, be burned out.
not usually an issue but you can test it by wiring 2 AA batteries in series and touching the leads to the posts on the gauge. it should move to half way.

if your fuel gauge works, you can eliminate the voltage reg from being the issue, but if it doesn't work then that would be my first go to.

the bulb near it going out could be nothing, or ground on that side of the cluster could have an issue. that too might take out the gauge if ground isn't making contact.

any changes done recently?

Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: 71birdJ68] #2521159
07/12/18 07:35 PM
07/12/18 07:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive
DUFFMAN  Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
Originally Posted By 71birdJ68
Are the rest of the gauges working?


Yes. The fuel gauge and amp meter are working.


No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: Andrewh] #2521161
07/12/18 07:36 PM
07/12/18 07:36 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive
DUFFMAN  Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
Originally Posted By Andrewh


any changes done recently?


I just swapped intakes, but it wasn't working previous to the swap. I installed a new sending unit in the new intake and it still doesn't work.


No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2521175
07/12/18 08:16 PM
07/12/18 08:16 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,658
A
Andrewh Offline
master
Andrewh  Offline
master
A

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,658
so you could have pinched the line so even if it looks good it could be broken internally.

you can ground the line in the engine compartment and then turn the key on and see if the gauge moves.

then if it doesn't try grouding from the bulkhead connector and test again.

IF it doesn't work from the bulkhead and you are sure you grounded it, then maybe the gauge died.

if it is possible you pinched the line grounding out the line causing the gauge to peg and you didn't notice, you might have burned it out.

Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2521221
07/12/18 09:58 PM
07/12/18 09:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,153
Mass
DAYCLONA Offline
I Live Here
DAYCLONA  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,153
Mass
Not wrapping the threads of that sending unit in teflon tape and/or sealer are you?...

Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: Andrewh] #2521386
07/13/18 10:49 AM
07/13/18 10:49 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive
DUFFMAN  Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
Originally Posted By Andrewh


if it is possible you pinched the line grounding out the line causing the gauge to peg and you didn't notice, you might have burned it out.


It was working when I pulled the car out of storage a couple of months ago. It's stopped working before I did the intake swap so there was no changes made prior to it not operating. Thus this is unlikely.


No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DAYCLONA] #2521395
07/13/18 11:05 AM
07/13/18 11:05 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive
DUFFMAN  Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
Originally Posted By DAYCLONA
Not wrapping the threads of that sending unit in teflon tape and/or sealer are you?...


Yes I used teflon tape.


No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: Andrewh] #2521425
07/13/18 12:35 PM
07/13/18 12:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,666
North Dakota
6PakBee Offline
I Live Here
6PakBee  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,666
North Dakota
Originally Posted By Andrewh
so you could have pinched the line so even if it looks good it could be broken internally.

you can ground the line in the engine compartment and then turn the key on and see if the gauge moves.

then if it doesn't try grouding from the bulkhead connector and test again.

IF it doesn't work from the bulkhead and you are sure you grounded it, then maybe the gauge died.

if it is possible you pinched the line grounding out the line causing the gauge to peg and you didn't notice, you might have burned it out.


This is the proper way to troubleshoot the gauges. All I can add is that I too have had trouble with Teflon tape but not with thread compound. An easy check is to measure the resistance from the sender body to the pump housing. Should be zero.


"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2521447
07/13/18 01:30 PM
07/13/18 01:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,153
Mass
DAYCLONA Offline
I Live Here
DAYCLONA  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,153
Mass
Originally Posted By DUFFMAN
Originally Posted By DAYCLONA
Not wrapping the threads of that sending unit in teflon tape and/or sealer are you?...


Yes I used teflon tape.




NO tape or sealer on the threads, as this is your ground, this may be your issue or part of it...

Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DAYCLONA] #2521483
07/13/18 03:01 PM
07/13/18 03:01 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive
DUFFMAN  Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
Originally Posted By DAYCLONA
Originally Posted By DUFFMAN
Originally Posted By DAYCLONA
Not wrapping the threads of that sending unit in teflon tape and/or sealer are you?...


Yes I used teflon tape.




NO tape or sealer on the threads, as this is your ground, this may be your issue or part of it...


Maybe, it's definitely easy to test. I'll try grounding out the lead to the sensor tonight and see if it pegs the gauge.


No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2521497
07/13/18 03:42 PM
07/13/18 03:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,882
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,882
Grand Prairie,Texas
Don't let it peg the gauge just turn the key on long enough to be sure the needle rises over half way. Pegging the gauge will burn it out.

Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2521601
07/13/18 08:38 PM
07/13/18 08:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive
DUFFMAN  Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
1. I grounded the sensor connector directly to the battery, turned the key on, and the temp gauge didn't move.

2. I pulled the bulkhead connector at the firewall and verified there is continuity.

3. I checked resistance at the sensor and it's at 0.2 ohm, so the sensor is grounded.

4. I inspected the bulkhead connector and reinstalled it. With the sensor connector still grounded I turned the ignition on hoping the bulkhead connector was maybe loose previously. No dice.

It looks like my problem is inside the firewall.

Last edited by DUFFMAN; 07/13/18 09:09 PM.

No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2521608
07/13/18 09:01 PM
07/13/18 09:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,882
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,882
Grand Prairie,Texas
Did you ground the sender wire or the sender itself. You need to ground the wire not the sender.

Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: stumpy] #2521613
07/13/18 09:09 PM
07/13/18 09:09 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive
DUFFMAN  Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
Originally Posted By stumpy
Did you ground the sender wire or the sender itself. You need to ground the wire not the sender.


I grounded the connector and checked resistance across the sensor. Everything under the hood checks out.


No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2521615
07/13/18 09:10 PM
07/13/18 09:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive
DUFFMAN  Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
Originally Posted By DUFFMAN
1. I grounded the sensor connector directly to the battery, turned the key on, and the temp gauge didn't move.


I see why you questioned it so I fixed it.


No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2521681
07/14/18 12:35 AM
07/14/18 12:35 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,658
A
Andrewh Offline
master
Andrewh  Offline
master
A

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,658
so if you can reach the connectors under the dash, see if you can connect aligator clips to each of the posts.

then you can wire up the batteries to it and see if it moves or use a test light to check for a pulse.

if you can't reach up to it, then you have to pull the cluster to start running tests.

oh you could verify blinking lights at the sensor too with a test light.

Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2521750
07/14/18 11:23 AM
07/14/18 11:23 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
DUFFMAN Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive
DUFFMAN  Offline OP
Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,269
Slantytown
I hooked batteries up to the posts on the back of the cluster and the gauge moved, so the gauge itself is good. So the problem is between the gauge and the firewall.


No longer taking $h!t from anyone!
Re: Temperature gauge not working [Re: DUFFMAN] #2521762
07/14/18 11:56 AM
07/14/18 11:56 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda Offline
About to go away
Supercuda  Offline
About to go away

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
I wouldn't assume you were getting voltage from the IVR to the gauge unless you verified that. Amp gauge doesn't use it, the fuel gauge does, but you can still have a crack on the board that feeds the gauge. BTDT.


They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
Page 1 of 2 1 2






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1