Temp Gauge no worky
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 551
Likes: 3
From: Spokane Washington
Temp Gauge no worky
So I decided to drive th evette to work today adn the temp gauge never came more then 1/8th of an inch above the 100 mark. Any body have any Ideas? I just had her out on saterday for a nice cruise and everything worked fine. What sender is for that gauge. I have an 82. At least I know my car and can tell that she is running at the right temp, but still is nice to know visually as well.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 4
From: Somers CT
Mine just started doing the same thing, I thought the sender or gage had gone bad so I checked it with an IR gun. Gooseneck temp was 151deg after an hour drive on a hot day.
I'm betting my thermostat is open like bashcraft said.
I'm betting my thermostat is open like bashcraft said.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
just installed new unit, that only increases the odds the new 1 is bad !
always throw a new stat in a pan and heat it up and cool down cycle the temp a
couple times and visually verify it opens and closes, throw a thermometer in there also to verify correct temp. and function. 69VETT
always throw a new stat in a pan and heat it up and cool down cycle the temp a
couple times and visually verify it opens and closes, throw a thermometer in there also to verify correct temp. and function. 69VETT
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you just changed it, the stat could be the problem...or installation 'error'. But I'm guessing the stat is bad. Remove it, throw it in a pan of water (on edge, not sitting on the sensor), put a cooking thermometer in it, and light it up. Watch for when the stat just starts to open and see what the temp is. You'll know if the stat is the problem.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Quick and dirty test for the gauge- get a 12v test light- the one that looks like a screwdriver with a sharp point and an alligator clip on the other end- make sure it's got an 1893 bulb in it--pull the wire off the sender, stick the point into the connector and ground the clip. Turn the key on- the gauge should go to 1/2 scale. That'll tell you real quick if the gauge is OK.
Works for temp, oil, and fuel level..
Works for temp, oil, and fuel level..
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Interesting. If an 1893 bulb is a 3 watt bulb, that would mean the filament has a resistance of about 45 ohms....which would be about right for 1/2 scale reading for fuel and temp reading. Now, the oil pressure gauge I don't believe will operate with a 45 ohm resistance (maybe 45 psi of oil pressure, though). I'll have to try that out.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 4
From: Somers CT
So I decided to drive th evette to work today adn the temp gauge never came more then 1/8th of an inch above the 100 mark. Any body have any Ideas? I just had her out on saterday for a nice cruise and everything worked fine. What sender is for that gauge. I have an 82. At least I know my car and can tell that she is running at the right temp, but still is nice to know visually as well.
Here's a shot of my new last year thermostat and why my motor was running less than 150 deg at times, you can see it's wide open:
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Quick and dirty test for the gauge- get a 12v test light- the one that looks like a screwdriver with a sharp point and an alligator clip on the other end- make sure it's got an 1893 bulb in it--pull the wire off the sender, stick the point into the connector and ground the clip. Turn the key on- the gauge should go to 1/2 scale. That'll tell you real quick if the gauge is OK.
Works for temp, oil, and fuel level..
Works for temp, oil, and fuel level..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Maybe correct. But I can't count the number of times I checked electric gauges -temp, oil, fuel, when I was working in car dealers.. Never failed.
And as I said up front- it's a quick and dirty test to see if the gauge responds. If you need accuracy, then you need a calibrated resistance anyway..
And as I said up front- it's a quick and dirty test to see if the gauge responds. If you need accuracy, then you need a calibrated resistance anyway..
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 3
From: Woodinville WA
Was this issue resolved?
My temp gauge is doing the same thing. I drove about 120 miles today and it didn't ever move. I didn't get a chance to trace it back to see if anything is disconnected. I don't think the thermostat is causing this (on mine), pretty sure it started at a little over 100 and never moved.
My temp gauge is doing the same thing. I drove about 120 miles today and it didn't ever move. I didn't get a chance to trace it back to see if anything is disconnected. I don't think the thermostat is causing this (on mine), pretty sure it started at a little over 100 and never moved.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 551
Likes: 3
From: Spokane Washington
Yes this issue was resolved! the temp guage did rise on the way home just not to normal op temp so I pulled the stat and low and behold it was stuck open new stat and all is well thatnks for everyones tips
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
I usually never change parts like that just for the hell of it. Some years back I made a trip with my '69 from Pittsburgh to Oklahoma City. I decided it would be a good idea to replace the alternator belt before I left, and threw the old one in the car just incase. Two days after arriving in OK City, it shredded the new belt. I put the old one back on and it lasted for years after that. Thermostats are probably the worst. If you have one that works, it'll probably last a long time.