Temp gauge problems
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Temp gauge problems
I know there is several post concerning temp gauges but here's another one. While having some ignition issues I removed my sending unit wire to change plugs and guess what? I forgot to plug it back in before I took a test run. while driving I notices my gauge jumping around and immediately realized what I had done. After returning home I noticed the temp wire had been grounding out on the headers so I thought no big deal i'll just plug it back in. Now it doesn't work, even when you ground out the wire the temp gauge will not respond. So my question is could the jumping around have caused my resistor to short out or kill my gauge? The gauge wire insulator was melted some but not much. this is on a 1970
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Yeah maybe, but it was only on there a very short time off and on. Only went couple of miles before I realized the problem, and only the connector tip was melted. I really don't think it got hot enough to hurt the wire, but I am gonna check that out when I get back to the car. Thanks..............
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Well this is interesting because if the wire was melted to the header it would be grounded out and go to full hot and this would just be the temp gauge. So I'm wondering two things. 1) did the heat go up the wire and cook the gauge?.. or 2) is there a short somewhere else and you have two problems.
If the resistor is blown, the needle on the gauge will point to just below the right hand face rivet..
What is the gauge reading when the key in on? This video may also help you diagnosis your problem.
Willcox
Willcox Testing a 68-76 Temperature Gauge -or- What your non working gauge can tell you!
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=27603
If the resistor is blown, the needle on the gauge will point to just below the right hand face rivet..
What is the gauge reading when the key in on? This video may also help you diagnosis your problem.
Willcox Willcox Testing a 68-76 Temperature Gauge -or- What your non working gauge can tell you!
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=27603
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Feb 16, 2013 at 12:29 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
There would not be a 'heat transfer' problem with manifold heat feeding through the sender wire. If that were the case, ALL of the insulation on that wire would have burnt off, and I feel certain that it did not.
I think the heat that it did see, probably damaged the connection between the end connector and the wire, so that the sender no longer transferred its signal into the wire.
It is possible that the rapid, erratic connection did some damage to the gauge internals. Not that likely....but it could happen.
I think the heat that it did see, probably damaged the connection between the end connector and the wire, so that the sender no longer transferred its signal into the wire.
It is possible that the rapid, erratic connection did some damage to the gauge internals. Not that likely....but it could happen.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
There would not be a 'heat transfer' problem with manifold heat feeding through the sender wire. If that were the case, ALL of the insulation on that wire would have burnt off, and I feel certain that it did not.
I think the heat that it did see, probably damaged the connection between the end connector and the wire, so that the sender no longer transferred its signal into the wire.
It is possible that the rapid, erratic connection did some damage to the gauge internals. Not that likely....but it could happen.
I think the heat that it did see, probably damaged the connection between the end connector and the wire, so that the sender no longer transferred its signal into the wire.
It is possible that the rapid, erratic connection did some damage to the gauge internals. Not that likely....but it could happen.
I wonder it if hit something with power on it?
Knowing what the needle is pointing toward will go a long way in figuring out the issue.
The erratic connection should not hurt it, at least in all the testing I've done it never causes a gauge failure.
I hope he replies back, I'm curious.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
thanks for all your response guys. I work weekends and haven't had time to address this issue again but i'm going dig deeper Monday and make sure the wire hasn't broken somewhere between the connector and gauge. Thanks again