Wierd Acting Temp Gauge
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
Wierd Acting Temp Gauge
Hoping for advice. 1968 L79 car. Original temp gauge worked for a while than stopped. I grounded the sensor wire, the gauge only moved to about 210*. I replaced it with a new gauge that has the built in resistor and saved the original resistor. I did not install it. I also did not install the fiber washer. I figured it was not necessary due to not having the 90 ohm resistor. This is my question. Is the fiber washer necessary? My new gauge is acting like the original. New sending unit and tested by ohm reading per Willcox paper, 12.45 volts on pink wire, black ground verified and sensor wire varified. All this is leading me to the fiber washer I did not install but I don't understand how this could be due to there is no resistor. Please give input.
Tank you,
Peter
Tank you,
Peter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,743
Likes: 1,385
My suggestions:
1. Ensure that the gauge bezel is appropriately grounded. If it is already, then ......or ensure that your gauge (you did not install it???) is grounded for testing.
2. Buy the adjustable resistor from willcox. If I understood correctly your old gauge was working similarly. THEN, no matter what else you need to buy you will already have the adjustable resistor to dial in whatever parts you end up getting new..... and on top of that you'll be able to dial in your temp.
AND you may not even need anything else..... I love my adjustable resistor, temperature tracks right along with my digital indication on my separate ECU.
1. Ensure that the gauge bezel is appropriately grounded. If it is already, then ......or ensure that your gauge (you did not install it???) is grounded for testing.
2. Buy the adjustable resistor from willcox. If I understood correctly your old gauge was working similarly. THEN, no matter what else you need to buy you will already have the adjustable resistor to dial in whatever parts you end up getting new..... and on top of that you'll be able to dial in your temp.
AND you may not even need anything else..... I love my adjustable resistor, temperature tracks right along with my digital indication on my separate ECU.
Last edited by carriljc; Feb 21, 2021 at 05:04 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
My suggestions:
1. Ensure that the gauge bezel is appropriately grounded. If it is already, then ......or ensure that your gauge (you did not install it???) is grounded for testing.
2. Buy the adjustable resistor from willcox. If I understood correctly your old gauge was working similarly. THEN, no matter what else you need to buy you will already have the adjustable resistor to dial in whatever parts you end up getting new..... and on top of that you'll be able to dial in your temp.
AND you may not even need anything else..... I love my adjustable resistor, temperature tracks right along with my digital indication on my separate ECU.
1. Ensure that the gauge bezel is appropriately grounded. If it is already, then ......or ensure that your gauge (you did not install it???) is grounded for testing.
2. Buy the adjustable resistor from willcox. If I understood correctly your old gauge was working similarly. THEN, no matter what else you need to buy you will already have the adjustable resistor to dial in whatever parts you end up getting new..... and on top of that you'll be able to dial in your temp.
AND you may not even need anything else..... I love my adjustable resistor, temperature tracks right along with my digital indication on my separate ECU.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
it's getting at the 2 nuts that secure the bezel to the console. I've had it in and out 3 times now. Are you referring to the fiber washer?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
thank you but as stated I have verified the sensor ground by verifying the ohms readings as they pertain to temperature. The ohms/temp was very accurate. Again I am trying to see if the missing fiber washer not being installed on the new gauge will the internal resistor could be the cause.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Like I asked in the other thread, does your gauge move when you disconnect the sender wire and give the gauge 12 volts and ground? It should go cold.
If you remove the parking brake console and the screws that go from the gauge bezel to the right and left dash pads and the screw to the top pad, and the forward console screws, you should be able to pull the console back with the gauge cluster still attached. That’s how I do it. Those 2 nuts are about the worst job on the car lol! Just be careful and don’t break the bezel.
If you remove the parking brake console and the screws that go from the gauge bezel to the right and left dash pads and the screw to the top pad, and the forward console screws, you should be able to pull the console back with the gauge cluster still attached. That’s how I do it. Those 2 nuts are about the worst job on the car lol! Just be careful and don’t break the bezel.
Last edited by 69ttop502; Feb 21, 2021 at 09:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,461
Likes: 361
From: Monson MA
Update
Finally managed to reinstall the fiber washer on the temp gauge. My gauge now works properly. I replaced the gauge due to this issue and the new replacement with the built in resistor did the same thing. Needle only moved to 210* when grounded. After many discussions i was convinced to install the fiber washer on the new gauge. I did not think this was correct because of the built in resistor, no need to isolate it, I was incorrect.. The washer worked.
I would like to thank everyone for their input also I sent a email from my personal email account to Willcox and even though they are very busy, they took the time to advise me. Great company with great support. Thank you.
I would like to thank everyone for their input also I sent a email from my personal email account to Willcox and even though they are very busy, they took the time to advise me. Great company with great support. Thank you.
Last edited by twinpack; Feb 28, 2021 at 11:56 AM.
