instrument cluster

[Bob M.]

I had my tach and speedometer re-built, everything else worked in the cluster. When I put the cluster back into the dash and put 12 volts to it the water temp gauge went to the right. It is a L connection so I couldn't go wrong there and reverse the wires. Did I forget or lose something when I put the water temp gauge back on the plate it is attached to. I don't remember seeing parts left over after assembly like isolation washers for the gauge.
Thank you

[Timothy B.]

Re: instrument cluster

Bob,

Go under the hood and unplug the wire at the sender which is located by the thermostat housing. If the needle rests at 0 (to the left) the sender is probably bad.

[Bob B.]

[Bob M.]

Re: instrument cluster

I will take the wire off the sending unit and try that first. I haven't started the car because of the electrical problem. I will get back to the post to tell you what I have found.

[Gary C.]

Re: instrument cluster

Bob, fellow NCRS member and TDB poster Jack Humphrey recommends removing the wire from the temp sensor and connecting a 60 ohm resistor to one end and the other end of the resistor to a good ground. Temp gauge should read about 230 degrees. Gary....

[Domenic T.]

Re: instrument cluster

Also if the ground wire to the cluster is off the cluster will hunt for a ground. Take a wire and ground the cluster to a known ground sorce.
It will make your needle swing if it is hunting thru that circuit.

DOM

[Bob M.]

Re: instrument cluster

Bob,
I don't have the car running because of the gauge problem. Once I get that fixed I will post again to tell you the results.
Tim and Gary the suggestion on removing the wire from the sending unit and putting power to the cluster made the water temp needle go back to the left. Now that leads to another question, if I had no problem before with the gauge what would make the sender go bad at that time? I will be going today to the parts house to see if I can get a new sender and get back to everyone who has helped me with my gauge problem. I am getting good at taking the cluster out, seems strange that the sender went bad at the same time as my cluster upgrade.
Dom,
You can tell by my post that the sender went bad, still seems strange to me that it happened at this time on the upgrade.
I want to thank everyone for there help. I will post again when I get the new sender installed. Do the threads get anything on them or just screw the sender in?
Bob