Erratic Temperature Gauge
 

My oil temp gauge in my 81 911SC has begun emulating its big brother, the tachometer. That is, after the engine warms up to about 210 (I've replace the original gauge with the numbered-face), revving the engine will cause it to shoot up to 250. Back off, and it falls back to 210. Turning on the A/C, lights, etc. bumps it up a little, too. I thought it was a bad voltage regulator, but the volts at the battery are staying between
(depending on revs and load) 12.5-14 V.

Has anyone seen this before? A bad gauge? I'm going to swap my old, unnumbered one back in to test it. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

Darren Cooke
dcooke@att.net
81 911SC 52k mi

dcooke,
Check the multi-point ground behind the dash board. As a matter of fact, check every damn ground you can find!

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

check the ground strap on the trans to the body, too. sounds like a ground problem, considering you have normal voltage.

I hadn't thought of the transmission ground strap, but that makes sense. I'll check it out (and other ground points) and post what I find. Thanks.

-- Darren

It appeared to have been the tranny ground strap after all. I didn't even replace it -- instead I just removed and cleaned up the old one, and the erratic gauge problem is gone. Thanks for the tips.

Darren Cooke

You're welcome, Darren.

Now the rest of you...repeat after me:
"... It's the grounds.... It's the connections.... It's the grounds....It's the connections..."

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website