Center console oil gage.

[tmk]

My center console oil gauge quit working. I replaced the sending unit but no go. The light works and if I move the wire from the gauge to the same side of the sender as the light the gauge will move full scale.

TMK
73 2.1L

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Check the continuity of the wire between the gauge and the sender. If it breaks the gauge will show full cold all the time. If it shorts to ground, the gauge will read full hot all the time.

I'm not sure how to do that other than pulling out the sender again to remove the plug...

--DD

[tmk]

Dave: This gauge shows PSI not temp. If I move the wire to the light side of the sender the gauge will go full scale.

[mufflerbearing]

ok. Here is a ? for you two is the center console temp guage oil temp or cylinder head temp. If it is an oil temp than that explains why it says i run hot (I have it hooked up to the head sending unit) I dont think that my engine has an oil temp sender, just the pressure sender for the idiot light (the green one). And for tmk get it hooked up the origional way and mess with the interior light dimmer (turn it back and forth I had this problem) and see if the reading changes. If so you have the wrong ground wire.(i think that is how i fixed mine but it's been a while


Josh

[tmk]

Josh: The center console temp guage is an oil temp guage.

TMK
73 2.1L

[Ascaris]

Ok, I've read these posts three times and I'm confused. But because I spent last weekend hooking up both a new center console oil temp gauge and sender, and replacing my center console clock with an oil pressure gauge (and dual sender) I'll throw my two cents in.

The orignial center console gauge should have been oil temperature. The sender for it is on the underside of the engine at the front drivers side corner. Be sure you drain all your oil before trying to replace the sender (duh). The wire from the sender is crimped to the cover plate and goes up along the edge of the engine. When I replaced mine, I found the sender wire had broken right at this crimp. Take a look.

An oil pressure gauge wasn't stock. The pressure sender is located on top of the engine next to the distributor. In the stock config it went to the oil idiot light on the dash. If you have a seperate gauge, you "should" have a dual sender with two wires coming from it, one for the gauge and one for the idiot light.

BTW, dual senders might be at the end of an extension hose (not enough room next to the dizzy). If they are, the sender body must be grounded to the engine block for proper operation. Without this ground, the gauge will peg out (show high pressure). I clamped mine to an intake manifold bolt.

Hope this helps.

Ascaris

[tmk]

Thanks Ascaris: That may be the hole problem as I do not think that the sender is grounded. After I pick up the car from getting a four wheel alignment and camber setting I will look at this.

TMK
73 2.1L