Electrical Problems (of course) -- VDO Temp Gauge

[ack_tm]

Hey,

I have a strange little electrical gremlin that's bugging the heck outta me and hope someone here can figure it out.

My VDO Temp Gauge reading jumps all the way to the right when I engage any gear (mainly first gear). It would appear to be some sort of grounding issue or something, as I would guess I'm making some sort of metal on metal contact when engaging the gear that is shorting my Temp Gauge reading.

This happens even with my Temp Sensor wire unplugged on the engine side.

Anyone have any ideas where I'm experiencing this short? I took apart part of my center console and the short does not seem to be in the shifter/console area.

Thanks.

Andrew Kwok

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The wire from the gauge to the sender is getting shorted to ground. Probably inside the center tunnel. You'll have to see if you can check in the tunnel (mirrors and flashlights and the access panels--maybe remove the gear shift lever too) to see where it's shorting.

--DD

[ack_tm]

OK update on my temp gauge problem...

Temp sensor wire was not connected to the temp plate sending unit, so I took it apart and connected the wire. Now the temp gauge reads far right all the time, not just when I put the car in gear.

Before I go monkeying in the tunnel, does this still sound like a grounding problem inside the tunnel?

Andrew

[philinjax]

Disconnect the GN/BK wire from the temp gauge and from the temp sensor on the bottom of the engine. Take a long test wire and connect it to the gauge, out the door around to the bottom of the engine and connect it to the sensor. Fire up the engine and see if the gauge works.
Let us know what happens.
Phil

[ack_tm]

Thanks for all the help. I first tried replacing the first half of the temp gauge wire and the problem didn't go away, so I crawled under the car with a work light and did a good visual inspection of the wire to the temp plate. I notice that the wire sheathing seemed to be broken open due to the kinking in the routing of the wire, right above the engine mount bar.

Sure enough, that was the problem. Upon bandaging the breaks with some electrical tape and putting it all back together, my temp gauge seems to be reading fine now.

Andrew