Temp Gauge not working

eresener · 05-12-2006, 11:36 AM

I am not getting any reading at all. Take car out and drive it for about 45 minutes and nothng...nada.... plenty of coolant...falls w/i the marks on the overflow tank...heater works just fine...both fans are working like normal. I have looked at the diagram in the shop manual and cannot find the temp sensor connection.
OK any help is appreciated...

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

Are you looking for the one on the radiator under the radiator hose?

eresener · 05-12-2006, 02:59 PM

Nope, I replaced that one last summer w/new one from our host here.

AA_Ezra · 05-12-2006, 03:14 PM

Well, the sensor is underneath the intake Manifold since you're an 84 should be same as my 83 Its a one wire conection. looks almost like a pin swtich it does. That's the one that registers to you're gauges. You allso might try to clean or tighten the Ground connections from the Bell housing to the firewall. The small little grounds there. One of them works with the sensor so you can get a reading.

Fix grounds first, Then replace the sensor then you're gauges.

Cheapest - most expensive

Granite 944 · 05-12-2006, 03:21 PM

First thing to look at.

Look at the wire connection to the sender on top of engine. Make sure its connected, and doing so very well. It will be just aft of the DME temp sensor (one with the blue upper amp connector), it will be the wire with a female spade connector going over the little top hat of that sensor. Look for connection, corrosion, anything that would effect the ressistance value getting thru that single wire. If good, then test the sender, if good, then make sure your main engine ground it good (hook up jumper cable from neg of battery to the engine to help verify. If not this, than suspect the gauge wiring/connectors, and or gauge itself.

eresener · 05-12-2006, 05:22 PM

Thanks guys...I'll start looking for the wires in the AM tomorrow. And will give the ground connections a good cleaning...

TIA,
Ed

eresener · 05-13-2006, 02:01 PM

Well I found the connector under the intake as described...but how the heck am I supposed to get to the D*&@ thing? I did get a screw driver tip down there and wiggled the connector....so now what? I'm afraid to take the connector off...won't be able to put it back on w/o taking everything else off just to put it back on...
TIA, Ed

Granite 944 · 05-13-2006, 05:09 PM

I've used long, angled needle nose pliers. Generally there is plenty of wire (wrapped around the harness), that you can get that connector out where you can do something with it (like cut it off, and replace).