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| | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 18 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: May 2010 Posts: 18 | Hi,
I have a 1959 Chevy 1/2 ton with a 235 and the temperature gauge died and the needle is now pegged all the way to the left. Where should I start looking to trouble shoot this problem?
Thanks
Dave | | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | welcome to the garage Dave, you'll find help sorting out the problem here ... the needle to the left means as it would be with the key off? first check the wire from the gauge to the sender with an ohmeter, could even be the wire broke at the sender terminal - if that's good, check the resistance of the sender [terminal to ground, cold vs hot should be different] if that all checks out you'll be needing to make a post in the parts wanted for a replacement gauge ... I'd think most likely would be the sender, available at NAPA or such
Bill | | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 18 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: May 2010 Posts: 18 | Great thanks for the help
Dave | | | | | Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 | If the temperature sender wire shorts to ground, it will cause the guage to read hot. The same could happen if the temp sender gave up it's ghost. Does the guage return to cold with the ignition in the off position? | | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 18 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: May 2010 Posts: 18 | The gauge always reads cold | | | | | Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 285 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 285 | The gauge always reads cold So does mine! Glad you posted this. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,897 | Well in that case, try grounding the temp sender out and observe your guage. Is the guage pegged hot? If not, may have a lost or broken wire going from the temp sender, a lost of broken wire coming from the ignition switch, or even a blown fuse.
The temperature sender is a gas charged unit. After 50 years of use it is not uncommon for them to stop working. Replacing the sender might be a next step. If the test above worked, and made your temp guage pegged to the hot side, your temp sender will need to be replaced. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 78 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 78 | Mine reads cold 99% of the time. And seems to move even farther left sometimes. First, I changed the sender. No difference. Then I tohught since it was moving farther left sometimes, it might be reversed polarity, so I tried with the wires swapped. No difference. It also occasionally pegs hot suddenly while running (which freaked me out the first time). I've replaced the wire to the sender, but not the hot side. Should I do that or go straight to the guage?
1959 Chevy 3/4-ton (pics posted soon)
I child-proofed my house, but my kids keep finding their way back in.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 | It also occasionally pegs hot suddenly while running (which freaked me out the first time). I had one act like that. Turned out that you need a very tight connection at the sender. | | |
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