The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Temp gauge help

I need some advice concerning my factory temp gauge. I have a 57 3100 with a 235. The gauge has never worked properly in the 17 years that I have owned this truck. It doesn't work 99% of the time but every now and then it begins working until I shut down for the day. I have replaced the sending unit with no change. I am just about to have the 235 put back in after a complete overhaul and I would really like this gauage to work. Any ideas? My other gauges work fine. Thanks for any help. You guys are the best.

Do you have the capilary tube type or the electrical gauge. I am in the process of changing to the electrical gauge since I changed from a 6 to v-8 engine. I,m waiting for some cooler weather to finish it.

If you have replace the sending unit the only other components are guage and wire. The pos wire comes from the ign. post on the switch. The other wire runs to the switch which is a variable ground.

Sounds to me like an intermittent connection on one of the wires.

Disconnect the wire at the wire from the switch. Turn on ignition and notice position of guage. It should be pegged one way. Now ground the wire. The needle should peg the other way. If not you have a problem.

Thanks cletis, I will try that. I hope its just a connection and not the gauge.

Wrenchbender its an electric gauge.

I just re read my post and it could be confusing. To clarify.......

The pos(+) wire comes from the ign. post on the ignition switch. The other wire runs to the temperature switch which is a variable ground.

Hope that's clearer.

Thanks Cletis. I haven't been able to follow your directions yet as the truck is getting the 235 installed this week. (I hope). I will print your direction off and crawl under the dash as soon as I get "RT" back in driveway. Makes my neck hurt just thinking of it.