put me out of my misery

[acl]

I know i have asked before and read lots of forums but still can not get the #@*! temp gauge to work. It will not move from far cold at all. I have grounded the wire to everything and it peg the gauge hot i have changed sending unit 3 times I have ask for and hopefully gotten gauge not light senders. I don't know squat about olhms and volts. Have a tester no smarts to use it. I do not have a ground cable from block to frame anymore but touching sending wire to block peg the meter so i think its got ground. will putting teflon tape on sending unit matter? i'm am lost and willing to trade house and kids for a right answer, just kidding i will keep the house. thanks to those who attempt to save my sanity, whatever is left. is the gauge good if it goes hot when grounded. maybe i am assumnig too much
gary