'70 C10 Temp Gauge Max Hot, Why?

[pjmoreland]

Member blue72k10 had an issue where his temperature gauge was pegged hot. He had a bad new sender and his gauge was bad. Then the replacement gauge ended up with one of the posts shorted to the mounting plate. It is crazy how many things can go wrong with a system that has so few components in it.

[pjmoreland]

I noticed in your photo of the back of your gauge that the horizontal brown insulator strip is sitting on top of the vertical one. I'm not familiar with reproduction gauges, but if there are nuts behind that horizontal insulator, I'm thinking it would be bad if those nuts were touching the metal mounting plate. Seems to me that it would make more sense to have the horizontal insulator attached first, followed by washers and nuts to hold it down, followed by another set of washers and nuts to attach the flexible circuit. Here's an image I found online. It has those insulators installed as I described. The bottom post is the only one that should be making contact with the metal mounting plate.

[pjmoreland]

Here are instructions from the gauge LMC sells. Looks like they say to install those insulators the way you've got them installed. Just make sure there are no nuts behind the insulators.

[CKfan]

Thanks, I appreciate the help. It's been a head scratcher. I rebuilt the original assembly (done many) only replaced the temp and amp gauges and the bezel. I guess I should be happy anything works with my luck.

I printed out those directions and will R/R it again to be sure. Luckily, it is easy to get to. Thanks again

[CKfan]

Yep!! Pjmoreland. #1 of your instructions *note*

When I pulled it apart one push nut was loose, the other missing and unit was floppy. I know who rebuilt it so .....
Will get some new ones this time.
With this forums help, gosh only knows what else I would have torn apart looking for the problem.

[pjmoreland]

I don't envy the contorted position you're having to get into to work on that!

There's just supposed to be one push nut, right?

[CKfan]

Dang, just noticed that. Still, the one that's on there is sloppy so a new one should do the trick.

[Steeveedee]

Interesting. My temp gauge went bonkers many years ago, and after messing around, I just put in a mechanical gauge. I'd like to get back to stock and put the trans temp gauge in the vacuum gauge hole, but the cluster needs work, and as PJ says, I don't enjoy that contorted position. To top it off, I bet I'm older than he is (I'm 71).

[CKfan]

Luckily I just use my cell on selfie and guide my hand right in holding a socket.

[scf100]

having same problem

[CKfan]

Thanks to Pjmoreland's directions, I finally got everything back together and working perfectly.

Only thing I did different than the directions was add a hex nut over the push nut to make sure it stayed pressed down for grounding (seen in the bottom of photo #1). Gauge is really tight now.

Each of the other posts have flat washer, lock washer and a nut as they are supposed to.

Thanks to all on this thread. Process of elimination solved this issue inexpensively.