Temp gauge sender? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

guitarman · 01-10-2003, 11:54 PM

I have a gauge dash and the temperature gauge isn't working. I've tested the lead to the sending unit and it's OK. The sending unit is located in the passenger side head between #6 and#8 spark plugs. I also have tested the sending unit by reading the resistance with a volt ohm meter while submerging it in hot water as it heats up the resistance increases. The dash is new and the sender is new. The sending unit was for a '72 Chevy C-10 with a 350 with the gauge dash. Did I buy the correct sending unit?

guitarman · 01-11-2003, 01:06 AM

TTT

Gordo · 01-11-2003, 12:42 PM

Have you grounded the lead at the sender to see what the gauge does if anything?

bigvinnie · 01-11-2003, 01:51 PM

right, grounding the sender wire where it plugs into the sender should make the gauge go to max hot... if that checks out, then you may want to look into problems with the dash's printed circuit board, or the gauge itself... swapping in a known working temp gauge would tell you a lot...

guitarman · 01-11-2003, 02:13 PM

I've grounded the lead and it pegs the gauge to hot.

Gordo · 01-11-2003, 02:17 PM

It's possible they sold you a bum sending unit. Be sure they sold you one for a gauge style unit and not a light unit.

guitarman · 01-11-2003, 03:32 PM

Gordo, Do you have a part number for the sender?

Gordo · 01-11-2003, 05:56 PM

No I don't but your local parts store should hook you up, just be sure to tell them you have a gauge, not a light.

Southpa · 01-11-2003, 07:26 PM

Not that it makes any difference but the pass. side sending unit (from factory) is for the TCS system (Transmission Controlled Spark) which was installed in 1970 and later motors for emmissions control. The wire connector for that sender is a flat tang where the coolant temp sending unit has a little knob. The usual location for the coolant temp sender is on the driver's side between the 1st and 2nd sparkplugs. If you bought this sender yourself and its the right one (for the coolant temp gauge) then I guess it doesn't really matter where you install it. Otherwise, there could be a grounding problem. Check all your ground straps from engine block to frame (should be one on either side of the engine near the back) and check grounding from frame to cab, located near cab mounts. Unhook them and clean the contact areas with rough sandpaper.

I had the same problem myself, gauge was reading too high and I suspect the gauge wasn't up to snuff. So I opted for a mechanical gauge/sender unit. They are a complete package, just run the sender thru the firewall and install then mount the new gauge somewhere on, under or near your dash.

guitarman · 01-11-2003, 07:55 PM

Gordo, I did ask for the gauge sender, this ones #2.

I appreciate everyone's trying to help, thanks guys.

jhow66 · 01-11-2003, 09:55 PM

Did you use teflon tape or paste when you installed the sender? If so your sender may not be getting a good ground. The threads on the brass sender are tapered so no sealer is needed.

Gordo · 01-11-2003, 09:58 PM

Hopefully the bozo behind the counter has a clue to what your asking for. I'm not trying to be disrespectful but some of those counter people couldn't pour piss out of a boot with the directions written on the heal!

01-10-2003, 11:54 PM	#1
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Temp gauge sender? I have a gauge dash and the temperature gauge isn't working. I've tested the lead to the sending unit and it's OK. The sending unit is located in the passenger side head between #6 and#8 spark plugs. I also have tested the sending unit by reading the resistance with a volt ohm meter while submerging it in hot water as it heats up the resistance increases. The dash is new and the sender is new. The sending unit was for a '72 Chevy C-10 with a 350 with the gauge dash. Did I buy the correct sending unit? __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

01-11-2003, 12:42 PM	#3
Gordo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Killingworth, CT. USA Posts: 3,378	Have you grounded the lead at the sender to see what the gauge does if anything? __________________ 1971 C10 swb stepside 350/700R4/3.73posi (retired as of 4/22/03) 1998 S10 short bed 2002 S10 Blazer 1942 Oldsmobile 1958 Massey Harris Pony 1951 Wife Killingworth, Connecticut May those who love us, love us, any of those who do not love us, may God turn their hearts. And if God is unable to turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we may know them by their limping. A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.

01-11-2003, 01:51 PM	#4
bigvinnie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: escondido, ca 92026 Posts: 1,222	right, grounding the sender wire where it plugs into the sender should make the gauge go to max hot... if that checks out, then you may want to look into problems with the dash's printed circuit board, or the gauge itself... swapping in a known working temp gauge would tell you a lot... __________________ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project

01-11-2003, 02:13 PM	#5
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	I've grounded the lead and it pegs the gauge to hot. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

01-11-2003, 03:32 PM	#7
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Gordo, Do you have a part number for the sender? __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

01-11-2003, 01:06 AM	#2
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	TTT __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

01-11-2003, 02:17 PM	#6
Gordo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Killingworth, CT. USA Posts: 3,378	It's possible they sold you a bum sending unit. Be sure they sold you one for a gauge style unit and not a light unit. __________________ 1971 C10 swb stepside 350/700R4/3.73posi (retired as of 4/22/03) 1998 S10 short bed 2002 S10 Blazer 1942 Oldsmobile 1958 Massey Harris Pony 1951 Wife Killingworth, Connecticut May those who love us, love us, any of those who do not love us, may God turn their hearts. And if God is unable to turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we may know them by their limping. A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.

01-11-2003, 05:56 PM	#8
Gordo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Killingworth, CT. USA Posts: 3,378	No I don't but your local parts store should hook you up, just be sure to tell them you have a gauge, not a light. __________________ 1971 C10 swb stepside 350/700R4/3.73posi (retired as of 4/22/03) 1998 S10 short bed 2002 S10 Blazer 1942 Oldsmobile 1958 Massey Harris Pony 1951 Wife Killingworth, Connecticut May those who love us, love us, any of those who do not love us, may God turn their hearts. And if God is unable to turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we may know them by their limping. A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.

01-11-2003, 07:26 PM	#9
Southpa Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 2,410	Not that it makes any difference but the pass. side sending unit (from factory) is for the TCS system (Transmission Controlled Spark) which was installed in 1970 and later motors for emmissions control. The wire connector for that sender is a flat tang where the coolant temp sending unit has a little knob. The usual location for the coolant temp sender is on the driver's side between the 1st and 2nd sparkplugs. If you bought this sender yourself and its the right one (for the coolant temp gauge) then I guess it doesn't really matter where you install it. Otherwise, there could be a grounding problem. Check all your ground straps from engine block to frame (should be one on either side of the engine near the back) and check grounding from frame to cab, located near cab mounts. Unhook them and clean the contact areas with rough sandpaper. I had the same problem myself, gauge was reading too high and I suspect the gauge wasn't up to snuff. So I opted for a mechanical gauge/sender unit. They are a complete package, just run the sender thru the firewall and install then mount the new gauge somewhere on, under or near your dash. __________________ 1970 GMC 1500 Custom Original 350/TH350 Victoria, BC, Canada You can wish in one hand and crap in the other. See which one gets filled first. Last edited by Southpa; 01-11-2003 at 07:30 PM.

01-11-2003, 07:55 PM	#10
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Gordo, I did ask for the gauge sender, this ones #2. I appreciate everyone's trying to help, thanks guys. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

01-11-2003, 09:55 PM	#11
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Did you use teflon tape or paste when you installed the sender? If so your sender may not be getting a good ground. The threads on the brass sender are tapered so no sealer is needed. __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer

01-11-2003, 09:58 PM	#12
Gordo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Killingworth, CT. USA Posts: 3,378	Hopefully the bozo behind the counter has a clue to what your asking for. I'm not trying to be disrespectful but some of those counter people couldn't pour piss out of a boot with the directions written on the heal! __________________ 1971 C10 swb stepside 350/700R4/3.73posi (retired as of 4/22/03) 1998 S10 short bed 2002 S10 Blazer 1942 Oldsmobile 1958 Massey Harris Pony 1951 Wife Killingworth, Connecticut May those who love us, love us, any of those who do not love us, may God turn their hearts. And if God is unable to turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we may know them by their limping. A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.



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