Temp Gage on Dash Not Working 94 XLT

[bigku1]

Temp gage not working at all on my 94 XLT. I am nery new at this and would appreciate help with the troubleshoot process....like where to start.

 

[Maniak]

The sending unit for the coolant temp is on the front of the upper intake and has one wire..

To start with, take the wire off the sending unit and ground it (connect a wire from it to the negative battery terminal)..

Do it with the motor off as it gets hot by that connector.. just have the key in the "on" position. If the temp gauge goes all the way hot then you know the wire to the gauge and the gauge are still working (at least not an open).

If it doesn't move you have an open in the wire (broken wire) or a bad gauge.. You can change just that part of the cluster.. the Water temp section (it will change the gauge right above it too)..

If it gauge moves by shorting the wire just buy a new sending unit and install it and that "should" take care of it.

This is assuming that its not moving, even when the motor is actually warming up. If its warming up, the upper radiator hose will get hot once the motor is up to temp.


~Mark

 

[bigku1]

I will get started, the gage doesn't move at even when motor is warmed up.

 

[bigku1]

OK, I shorted out the sending unit and it did not move the needle on gage in dash.
So I guess I will start looking for a gage.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Maniak]

Now you know its either the wire from the sending unit to the gauge, or the gauge itself..

See if you can follow the wire through the engine bad and look to see if anything got where it shouldn't have been, like against the exhaust manifold (we had that happen with the harness that went to the transmission).

~Mark

 

[xtopher]

@Maniak

Exactly the info i was looking for! Thanks big time!