82 Z28 - temp gauge pinned????

gurus....today I noticed the temp gauge in my 1982 Camaro Z28 was pinned right off the end. It usually flickers up and then to the bottom with key on/off, but it does NOTHING but stay pinned now. Its got the full gauge package (big speedo, big tach, small volts, temp, oil pressure, and fuel). Running a 160 deg thermostat, and the gauge ALWAYS read correctly.

could it just be that the sensor in the side of the block is faxored? is there a surefire way to test if its the sensor or not? if the gauge is faxored, I intend to get a sensor designed for a dummy light and trip a small LED somewhere....but I hope not!!! its a very warmed up 355 if it matters (original 4 bolt block from a 1977 4x4 camper special)

b
Reply to
Hamilton Audio
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Sounds like a bad sensor. A couple of bucks at any parts store. Change it and be done with it. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 27k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 143k and still going.... '91 S10 Blazer 4.3Z

Reply to
Bigjfig

Doesn't getting called: "Guru":

Make you feel like the Baghwan rajhneesh?

Remember the baghwan, the one who had all the Rolls Royces in the 80's and porked all the girls on his commune?

Ah buht anneywhay, youh seehm tuh need a new sensor. Dat yehar steehl vahs on de sensor, not on dee coolant temperature sensor, through the ECM.

Peace for the rajhneesh, and pease on you!

Refinish King

Reply to
Refinish King

I bow before my master..... LOL

Reply to
KITT

Actually you're all wrong :-) I took the gauge cluster apart this evening (very easy to do on this model). the key happened to be on, and I just pushed the gauge cluster (to release the metal backing) and the temp gauge came back!! I put the dash back together and took a spin, and noticed as I left the gauge went wonky again....simply pushing on the bottom of the custer (above where the warning lites are) and it came back. has been working ever since.

next question: wtf???? after 22 years the connection at the back is loose? from what I could tell (I didn't have enough nerve to pull it apart past the gauge lense) the three small gauges kind of "press in" with long studs on the back that engage in brass tangs. is this close? could it be something flakey in there? perhaps the gauge itself is going wonky? any thoughts?

I haven't driven the old girl in about 2 years, and decided to pull er out this summer to clean it up and try and sell it. I'm happy to report that after all that sitting the only glitch is a wonky temp gauge :-) oh:

formatting link
case anyone cares. bmoney

Reply to
Hamilton Audio

22 years is a pretty good run for those clusters to work :) Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 27k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 143k and still going.... '91 S10 Blazer 4.3Z
Reply to
Bigjfig

LOFL!

If you bowed before the Baghwahn, you got a mouth full of dot meat!

LOFL!

Refinish King

Reply to
Refinish King

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