Temp gauge is pinned below zero

[SHOme1289]

After removing the cluster and cleaning the backsides of the gauge faces (to get rid of the brown glue, which was giving the backlighting a real nasty murky color) I reassembled the faces and then needles back to the same positions they were in gently and then reassembled the cluster, plugged it all in and now my coolant temp needle is pinned all the way down below the min-mark. I see it move slightly when I turn the car on/start it, so I know it isn't the needle rubbing on the face, preventing motion, for example.

I double checked the connection for the signal wire, which i have been led to believe is the single pin elbow-type connector that is located underneath and offset to the left hand side/towards the front of the car from the throttle body. Everything seems connected and, again, there is some sort of electrical current making its way to the needle, so I don't know what to check exactly, I've never diagnosed a temp gauge and I'm scratching my head. any ideas? Being so insanely hot out here, and having just recently replaced a coolant pipe that burst, overheating and the constant worry about it have been stressing me out and I'd like to be able to monitor temps...thanks in advance!

 

[Irish Pride]

It may be as simple as you put the needle back in the wrong position. When I have to take the needle off I take a picture of where it sits with the car fully up to temperature. Then I reinstall the needle with the car fully up to temperature. I would just put the needle where you think it's supposed to be and see if it lowers when the engine cools. If so then leave it there and call it done.

-Chad

 

[SHOme1289]

So, I'm seeing most people are having their needles point somewhere in the "or" area in the word N"or"mal?

 

[Irish Pride]

So, I'm seeing most people are having their needles point somewhere in the "or" area in the word N"or"mal?

It varies based on the car and the temp sensor. My 93 hovers in OR area at times but it constantly moves up and down. My 95 never gets above the M. I would make sure the car is fully up to temp and then place it somewhere in the middle.

-Chad

 

[SHOme1289]

It doesn't really seem to move at all, which I find very odd and coincidental since i just took it apart and put it back together in the same day last week. Maybe the sensor in the engine went bad, possibly some wiring in the dash (i.also did the hvac and stereo swap too, where they SHOULD have been placed all along lol

 

[Irish Pride]

Make sure you have the gauge completely plugged into the cluster. The actual gauge has 3 prongs that push into the cluster assembly. Maybe you dislodged it.

-Chad

 

[zoomlater]

Make sure the wire to the temp sensor on the engine is connected. For the sensor that controls the gauge on the dash, it is on the left side below the thermostat housing. (1 wire hookup), you just push it on the threaded end of the sensor. If I recall, it a resistance type sensor so you can ground it to make the needle move. Take a look at the post below

Engine temp

how do i know if the engine temp is accurate?:munch:

shoforum.com

Temp gauge/fan help

So when I bought the 90 they had wired a switch directly to the fan and the temp gauge was not working. I grounded out the gauge and the needle went all the way up(good sign).I Hooked up the fan back to the harness and did the engine off key on test and the fans came on. Switched my temp sensor...

shoforum.com