Water Temp Gauge

1984heartbeat · 09-17-2007, 07:03 AM

95% of the time my water temp gauge works fine, but every once in a while the needle will start to jump around erraticly. after about 5 mins it works fine again. Is this a gauge or a sending unit problem?

mrjohnwayne · 09-17-2007, 07:56 AM

could be either or. I would check the connnection at the sending unit first to see if it is loose and cuase bad/mixed signals, then follow it to the firewall and see if it has any bare spots where it can ground out.

crabtruck · 09-17-2007, 03:16 PM

I vote not the sender. And not the gauge. Stongly guessing the wiring connections. If not found there you could check the gauge socket itself.

mudseeker · 09-17-2007, 10:07 PM

i vote wire problem also.

i had this problem with my tach for a few weeks until one of the coil wires came apart in my hands one day.

gmctrucks · 09-18-2007, 07:41 AM

I say having your water low in radiator will do the same thing it just happened to my nephews saturn not even the tech could figure it out till my nephew disconnected a hose and bleed the system I all started when the water pump was changed out but again you other members have a good points also.

1984heartbeat · 09-19-2007, 07:55 AM

Im kinda startin to think it is a ground problem with the ground conection on the gauge. Ill tear the dash out sometime and clean everything up.

nnunez · 09-26-2007, 11:44 AM

The sending unit must make contact with water to work? Why would they install them on top of the engine?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmctrucks

I say having your water low in radiator will do the same thing it just happened to my nephews saturn not even the tech could figure it out till my nephew disconnected a hose and bleed the system I all started when the water pump was changed out but again you other members have a good points also.

chevyguy · 09-27-2007, 08:05 AM

i dont think its low collant, It takes too long to settle back in and work properly. i would chase the wire to start out.

09-17-2007, 07:03 AM	#1
1984heartbeat Full Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SE Minnesota Posts: 20	Water Temp Gauge 95% of the time my water temp gauge works fine, but every once in a while the needle will start to jump around erraticly. after about 5 mins it works fine again. Is this a gauge or a sending unit problem? __________________ Chevrolet. . . . . . The Heartbeat Of America!!!

09-17-2007, 07:56 AM	#2
mrjohnwayne Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,722	could be either or. I would check the connnection at the sending unit first to see if it is loose and cuase bad/mixed signals, then follow it to the firewall and see if it has any bare spots where it can ground out. __________________ John Wayne 2000 F-350 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4

09-17-2007, 10:07 PM	#4
mudseeker Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 6,373	i vote wire problem also. i had this problem with my tach for a few weeks until one of the coil wires came apart in my hands one day. __________________ i'd rather be hunting

09-19-2007, 07:55 AM	#6
1984heartbeat Full Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SE Minnesota Posts: 20	Im kinda startin to think it is a ground problem with the ground conection on the gauge. Ill tear the dash out sometime and clean everything up. __________________ Chevrolet. . . . . . The Heartbeat Of America!!!

09-27-2007, 08:05 AM	#8
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,370	i dont think its low collant, It takes too long to settle back in and work properly. i would chase the wire to start out. __________________ Friends dont let friends use body lifts USMC 92-96 USCG 98 to present

09-17-2007, 03:16 PM	#3
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on your 9 Posts: 3,364	I vote not the sender. And not the gauge. Stongly guessing the wiring connections. If not found there you could check the gauge socket itself.

09-18-2007, 07:41 AM	#5
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,030	I say having your water low in radiator will do the same thing it just happened to my nephews saturn not even the tech could figure it out till my nephew disconnected a hose and bleed the system I all started when the water pump was changed out but again you other members have a good points also.

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