rangerkid2187

Hey all,

New to this forum. I have an 86 GT that is mostly stock with 47k original miles on it. The temp gauge recently went out on it and I have replaced the temperature sending unit with a new motorcraft sending unit. Turned the car on and let run for a few minutes with no movement in the gauge. All the other gauges work just fine.

Help? I just bought a voltmeter as well, but I am not too well versed in the electronics of the car. Also somewhat of a newb mechanically speaking, but learning as we go!

thanks!

dawson1112

Youll need to make sure the wire running from the sending unit to the gauge is not broken someplace. Inspect the wire as far as you can in the engine bay and as far back as you can. Make sure the connector is not all corroded or broken. Im thinkink that wire runs right up into the cluster to that gauge. After you verify the wire is good i guess change the gauge. .......You could just try to put a good gauge in there but if the wire is broke youll be back to tracking it down.

dawson1112

Oh you could just get an aftermarket temp gauge and run a new wire from the sending unit to it

mattdel

Ground the wire leading to the sensor. If the wiring is OK and the gauge works properly, the gauge will pin out @ hot.

rangerkid2187

cool, will try looking at tomorrow morning. Its horrible to try to do anything when its 100 degrees in the midwest. Need to do before 9am when its only 85 out.

rangerkid2187

Turns out the temp sending unit was bad and drove it around some more and its working fine now. Seems to sit on the hot side though when driving, but will flux some based on driving, not sure what that is all about, maybe need to upgrade the thermostat or radiator to get it to run cooler.