mustangfan305

hey guys i have a 1988 foxbody lx 5.0 hatchback i recently just did a radiator flush and changed out the hoses on the radiator (Upper, and lower radiator hoses). i noticed that my temperature gauge doesn't read anything i just stays down like if the car was off. but all my other gauges work like oil pressure, fuel gauge etc.... ive noticed that a lot of fox bodies have problems with there gauges stopping working. my question is does anybody know how to fix the gauge or replace it i don't want to buy any aftermarket gauges i want to keep it looking stock and clean in the inside.

dawson1112

Was the gauge working before you drained the coolant and flushed everything? If so it is likely that you have an air pocket in the lower intake. Sometimes it helps to raise the passenger side of the car on a jack as high as you can or park on a steep hill. Let the car idle with the cap off the radiator till the thermostat opens and sometimes squeezing the top hose will help get the air out.

Its also possible that the temp sender on the drivers side of the intake is bad or the wire is off of it. It should be a single wire going to it.

If the gauge it self is bad you can change just gauge in the dash cluster but you have to remove the cluster and disassemble it. The temp gauge and battery voltage are a single unit.

I would firs check the other stuff I mentioned before tearing the dash apart

mustangfan305

thanks for the help i am definitely going to try that when i get the chance too.

Bubba 95SN

Ground the temperature sending unit wire. Turn key to on. Does gauge go upto H? Turn key off before it pegs gauge. Does this, replace sending unit.