Gents,

I need help ref Tim electric temp gauge before I go and buy another one.

Story........
Built new dash, moved gauges, made note of wiring...all good so far.
When started the car gauge got hot and eventually the wires melted (live in and wire from sensor on engine) The sensor actually blew out the side of the engine (not the thread just the plastic insert...)
SO, got new sensor, Fitted it and rewired the gauge, then found the reason for getting hot was the fan belt had stopped the pulleys from turning as had slipped off and wedged itself . simple job..all fitted but the gauge still reads off the dial but not immediately however the car is not hot. ...SO...the question is can you burn the gauges out or are they robust....

Thanks for reading this and please reply.

Andy p

My first thought was - have you got a good earth between the engine and the chassis? That's often the cause of wires unexpectedly getting too hot - choke cables too! I'm talking about a proper braided earth strap.

Apart from that, check that you've got the wiring correct, the correct sensor, and so on.

[Edited on 22/2/08 by David Jenkins]

Faulty or incorrectly wired gauge.

Most unusal for the sender to self destruct due to minor overheating.

Did the engine boil over at all ?

Ronnie

were you meant to fit a resister?

...or a voltage regulator?

when i originally wired my gauges i wired mine all taking a voltage from one of the gauges. this caused one of them to pack up

Engine did not boil over and wiring correct.
Wiil just check my earth, but would have thought the gauge would not operate if not earthed???
No resistor originally

ANDY P

Gents

I owe you all a virtual pint.

earth lead not tight enough.

thanks again.
Off to cadwell sunday for a shakedown if readiness for the season.

Andy p

I think my money would be on a faulty gauge/sender.

If the engine never boiled over, i doubt the temp would hsve got high enought to damage the gauge.

As you say, the wiring was correct and the sender burnt out. Id have to suspect a faulty gauge.


Ronnie


EDIT, typed that before your last post.


Ronnie

[Edited on 22/2/08 by bonzoronnie]

It's really AMAZING what a bad earth can do!

Good result - well done! Have fun at Cadwell (I'm jealous...)

David,

Thanks again and by the way that green pillar drill I bought of you god knows how long ago is still chugging away...best thing I ever bought.

Andy

Ha! I didn't recognise the name!

Glad it's still going well.