My thermometer gauge has never worked since I bought my '88gt at 105k miles. It's at 145k now. Anyway, it ALWAYS reads cold. Never moves. Any ideas on a quick fix? BTW- I am not mechanically inclined in any way, so if you would be so kind as to comment in noob-speak...
Im assuming your car doesn't overheat since you 40k on it, correct? It may be a bad connection in the cluster because if the thermostate was bad or sensor, then your car would overheat.
No, it doesn't overheat. Only time I ever have engine problems is sometimes in the summertime when its 90+ degrees and its been sitting outside for a few hours in it, then it has a bit of trouble starting. Otherwise, it runs like a champ.
The sending unit for the sensor should me mounted on the thermostadt housing. You can try to get a new sensor for that and see if it helps. Not sure which sensor it is though.
it might also be the gauge itself, just goto the local scrap yard and pull one out of another celica gauge cluster. (its just a 1.5 inch plastic piece that slides right in and then screws in the back). also while you have the cluster apart clean the contacts on the back with some electrical contact cleaner. (radioshack sells it for like 5 bucks) and as always diconnect the battery before messing with any electrical parts I will see if i can find time to take my cluster out and take pics.
rubbing alcohol works well as electrical connection cleaner, if you dont' want to make a trip to radioshack
Just make sure whoever owned the car prior didnt mix up the clips that go to the sensors- cause they all fit the sensors!
omg... I think thats why my gt temp sensor worked before I put a clutch in. I just plugged them back on the housing because I thought they only fit one way. I am gonna go play with it now, lol. :roll: btw, it stopped working right after the clutch install. I thought it was the sensor went bunk when I did the clutch, but I guess I must have mixed clips.
pull that wire off of the sensor in the housing and touch it to ground....the gauge should move. If it doesn't then it is either a bad gauge or a broken connection somewhere. If it does then it is a bad sensor or you are plugged in to the wrong sensor
Save some bucks and messin about get an aftermarket temp gauge, my temp gauge is rooted, its hard(and expensive) to get a new gauge here and a good a/m gauge was only $AU42 and easy to install.
