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Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

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Old 02-26-2008, 11:19 PM
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Car: 88 iroc-z, 59 thunderbird 390/c6
Engine: 305 tbi
Transmission: b4c 700-R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 open
Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

I have a 3 gauge deal hooked up.

Ammeter, oil press, and water temp.

My water temp gauge previously operated excellently, letting me know when i had to turn the fans on nicely...

after i have replaced the thermostat to a 195 one, for the winter time... i cannot get my gauge to read anything! says its never hotter than 100 degrees but im sure the motor is heating up adequately because i get heat inside and you can just kind of tell.

i removed the gauge entirely and checked the small wire which runs in the middle and found it to be intact and with no cracks or breaks. The coil-wire around it does seem to have some damage, is it possible this would cause the problem.

I always thought the temp was controlled by the middle, inside of the coil, wire.

Remind you, I am talking about an aftermarket mechanical-like gauge, mounting in the intake manifold.

Also, i have checked cooling system to make sure capacities are correct. Water pump operation is good, thermostat opens, but the gauge never reads temp!
Old 02-26-2008, 11:52 PM
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Re: Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

those gauges are cheap enough you could just buy a new one and see if it works.
Old 02-27-2008, 09:47 PM
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Re: Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

anybody else have a guess at it? i don't see why the gauge itself would fail....thats all
Old 02-28-2008, 10:21 PM
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Re: Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

Senders can go bad...gauge can go bad.

Like said they are cheap enough to just replace. Can't imagine it'd cost you more then $30.

Coil wire? What does that have to do with the cooling system?
Old 03-01-2008, 03:19 AM
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Re: Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

Originally Posted by Stevo
Coil wire? What does that have to do with the cooling system?
Around the thick wire which carrys the actual temperature for the gauge to read is a coil-like wire. It is not the coil wire.

It looks like a very long, stiffer e spring-like coil wire. It is broke in a few places and my main questioning was on whether i was right in assuming that only the inner portion of the wire was what carried the temperature to the gauge, and why it would stop functioning out of no where.
Old 03-01-2008, 04:41 AM
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Re: Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

I go through one of those sunpro water temp gauges every year and a half to 2 years. They're cheap, and you get what you pay for.
Old 03-01-2008, 03:39 PM
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Re: Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

I currently have one in my cowl. And I know what you mean about the thick wire and coil spring. At the end there is a little pill-like capsule which I guess has some sort of filling that travels up the thick wire into the gauge... Maybe the sending capsule broke... but agree in replacing it. I got mine for $10 at Advance Auto...I think they were on sale...
Old 07-05-2008, 08:52 PM
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Re: Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

so pretty much, if it is just like hanging at the bottom not doing anything...you have to replace it? lol, cause that is what mine is doing... xD
Old 07-06-2008, 01:39 PM
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Re: Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

Originally Posted by chattersonm
so pretty much, if it is just like hanging at the bottom not doing anything...you have to replace it? lol, cause that is what mine is doing... xD
pretty much... they're considered disposable...
Old 02-24-2020, 01:04 PM
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Re: Sunpro water temp gauge stopped working.

Originally Posted by Iroc_youroll
I have a 3 gauge deal hooked up.

Ammeter, oil press, and water temp.

My water temp gauge previously operated excellently, letting me know when i had to turn the fans on nicely...

after i have replaced the thermostat to a 195 one, for the winter time... i cannot get my gauge to read anything! says its never hotter than 100 degrees but im sure the motor is heating up adequately because i get heat inside and you can just kind of tell.

i removed the gauge entirely and checked the small wire which runs in the middle and found it to be intact and with no cracks or breaks. The coil-wire around it does seem to have some damage, is it possible this would cause the problem.

I always thought the temp was controlled by the middle, inside of the coil, wire.

Remind you, I am talking about an aftermarket mechanical-like gauge, mounting in the intake manifold.

Also, i have checked cooling system to make sure capacities are correct. Water pump operation is good, thermostat opens, but the gauge never reads temp!
When installing the probe, removing (as in manifold work, etc) the line MUST be disconnected from the gauge. In other words install the probe to the manifold FIRST as the attached to the probe end should NOT spin.
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