It seems this car always has something new in store for me...

I accidentally ripped off my coolant sensor wire about a week ago, and I've been driving without it until I decided to finally repair it today. I would have normally fixed it right then and there, but I've had things to do...

The old wire interface is gone, so I had to crimp some new wire onto the area of the green wire that broke off, which wasn't a problem to do, but to my surprise, I get no temp reading whatsoever now. So far, I've only wrapped the wire around the temp sensor (driver side) because I don't have a perfect replacement for the slider mate thing that is designed to go directly over the sensor, but I should think I would at least get some kind of reading with what I have. Is there anything I should know about the temp sensor, or the wiring that controls it? I tried replacing the sensor, and I got the same result. Sometimes I have to tap on the plastic outside of the gauge in order to get it to start reading, but even that won't work now. Any suggestions for which avenue I should pursue?


BTW: 1989 IROC 305 with TPI.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Take the bezel and lens off the gauge and see if the needle is getting stuck.

 

I actually fixed this thing just seconds after I posted it... guess I wasn't so stumped after all. I pulled the plastic off and dicked around with the needle until it realized it was supposed to actually function as opposed to just sitting there... which means you were right, Apeiron, so kudos to you for knowing what was up.

I appreciate the help, but don't count on this being the last of the bag of tricks my car has in store for me! Thanks again Apeiron, I appreciate the concern.