Everything on my dash works as its suppose to except the Temp Gauge. When I start the car the needle goes back and fourth a couple of times but after that it never moves while the car is running. The sending unit is new. I checked the voltage on the wire that attaches to the sensor. Shouldn't that wire be hot if the switch is on?

 

Camaro? Firebird? Year? If it's an 82-89 Camaro, are you sure the needle isn't stuck? They like to do that, the needle swings too far on the "bulb test" and sometimes the needle will stick on the gauge face.

The sender varies the resistance to ground. Best bet would be to follow the diagnostic chart in the Service Manual.

 

It is a 1985 Trans Am.

 

If you ground the wire it should max the gauge. Did you accidentally buy the idiot light sender not the gauge sender?

 

Sounds like it’s the gauge since the sender is new.

 

You can get a POT and test the gauge I think this chart is right if not it should be close enough to test. Just ground the sender wire through a resistor or POT

 

What do you mean by POT?

 

 

Potentiometer. AKA Rheostat. Like the dimmer on a light switch.

 

Dammit! Second time in as many days I've been treed.

 

Update its fixed, had the wrong sending unit.