Hi everyone, I am new to this site and new to the classic car world. I purchased a 1983 z28 5.0L 5 speed last summer. When I first purchased it the temp gauge worked fine then last fall it stopped working. I checked to make sure that the green wire was hooked up to the sensor but nothing. Since then I have replaced the temp sensor on the block and I just installed a new temp gauge on the cluster and I still have nothing. Not sure what else I can try. If anyone has any ideas for me it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. Dan

 

40+ yr wiring.

 

The gauge should go to zero if the wire is disconnected, and peg if you short the wire to ground. Does it do this?

Do the other gauges work?

 

I just tried what you asked, I have no movement on the gauge. It's stays at zero when unplugged or when it is grounded out on the block.
all other guages work. I did have an issue with the tachometer but replaced the board behind the gauge and it now works as it should.

 

OK, so either the wiring or the gauge.

Gauges rarely ever fail. They're really kind of a no-brainer. Does it do ANYTHING at all; like, when the key is off, does it drift to somewhere random, then return to 0 when you turn the key on? Does it peg when you turn the key to Start?

You talk about replacing the tach board; has the temp gauge EVER worked? Did it work before this and now doesn't? Have you gone back and checked you work, making sure you didn't leave something dangling in there?

Most likely place for a wire to fail is right immediately at the connector. You could try replacing the connector. A red crimp-on slide terminal is all you need.