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Temp guage not working

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Old 04-11-2012, 06:36 PM
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Temp guage not working

I have an 87 Camaro (V8 305) and the temp guage just went belly up. I replaced the temp sensor (the 2 wire one located near the thermostat) and it did not correct the problem. Today I picked up a temp. sender (single wire one) but I can't locate where it is so I can replace it. I was told it is on the driver side on the head, but I can't locate it. Any ideas guys?
Old 04-11-2012, 07:38 PM
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Re: Temp guage not working

SEARCH I found the answer just by googling it.
Old 04-11-2012, 07:44 PM
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Re: Temp guage not working

It is on the drivers side head inbetween #1 & #3 (I think). It should be a green wire. Feel around the head, its not too hard to find. Make sure the engine is good and cold when you take it out, sitting for 30 minutes isn't gonna cut it (ask me how I know).
Old 04-11-2012, 08:15 PM
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Re: Temp guage not working

How do you know
Old 04-11-2012, 08:22 PM
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Re: Temp guage not working

Originally Posted by Brando5641
How do you know
How do I know it's not working? Its all the way to the right and on the needle.
Old 04-11-2012, 08:24 PM
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Re: Temp guage not working

Ok, I located the one you are talking aabout, but the spot where the wire connects is different. The factory one had a ball connection on top and the one I just got is flat wit ha hole in it. Could this beone of the O2 sensors?
Old 04-11-2012, 09:20 PM
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Re: Temp guage not working

Originally Posted by Brando5641
How do you know
Well I'll put it like this, just because the coolant in the rad is cool doesn't mean the coolant in the block is. It was a dumb mistake, alcohol might have been involved that day.

Originally Posted by mrozzie1
Ok, I located the one you are talking aabout, but the spot where the wire connects is different. The factory one had a ball connection on top and the one I just got is flat wit ha hole in it. Could this beone of the O2 sensors?
They used two different style senders, sounds like you got the wrong one.
Old 05-15-2016, 04:53 PM
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Re: Temp guage not working

I hope I'm hijacking this post but I have a 1987 Camaro 305 and the temp gauge is pinned above the max. Is this a gauge issue or should I be looking to replace one of the temp sensors? I know one is located up on the I take and one down between the plugs on driver side. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Old 05-15-2016, 05:58 PM
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Re: Temp guage not working

The gauge sending unit is between the #1 & #3 plugs.

Pegged to the right = wire shorted to ground

Might wanna just take a look at the wire before spending money needlessly. Might just need to be plugged back in.
Old 05-15-2016, 06:07 PM
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Re: Temp guage not working

Originally Posted by sofakingdom
The gauge sending unit is between the #1 & #3 plugs.

Pegged to the right = wire shorted to ground

Might wanna just take a look at the wire before spending money needlessly. Might just need to be plugged back in.
So do you think it's the ground coming from the sending unit between the 1-3 plugs? I did notice that connection (ball type) was not really that tight but I did not check grounding. Where would the ground wire be for that? Things are tight in that area and the sending unit has only one wire going to it.
Old 05-15-2016, 06:52 PM
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Re: Temp guage not working

There's no ground wire. The sending unit is grounded to the casting.

More likely, the wire has come loose, and is laying against ground somewhere.

Not sure about "tight"... kinda right out in the open, really...

If not, disconnect it, turn the key on, and make sure the gauge goes to 0. If it doesn't, pop the cluster bezel off and help it GENTLY with your finger, with the key On. Then hook the wire back up and see if it works right.
Old 05-16-2016, 05:46 AM
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Re: Temp guage not working

Ok I will give that a try. When I say the sensor is in a "tight" area I am not talking about the sensor on the top of the I take but the one between plugs 1 & 3 and it is fairly tight in that area. It can be removed don't get me wrong, just not a lot of room for my hand. Also, if it turns out I need to replace it will antifreeze come out as soon as I open it.
Old 05-16-2016, 07:14 AM
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Re: Temp guage not working

will antifreeze come out as soon as I open it
Yes of course: it goes right into the water jacket.
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