Date:         Sun, 18 May 2003 02:16:39 -0400
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject:      Re: 88 Temp gauge problems
Comments: To: Randy Newell <rattlehead_64@yahoo.com>
In-Reply-To:  <20030518022924.98347.qmail@web13005.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

On Sat, 17 May 2003 19:29:24 -0700, Randy Newell <rattlehead_64@YAHOO.COM>
wrote:

> Hi all,
> I am having a problem with my temp gauge and am hoping for some insight.
> I drive an hour to work each way. It seems to work fine for about the
> first 45 minutes. Then it just drops off to the lowest line (cool). Not
> all the way down where it would be if it was turned off, but not an
> actual reading. Sometimes it works good all the time. It seems to just
> get so hot, then it just drops off.

Check/clean the connetor at the sensor.  The gauge on my diesel always read
too cool until I replaced the corroded connector.

Otherwise, maybe the sensor is failing when it gets to a certain
temperature (a cracked connection + thermal expansion?) or maybe it's
losing its ground connection somehow when the engine gets hot.  There's
only so many things it could be.  You might try grounding the connection to
the sensor some time when the gauge is acting up.  If it doesn't go to full
hot then the gauge or wiring is at fault, if it does than the sensor,
sensor ground, or connection between the sensor and the wiring is bad.

--

David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 Diesel Westfalia
'94 Honda Civic Si