Gauge install help!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Jersey
Gauge install help! I am installing two autometer gauges into my pillar pod, oil temp and water temp gauges but they are not working correctly. I used the supplied senders and wired everything up but when i turn the car on, both needles just hit the pin on the other side and stay there. When I turn the car off they go back to where they started. I have tried everything and still can't figure out what's wrong. The lights in them work fine so my ground is good, the ignition power works because they move when I start the car and the sender wire is hooked right up to the supplied senders. Any help would be awesome because I have been searching all day and have had no luck. Thanks guys
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 0
From: Fat Chance Hotel
The only thing that would peg the gauges is a short or incorrect wiring.
The senders act as a resistor in the circuit. If the gauge sees full power, then it's like the sender is sending max signal. You probably wired the power back "around" to the gauge or pinched the wires somewhere.
The senders act as a resistor in the circuit. If the gauge sees full power, then it's like the sender is sending max signal. You probably wired the power back "around" to the gauge or pinched the wires somewhere.
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From: In a van down by the river, Missouri
Originally Posted by technical
or pinched the wires somewhere.
Samething happened to me when i installed a trans temp gauge. Look the wires over real good, i bet the cover has stripped from a wire somewhere and is touching the body (firewall maybe).
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Jersey
hey guys i fixed my problem...I just switched the ground and sender wires on the back of the guages cuz im smart like that. Lol i fixed it and now everyhting is good to go except my factory water temp gauge. How do I wire the stock water temp gauge wires to the new sender since there is two wires? I really want to get my ses light to go off lol.
Trending Topics
Originally Posted by 01BlackBird01
hey guys i fixed my problem...I just switched the ground and sender wires on the back of the guages cuz im smart like that. Lol i fixed it and now everyhting is good to go except my factory water temp gauge. How do I wire the stock water temp gauge wires to the new sender since there is two wires? I really want to get my ses light to go off lol.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo so, for the water temp, screw it into the pass side head, above the #8 cyl..? is there already something screwed in there that i have to take out? will fluid leak out? just looking for detailed directions so i dont screw up 
i just did my oil temp. take the piece out above the oil filter, 2 10 mm bolts. there is a gasket there you can reuse as well. take that out and take a drill bit that is around but no bigger than 0.3390" and take a 1/8" pipe tap and make a hole. you need a new sender as well, number ATM-2259 from summit racing that will fit in there. put some teflon tape towards the out side threads, dont want to get it in the oil, and tighten it down so its pretty snug, dont over tighten it though. put it back in and snug the 2 10 mm bolts up as well. you can run the wire up the back side of the engine just make sure it doesnt hit anything hot. im just waiting on the sender because i busted mine that came with the gauge it was too long, or i taped the hole too deep
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 7
From: Ft. Irwin, California (But Virginia is home)
Originally Posted by 01BlackBird01
hey guys i fixed my problem...I just switched the ground and sender wires on the back of the guages cuz im smart like that. Lol i fixed it and now everyhting is good to go except my factory water temp gauge. How do I wire the stock water temp gauge wires to the new sender since there is two wires? I really want to get my ses light to go off lol.
Pull the H2O pump, drill a hole right in top, tap for the sensor, and reinstall. It's THE MOST accurate place you can put the sensor. Have a link for pics, as I did this on my car. http://community.webshots.com/user/schantin Pic of the sensor installed on the 1st page. The sensor itself is tapped into the top of the water pump, next to the throttle body cable.
i did the water temp a while back it was real easy, take the plug out on the pass side head and put the new one in there. lots of coolant comes out. as for the oil, about a quarter of cup, max, will come out of there, not enough to fill a whole rag
