Fuel gauge and temp gauge not working.

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Fuel gauge and temp gauge not working.
laynrail avatar
laynrail
+1y
Hey,

Ever since Ive owned my 86 B2000 the fuel gauge has never worked and now recently the temperature gauge has packed it in as well.

I was just wondering if you guys could help me out with some tests I could run to find the faulty part(s).

Its fairly annoying being a daily driver.
mullet avatar
mullet
+1y
there are two senders for the temp, but the one for the guage is the one on the bottom of the radiator. Might need to check the wiring on that, to make sure it 1. didn't slip off. 2 didn't short. or 3 the unit went bad.
Mike
bumlove_blue avatar
bumlove_blue
+1y
also check your thermostat is not stuck open and you are getting hot air in the cab. I thought mine was dead and that is what it was the thermostat
madlowmazda avatar
madlowmazda
+1y
the sending unit for the temperture gauge is located in the thermostat housing- it's a one wire sender. The one at the bottom of the radiator is the egr switch.

The fuel sending unit and the temp sending unit share a common resistor in the gauge unit. If your temp gauge is acting up- first check the sender wiring and sender. Then if you have a spare gauge unit- swap it out and see if that fixes it- might be the gauge unit.
BIGRIGZ avatar
BIGRIGZ
+1y
Mine did the same thing, turned out my temp gauge quit cuz of a blown fuse. Humphf can you believe all these years I never knew to check fuses with a voltage tester light? That found the problem real fast.....
nascarguy3 avatar
nascarguy3
+1y
All I know is that my guage is acting funnny too, when it is cold out side it goes up and down but only when I hit the gas. Please help....
crux131 avatar
crux131
+1y
Mine did that, it was a break in the wire. Had to replace a short peice of wire right at the sender( thermostat housing ), and put a new connector on it. Works like a charm now. Check continuity on the wire, move it around some while checking to see if vibration may be assisting in the problem.
SYCOTIK avatar
SYCOTIK
+1y
my fuel gauge hasnt worked in my truck 4 almost a year and im 2 lazy 2 fix it so i just count my mileage 4 every tank. my counting has been a lil off lately tho since ive ran out of gas 3 times in the last 2 months. lol
powang avatar
powang
+1y
Originally posted by SYCOTIK



my fuel gauge hasnt worked in my truck 4 almost a year and im 2 lazy 2 fix it so i just count my mileage 4 every tank. my counting has been a lil off lately tho since ive ran out of gas 3 times in the last 2 months. lol



Heh, i do the same thing, I get 300 a tank. (thats how far i take it anyways) But the last 2 tanks i only got 250?? damn it sucks walking to the gas station...lol

laynrail avatar
laynrail
+1y
Thanks for the tips...

Yeah My fuel gauge hasnt worked for about 3 years ha ha, I just go by mileage...

The EGR switch on the bottom of the radiator - It looks like its had two prongs/connections on it, but one looks like it snapped off and there is only one wire going to it, should there be two wires connecting to it?

There was a wire I found tucked away behind the radiator doing nothing, looks like it should be going to the EGR switch?