Temp gauge.

[mluder]

So my dashboard temp gauge is acting funny. Got in the other day and it was pointing straight down. I started the car and it didn't move. The I tap on the plastic in front of the gauge and it snaps to its normal resting place. Drive the car a bit and it seems to be working but now I'm concerned its not reading accurate.

Anyone else experience this?

Cheers
Steven

[Chris4099]

Sounds like a loose connection. Since you just recently pulled a lot of the wiring in the engine compartment, I would check your bulk head connector. Pins can get pushed in and give a bad or erratic connection. Just pull the one for the temp sender (white connector on the bottom row at the back). On one car I had that pin pushed back causing a dead temp gauge. I had to pull the rear carpet section to get behind the bulkhead connector to push the pin back out to then make a connection.

If that checks out, then it's on to the sender or at the gauge itself.

[SS Spoiler]

Back in '89 at a DOA meet at Tan Tar A golf resort in MO. Don Steger fixed my sticking temp gauge by whacking the side of the binnacle. Since then I keep a bent paper clip to nudge the needle through the trip odometer hole.

[refugeefromcalif]

Don Steger fixed my sticking temp gauge by whacking the side of the binnacle. Since then I keep a bent paper clip to nudge the needle through the trip odometer hole.

I Hate to ask this but, Is this a standard Red Neck fix for this problem? :thinkin: :D

George

[Citizen]

I Hate to ask this but, Is this a standard Red Neck fix for this problem? :thinkin: :D

George

I can see why you might say that. But in this case, all that I've read and heard about Don Steger, and after having listened to one of his talks, I think that's one guy I'd say knows his business when it comes to DeLoreans.

Thomas

...

[mluder]

Thanks, everyone.

Like I said, a knock to the plastic cover on the instrument cluster seemed to correct it. However I am concerned about faulty readings so I'll still check the wiring as Chris suggested.

Cheers
Steve

[WelmoedJ]

My temp gauge does that every now and then.
After starting the car I run it and wait for some minutes.
Then I also whack the side of the binnacle nearest to the gauge.
Restores the function to normal for usually a couple of months.
This restoration does not seem to have influence on the accuracy (or lack of it) of the gauge.
No need to by a new gauge section that may also start behaving this way.

[Kevin]

Mine used to do this, a good whack to the binnacle would fix it. But then Mike at DMCMW cleaned the contacts on the back of the gauge and it hasn't done it once since then. So, I'd recommend that.