Ribbon temp guage stuck

[Fleet89TBI]

My 89 has ribbon guages, and the temp guage has never worked since I bought it. It's stuck pinned all the way past hot. When you smack the dash it moves back some but pops back so I know it isn't stuck. But it doesn't seem to point to any sensor fault. Any guesses?

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

My 89 has ribbon guages, and the temp guage has never worked since I bought it. It's stuck pinned all the way past hot. When you smack the dash it moves back some but pops back so I know it isn't stuck. But it doesn't seem to point to any sensor fault. Any guesses?

If it's pegged that usually means it, your sensor, or wire is grounded somewhere. That wire goes to the sensor between cylinders 1 & 3 on the driver's side head, Try disconnecting the wire there and see what the gauge does.

Edit: Your gauges are commonly referred to as "Moonie" gauges

 

[Fleet89TBI]

Good to know I'll try that, thanks

 

[Erik the Awful]

When you smack the dash...

"I'll take 'Things That Make Me Cringe' for $500, Alex." That's a sure-fire way to develop five more intermittent problems. Now that you know that smacking the dash has that effect, please don't do it any more.

 

[deckeda]

If it's pegged that usually means it, your sensor, or wire is grounded somewhere. That wire goes to the sensor between cylinders 1 & 3 on the driver's side head, Try disconnecting the wire there and see what the gauge does.

Edit: Your gauges are commonly referred to as "Moonie" gauges

My '89 has a stuck gauge, registering "full hot" to the right. Disconnecting the wire from the sensor does nothing.

Disconnecting the battery does nothing. I don't understand how this is a grounding issue when there's no available live circuits anywhere.

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

My '89 has a stuck gauge, registering "full hot" to the right. Disconnecting the wire from the sensor does nothing.

Disconnecting the battery does nothing.

Then you probably have a "stuck gauge". The Moonies are pretty much past their prime.