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testing sending unit

Maybeso

Active Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2020
Messages
36
Location
South East Alaska
My oil temp guage and water temp guages arent working, although they have power to both. Is there a way to test whether its the guages or the sending unit that is bad or am I missing something else?
 

Delmer

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
8,891
Location
WI
Ground the wire to the block and see if the gauge moves to the other end of the range. That's assuming they're a simple gauge with one sensor wire straight to the sensor, no control board etc.

You might get better advice with a model number.
 

melben

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
1,029
Location
Williamsport, Pa
Occupation
Retired 50 Yrs with Case dealership
My oil temp guage and water temp guages arent working, although they have power to both. Is there a way to test whether its the guages or the sending unit that is bad or am I missing something else?
 

melben

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
1,029
Location
Williamsport, Pa
Occupation
Retired 50 Yrs with Case dealership
The engine temp gauge should of course work as the engine warms up and grounding the sender wire should force full scale, if it does replace the sender, if you are watching the transmission temperature you may not see that move under any normal work unless you are loading the torque converter a good bit, Try putting it in high gear, forward shuttle, hold the brakes tightly and run the engine at full load for a minute or two, if the gauge starts up you will know it is good
 

JBrady

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2019
Messages
248
Location
NE OK
For what it's worth, my water temp and oil temp gauges hardly move at all on my 590 SL. They do move, so I know they are working, but they usually only come up about 10-15% into the green. On the other hand, my fuel gauge moves too fast....;)
 

melben

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
1,029
Location
Williamsport, Pa
Occupation
Retired 50 Yrs with Case dealership
JB, your sender for the water temp may be out of spec or maybe the thermostat has failed, start the engine cold then feel the top radiator hose to see if it stays cool then opens with a rush of heat or gradually warms up like there is a constant flow of coolant indicating an open stat.
 

Maybeso

Active Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2020
Messages
36
Location
South East Alaska
The engine temp gauge should of course work as the engine warms up and grounding the sender wire should force full scale, if it does replace the sender, if you are watching the transmission temperature you may not see that move under any normal work unless you are loading the torque converter a good bit, Try putting it in high gear, forward shuttle, hold the brakes tightly and run the engine at full load for a minute or two, if the gauge starts up you will know it is good
thank you, apparently my oil temp guage does work.
 
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