Non working capillary temp gauge

[chrsiywilly]

Dear All

Have one of the above in our car. Been like that since we got it and I have checked connections etc. Recent problem with other cars gauge not going over halfway (when it should have hit top) has made me renew efforts to get it working.

Do the sender units pack up? What electical connections should there be (for a now negative earth car)?

Thanks for reading.

[chrsiywilly]

Found some info re wiring but any tips on why it might be dead would be great. One thread says they should stil lread when ignition off so not a wiring fault then?

[Alec]

Hello Cw,

you post is headed capillary which has no electrical connections at all, for it's workings.

If yours is the electrical type with a sender unit in the head, short the sender unit cable to earth with the ignition on, and the gauge should read full scale, i.e. hot. If it does that then the gauge and voltage regulator are OK and if you feel the gauge under reads then replace the sneder unit.
The polarity of the car is of no consequence.

Alec

[chrsiywilly]

Thanks Alec

It is a while since I looked at the back of the gauge - there are electics there but they would be for the lights!!! Obvious now!

Its a capillary - if it was electric I could get multimeter on it to test.

Thanks for the tip- may be useful if I end up replacing it with an electric one.

[Alec]

Hello CW,

capillary are non serviceable, so if it doesn't work it needs replacing. And, yes they do read with the ignition off.
If you replace it with an electric one, use the regulated voltage supply that also goes to the fuel gauge

Alec.

[chrsiywilly]

Thanks again Alec

Will get another one.