Temp gauge worked then didn't

[Monkeyzak]

This problem may have been caused by me...... I fitted the new speedometer cable tonight. The temp gauge worked earlier now doesn't. What is it likely I've done? Or is it a coincidence?

Thanks

Del

[dursleyman]

I don't believe in coincidences like that, sounds like you must have disturbed something on the back of the instrument pod. You need to have a look there and check that the two big connectors and the earths are good.

[Monkeyzak]

I've never been behind the instrument panel. Do i need to remove the whole dash or is there a way of getting the pod or individual guages out?

Every time I fix one thing I break 2.

[Beans]

It is pretty easy and straight forward to remove instrument cover.
Still access to the rear of the instruments won't be brilliant because there is a windscreen and a steering wheel in the way ...

[FI Spyder]

Been a while since I've been there but I believe the pod can come off at that point (good time to clean tach pointer touch point to prevent sticking). Also at that point (look on the bright side) you could also take the dash off (and centre console) to get at all the wire connections to clean and grease them, remove heater to flush core, grease moving joints, replace crumbling foam, etc. mind you that should be the beginning of a winter project not a spring one.

[Monkeyzak]

If it's nothing simple I'm going to just drive it and leave it till winter. Every time I fix one thing I break 2.

Hopefully it's something simple. Ill check around the wires I've been near.

I just want it driving. Noticed a bulge in a front tire last night so will need to get a new tire. Starting to think I'll never drive it.

[FI Spyder]

I just want it driving. Noticed a bulge in a front tire last night so will need to get a new tire. Starting to think I'll never drive it.

True story. I was racing (fast driving on mostly empty road, spirited but nothing silly) a 240Z with my '71 Javelin on the Trans Canada Highway through central BC for about 300 Km of winding road on my trip from Calgary to Victoria. When I pulled up to the Tsawwassen ferry a guy over next lane shouted out the window, "Hey, there's something wrong with your tire". I got out and saw a bulge the size of a silver dollar on the side wall of the tire. A shiver of cold sweat went down my back thinking of the hard taken curves through Hell's Gate etc. Changed to the spare and bought new tires for the trip back.

[Monkeyzak]

Fixed!! I left it can couple of days. I managed to knock a wire out when running the speedo in. Theres a few stray wires that I don't have a clue what they are under the bonnet. There was a black one and blue spade connector. No idea what the blue spade one is but the black one is for the temp gauge. I'm thinking longer term getting rid of spade connectors and plastic blocks might be a plan

[Tamas Petrunin]

If it's nothing simple I'm going to just drive it and leave it till winter. Every time I fix one thing I break 2.

I just want it driving.

Well a fortnight ago a crack started at the bottom of my windscreen and it's MOT is due next month, then I was driving it home t'other night and it cut out as I pulled up, then I noticed a smell of petrol, sure enough one of my SU's is chucking fuel out the overflow.

Stripped the carb to find a bit of muck stopping the float valve shutting, then I noticed the breather was looking a bit mayo-y, sure enough a head gasket has gone.....

[Monkeyzak]

That's not good. Sorry to hear that. Mine has barely done a mile since 1991 so who knows what awaits me when I get it on the road.

Hope you get the car fixed ok.

I don't like an old car without a temp gauge. My fuel one doesn't work but I can always stick a can in the boot

[FI Spyder]

I don't like an old car without a temp gauge. My fuel one doesn't work but I can always stick a can in the boot

I know the feeling. When I bought my car the temp gauge didn't work but drove it home anyway (Over 900 miles after being stored 7 years) across an international border. A little nervous after reading about the overheating people had but read FI's run cooler (no lean running) and fortunately the rad wasn't blocked. Turned out the temp sensor was bad. After running dome years the temp needle doesn't vary more than a needle width between cold running and running in stop and go traffic at 80F+ ambient.

[Tamas Petrunin]

That's not good. Sorry to hear that.

Thanks for that, There is always someone worse of than yourself so hopefully I've cheered you up a bit with my tale of woe. I'll get it sorted but it won't be a 5 minute job as I have a list of other jobs to do to it, so I'm thinking why not do some of them at the same time, afterall I want to tidy up the engine bay so I plan on pulling the engine to do the head gasket and whilst it's out sorting the bay.

[saabfast]

Are you sure the HG is gone, might just be short/cold running causing the mayo. Try a test on the coolant for combustion gasses, cheap kits are available on ebay. Doing the HG can be a serious job on these if you don't have access to the rare 'Head Honcho' tool and cause more damage than it cures. I find that the adage 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' works well with these cars.