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Anybody experience mechanical water temp gauge malfunction?

down4thakrown

down4thakrown

1/2 ton status
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I noticed my truck will get up to 230* when I left of the gas and apply brakes or when just idleing but will drop to 210* like thermostat opens or when I apply the throttle. Motor doesn't seem hot or heater still doesn't blow extremely hot. Could it be just the cheap equus Mech gauge mis reading? Usually it goes up to 220* and drops to 210* which I know is still very hot but motor and radiator don't feel that hot.
 
It could be my radiator is clogged to maybe. I got it out of a truck years ago and just installed it. And when it pushed coolant into the resavoir it was very brown and nasty looking. The sending unit wire is pretty burnt and melted.
 
I do not. I might look into getting one, where should I point it to get a accurate reading?
 
A friend is having this problem with a cheapo summit gauge right now. He'll get no reading and then all of the sudden POW its at operating temp and works.

I told him to stop buying cheap shit...
 
Stomis said:
A friend is having this problem with a cheapo summit gauge right now. He'll get no reading and then all of the sudden POW its at operating temp and works.

I told him to stop buying cheap shit...
Click to expand...
x2 on cheep gauges . seen way to many screwed up.
 
Stomis said:
A friend is having this problem with a cheapo summit gauge right now. He'll get no reading and then all of the sudden POW its at operating temp and works.

I told him to stop buying cheap shit...
Click to expand...

X3, every failed mechanical temp gauge I've had has failed this way. I usually have to tap the one in my scout to get it to function.
 
That's crazy, I never knew or seen any issues with cheap Mechanical temp gauges. This is the third cheapo I've ran. I always thought the cheap electric temp gauges were crap. My ir temp gun is on the way. I'll be sure to report back. I hope it's just the gauge and not a head gasket. But I think it's getting a Ls motor this summer. I'm over carbs....
 
Fix that burnt wire as well. Probably isn't sending a clear signal to the gauge as it reads resistance as the engine heats up.
 
76k5blazerr said:
I have some 40$ sunpro mechanical gauges in my truck and never had a problem with them.
Click to expand...

Sunpros used to be decent, but as time goes buy and companies are purchased things get shittier. Ive got a pair of autogauges in my truck which from a price point is only slightly better than sunpro but they are an autometer brand so Id bet the QC is better.
 
That's what I always used before is sunpro. It was the cheapos at the local parts store. They always worked. And now its equus, what I have now :ignore:
 
replaced a set of cheep mech sunpro gauges for a guy .

water was off 30-40* all the time . and mech oil pressure always on 60psi if running or off.

he got a nice autometer electric 3 piece kit and perfect now . water/oil/volt.

what gets me is a high doller build and the cheapest set of gauges to top it all off . . . . .
 
sweetk30 said:
replaced a set of cheep mech sunpro gauges for a guy .

water was off 30-40* all the time . and mech oil pressure always on 60psi if running or off.

he got a nice autometer electric 3 piece kit and perfect now . water/oil/volt.

what gets me is a high doller build and the cheapest set of gauges to top it all off . . . . .
Click to expand...

Yeah, mines not a high dollar build, yet... Once its DD duties are done which is hopefully soon, then it gets built. Then I probably won't be running 40 dollar gauges!
 
76k5blazerr said:
Yeah, mines not a high dollar build, yet... Once its DD duties are done which is hopefully soon, then it gets built. Then I probably won't be running 40 dollar gauges!
Click to expand...
Got the ir thermometer, with gauge reading 220* , thermometer reads around 215 on side of heads where sending unit would be. On the unit it read a little cooler. Just under thermostat read 195* and houseing was 170
 
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