1989 Chevy k1500 temp gauge issue

[thirdeye]

I have a 1989 chevrolet k1500 with the 4.3 L engine. My truck has the
old style gauges (doesnt have the needles, not sure what they are
called). anyways, my temperature gauge only seems to work once in
awhile. it will bounce all over the place, sometimes not work at all,
and then work fine. any ideas what could be wrong with this?

[curmudgeon]

Thermostat and/or sensor going bad. Bad ground.

"thirdeye" <Illsley1983@..........> wrote in message
news:50293e44-daa8-4f1d-b05e-f75ccec151dd@t54g2000hsg..............com...
>I have a 1989 chevrolet k1500 with the 4.3 L engine. My truck has the
> old style gauges (doesnt have the needles, not sure what they are
> called). anyways, my temperature gauge only seems to work once in
> awhile. it will bounce all over the place, sometimes not work at all,
> and then work fine. any ideas what could be wrong with this?

[thirdeye]

Thermostat is brand new. I did replace the sensor before but it was
probably 5 years now. if it is a bad ground, where should I start
checking?

On Jun 9, 10:32.am, "curmudgeon" <curmudg...@buzzoff.net> wrote:
> Thermostat and/or sensor going bad. .Bad ground.
>
> "thirdeye" <Illsley1...@..........> wrote in message
>
> news:50293e44-daa8-4f1d-b05e-f75ccec151dd@t54g2000hsg..............com...
>
>
>
> >I have a 1989 chevrolet k1500 with the 4.3 L engine. .My truck has the
> > old style gauges (doesnt have the needles, not sure what they are
> > called). .anyways, my temperature gauge only seems to work once in
> > awhile. .it will bounce all over the place, sometimes not work at all,
> > and then work fine. .any ideas what could be wrong with this?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[curmudgeon]

Sorry to say even new thermostats can be bad right out of the box. Think
about what it cost, and you'll understand how that can be so.
But if you want to assume it's good - and the upper radiator hose gets very
hot after running awhile - then it has to be either the sensor, the guage or
the wiring between the two.
If you don't know how to test circuits and electrical items with a volt-ohm
meter, you'll need to find someone who does.

"thirdeye" <Illsley1983@..........> wrote in message
news:ce837bba-f1a9-4975-8907-2fd2b41f9407@2g2000hsn..............com...
Thermostat is brand new. I did replace the sensor before but it was
probably 5 years now. if it is a bad ground, where should I start
checking?

On Jun 9, 10:32 am, "curmudgeon" <curmudg...@buzzoff.net> wrote:
> Thermostat and/or sensor going bad. Bad ground.
>
> "thirdeye" <Illsley1...@..........> wrote in message
>
> news:50293e44-daa8-4f1d-b05e-f75ccec151dd@t54g2000hsg..............com...
>
>
>
> >I have a 1989 chevrolet k1500 with the 4.3 L engine. My truck has the
> > old style gauges (doesnt have the needles, not sure what they are
> > called). anyways, my temperature gauge only seems to work once in
> > awhile. it will bounce all over the place, sometimes not work at all,
> > and then work fine. any ideas what could be wrong with this?- Hide
> > quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[thirdeye]

On Jun 9, 5:00.pm, "curmudgeon" <curmudg...@buzzoff.net> wrote:
> Sorry to say even new thermostats can be bad right out of the box. .Think
> about what it cost, and you'll understand how that can be so.
> But if you want to assume it's good - and the upper radiator hose gets very
> hot after running awhile - then it has to be either the sensor, the guage or
> the wiring between the two.
> If you don't know how to test circuits and electrical items with a volt-ohm
> meter, .you'll need to .find someone who does.
>
> "thirdeye" <Illsley1...@..........> wrote in message
>
> news:ce837bba-f1a9-4975-8907-2fd2b41f9407@2g2000hsn..............com...
> Thermostat is brand new. .I did replace the sensor before but it was
> probably 5 years now. .if it is a bad ground, where should I start
> checking?
>
> On Jun 9, 10:32 am, "curmudgeon" <curmudg...@buzzoff.net> wrote:
>
> > Thermostat and/or sensor going bad. Bad ground.
>
> > "thirdeye" <Illsley1...@..........> wrote in message
>
> >news:50293e44-daa8-4f1d-b05e-f75ccec151dd@t54g2000hsg..............com...
>
> > >I have a 1989 chevrolet k1500 with the 4.3 L engine. My truck has the
> > > old style gauges (doesnt have the needles, not sure what they are
> > > called). anyways, my temperature gauge only seems to work once in
> > > awhile. it will bounce all over the place, sometimes not work at all,
> > > and then work fine. any ideas what could be wrong with this?- Hide
> > > quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -

say if there is a bad ground/connection between the sensor and the
gauge. seems like it would be a difficult undertaking to get that
working again.

[Big Al]

> Sorry to say even new thermostats can be bad right out of the box.

Could you please explain how a bad thermostat could case this:

>> anyways, my temperature gauge only seems to work once in
>> > awhile. it will bounce all over the place, sometimes not work at all,
>> > and then work fine. any ideas what could be wrong with this?-

Al