Help!! Wiring tranny temp gauge

dsrtridr · #1 02-23-2006, 09:18 PM

I have no wiring or electrical skills but the temp gauge install did not seem all that difficult. It is an Autometer electrical gauge. I made all of the connections with the sensor in the diagnostic port. The problem is that when I turn on the ignition the gauge jumps instantly to max temperature. I tried several different grounds near the sensor but nothing works. Any ideas? Thanks.

Steve

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WVtrucker · #2 02-23-2006, 10:44 PM

I would check to make sure that the wires are not crossed on the back. I would also check to make sure that the ground on the back of the gauge is good. Why did you ground the sender? Shouldn't screwing it into the tranny ground it? The typical way to do this is to run a single wire from the gauge to the sender to carry the signal. That attaches to the signal post on the gauge. Then there should be a 12V source and a ground that attaches to the back of the gauge. Beyond that, the light hooks up as a simple hot ground as well.

If you go to autometer's web site they have pretty good diagrams, spec sheets and technical support.

Good luck.

WV

Bluegrass · #3 02-23-2006, 11:33 PM

Did you get the matching gauge sender?
Where did you put the sender?
Did you pinch the wire somewhere between the gauge and the sensor?
Somwhere here is the problem.

dsrtridr · #4 02-24-2006, 05:46 AM

The sender came with the gauge. The instructions say to run an 18g wire from the sender to the gauge. They then say to run another 18g wire from the gauges ground to a grounding point as near to the sender as possible. As soon as I connect the ground the needle jumps all the way to the right. If I remove it the needle goes all the way to the left. I tried several grounds on various bolts and to the frame with the same results. I hate electrical stuff. Thanks.

Steve

projectSHO89 · #5 02-24-2006, 11:01 AM

Start with basic info: Autometer model number and identify your truck by year, engine, transmission, and driveline.

We ain't psychic.

Steve

MitchF150 · #6 02-24-2006, 12:18 PM

Check your connections running from the gauge again. There you should have the 12v hot going to the 12v pin. A ground wire to part of the frame (I just ran the ground to where it is under the dash for everything else). Then the wire to the sending unit.

I don't know why they say to 'ground as close to the sensor as you can', but ground is ground, as long as it's a good connection, right??

In my case, I did have to ground my sensor, because I tapped into the rubber hose part of the line, but the sensor does need to be grounded by either the sensor being screwed into a metal part or like how I did it...

Good luck!

Mitch

Bluegrass · #7 02-24-2006, 04:11 PM

The sensor is defective and isolated from ground.
Two conditions at the same time is why it is acting this way.
I have the same gauge setup. It's not rocket science.
Auto Meter gauges are not the high end products that most believe them to be.
They are built on the cheap side and there are quality control issues quite often. I had to have them replace a new oil pressure sender. Cut the first one open and found how the item is made.
Another thing that is not to my liking is the gauge use is off the vehicle 12 volt system without any voltage regulation.
This causes readings not to be accurate as system voltages shifts besides the accuraccy tolerence of the display gauge and the tolerence of the sender.
Most of you know that dash gauges have been powered from a dash regulated voltage sources since back in the early 70s!.
Most have no way to calibrate these gauges nor check accurracy, so all you get is a relitive reading of what your trying to see. Most of the time this is good enough for most uses.