Temp gauge posts? Which is which?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

7900_Blazer

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2021
Posts
166
Reaction score
120
Location
Texas
First Name
Francis
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
Blazer
Engine Size
350
I need to direct wire this temp gauge, but need to know which post is ground, which is 12 volts, which is temp sensor…?

this issue standard’73 - ‘80 something temp gauge.

any direction much appreciated!

You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

GMFORLIFE

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2018
Posts
368
Reaction score
196
Location
Cleveland Ohio
First Name
Dennis
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C20 Camper Special
Engine Size
454
Try this
You must be registered for see images attach
 

GMFORLIFE

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2018
Posts
368
Reaction score
196
Location
Cleveland Ohio
First Name
Dennis
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C20 Camper Special
Engine Size
454
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Tanked

Junior Member
Joined
May 3, 2018
Posts
14
Reaction score
5
Location
WPB FLA
First Name
denis
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R20
Engine Size
305
Great stuff but where is the sending unit on the Block I have it great stuff. But I have an 87 fuel injected can you show me where that sending unit is on the Block mine is not there?
 

7900_Blazer

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2021
Posts
166
Reaction score
120
Location
Texas
First Name
Francis
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
Blazer
Engine Size
350
Just wanted to give some feedback...

I was not able to make a new temp gauge work with direct wiring it... It seems it should be really simple... 12+, ground and temp sensor....

I tested the temp sensor against the one I have in my '71... and against the temp sensor that came in an aftermarket temp gauge - AND the temp sensor is brand new....

I could get the temp sensor to 'orient' correctly when turning on the key... but the gauge would not increase as the truck warmed up...

I tried pretty much every combination of wires-to-posts... nothing work... so I was forced to go back to my after-market temp gauge.
 

GMFORLIFE

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2018
Posts
368
Reaction score
196
Location
Cleveland Ohio
First Name
Dennis
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C20 Camper Special
Engine Size
454
Your gauge is bad then.
There are 2 types of sending units.
Idiot light just sends a signal to the hot light when temp gets above 220.
Gauge type sends different resistance to guage..so you get an actual reading.
If a second aftermarket gauge works but the other doesn't..the gauge is bad.
 

Tanked

Junior Member
Joined
May 3, 2018
Posts
14
Reaction score
5
Location
WPB FLA
First Name
denis
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R20
Engine Size
305
I give up
 

dsteelejr

Full Access Member
Joined
May 25, 2020
Posts
239
Reaction score
232
Location
Hudson, WY
First Name
David
Truck Year
1973, 1980
Truck Model
Cheyenne super C20 camper special, Sierra K25
Engine Size
350, 454
What year is that temp gauge supposed to fit? I’ve only seen stock and after market reproduction gauges with three posts.
 

Tanked

Junior Member
Joined
May 3, 2018
Posts
14
Reaction score
5
Location
WPB FLA
First Name
denis
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R20
Engine Size
305
Never give up. Found the sending unit on a left side of the engine performed test found sending unit bad thanks everybody? still love this form
 

7900_Blazer

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2021
Posts
166
Reaction score
120
Location
Texas
First Name
Francis
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
Blazer
Engine Size
350
I've tested/used 3 different gauges... one brand new from LMC... so it has to be something else. The next thing I'm going to try is to double-check the sending unit... it's new too.... but maybe they gave me the 'idiot' light version of the sending unit... maybe it doesn't provide what an actual temp gauge requires.
 

16927

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2021
Posts
83
Reaction score
28
Location
Pennsylvania
First Name
Bill
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10 Custom Deluxe
Engine Size
4.1 6cylinder
I had a similar issue with my temp gauge but it would go to hot when the key was turned on. Checked the sender wire for grounds, tried to pull wire off sender with key on tried another gauge, still no joy, so I spent some quality time with the wiring diagram and found that there were two sender wires, both the same color both with the same tip on that snap on to the sender. But in two different locations, And one was on the sender and other was plugged into the carb for some reason. Unplugged that and it was fixed.
So how long have you had this truck? And has the factory gauge ever worked? Does it have the factory oil and volt gauges and do they work?

study the wiring diagram and see if the wire you have connected is the right color wire that the diagram calls for, mine is a dark green.

Don’t know if this helps or not but sounds like you have to get back to the basics.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,423
Posts
957,422
Members
36,769
Latest member
Bowtie72
Top