Gauge question

Let's say for arguments sake that the temp gauge in my 75 is going out. I am curious how I would go about changing to a "real" gauge with numbers instead of just the H and C. I have noticed that in the 4wd.com catalog it says that I can't use a mechanical gauge. Would I be able to just swap wires from the old gauge to an aftermarket one???

I could use some help here,

Thanks

High5

 

Not sure, but I don't believe so. There is some sort of jumper/resistor built into the factory gas/temp gauge combination.

Why don't you leave the factory gauge as is, and add-on a mechanical temperature gauge that works off of another sending unit? Should be an easy install and you can even use one of the drop-down mounts so you don't screw up your dash. Wire to the sending unit, a ground, and a tap into a dashlight wire should be all thats needed.

 

Where would I place another sending unit??? The one I am looking at says that it comes with a sending unit and everything. I guess I'm just weighing my options instead of spending the 70 on replacing both gauges in the cluster. Maybe I should just do that and be done with it???

High5

 

$ sink replied to a post about the temp / fuel gauge gremlin issue but I can't remember who posted it.

He said that the thick wire on the back side of the cluster connecting the two gauges tends to go bad (or something like that).

 

the jumper between the two guages in the cluster is just a strip of metal not a resistor. there is a voltage regulator built into the gas guage and this is generally what goes to make your guages no longer work.

if the fuel guage is working correctly and the temp is not then you have either a bad sender, easily checked (engine cold then hot) with an ohm meter, a bad guage, easilly tested by grounding the sender post of the guage then turn the ignition on momentarily (this will make a good guage peg) or wiring problems in between.

if you are just looking to get a better guage in your jeep, the sender for it can go in place of the stock on that is running your current temp guage.

 

Not to hijack this thread, but both of my gauges just peg to full on gas gauge and hot on temp gauge. Is this a telltale sign of a bad regulator in the gas gauge??? I am pretty sure that my wiring is ok cuz the gauges were working intermittently and now have just ceased to work at all and just peg.

 

Not to send you back to your own thread, but as I explained there, if both of your guages are pegging, either the points in the regulator are stuck together, both of your sender leads are grounded, or you have your 12 volt source hooked to the wrong terminal in the back of the cluster. check to see that you are not feeding 12 volts to the temp guage. test with a meter from the metal strap between the guages to ground. with the ignition on, this should fluctuate around 5 volts. if it is showing 12, you have a problem. post what you find and we'll do our best to lead you to a solution.:v6: