Notices
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Temperature Gauge

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 11, 2016 | 07:14 PM
  #16  
rbond's Avatar
rbond
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 217
Likes: 2
From: the Mtns of Santa Cruz
Kicking another dead horse here... re grounding the temp sending wire to see if the gauge jumps to H is not recommended in the "official" big, fat, Orange Ford shop manual... just fyi. I know, I know... there's more years of experience in this forum than craters on the moon... but since my research into this topic got me here... thought I'd share...
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2016 | 02:04 PM
  #17  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 4,106
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by rbond
Kicking another dead horse here... re grounding the temp sending wire to see if the gauge jumps to H is not recommended in the "official" big, fat, Orange Ford shop manual... just fyi. I know, I know... there's more years of experience in this forum than craters on the moon... but since my research into this topic got me here... thought I'd share...
So do tell us how the orange book has us do the gauge test with no fancy tools in tool box?


I quick ground of wire to see if gauge moves is how I have ever done it for temp/oil/fuel gauges or even lights.
Dave ----
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2016 | 05:15 PM
  #18  
rbond's Avatar
rbond
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 217
Likes: 2
From: the Mtns of Santa Cruz
Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
So do tell us how the orange book has us do the gauge test with no fancy tools in tool box?


I quick ground of wire to see if gauge moves is how I have ever done it for temp/oil/fuel gauges or even lights.
Dave ----
Hey Dave... sorry this took me a while... been under da hood today...

Just to be clear... we're talking about grounding the lead that connects to the temp sender... not the gauge itself... (tough to do without the IC in your lap!)

So... a few pics from the Great Orange Bible...

re the "warning"...



... and how to test the gauge without the "Rotunda Tester" as recommended...




... and a note about bench testing the gauge itself...



This Temperature Gauge worm-hole I'm in has me very curious about the gauge... and what it's REALLY telling me in run mode. And as usual... there are too many variables!

I may do a test on my temp sender and see the Ohm to Temp relationship...
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2016 | 06:20 PM
  #19  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,856
Likes: 4,106
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
Warning not to put 12 volts to the sender or sender wire/gauge.......No S**t!


So the bible said to first use "Rotunda Tester" that no one has in their toolbox.


Then use resisters to check gauge calibration and if not right replace the IVR and if that does not fix it replace the gauge.


For us trying to see if wiring & gauge work or if bad sender grounding the wire works. Besides the gauges are not that dead on to worry if calibrated or not.


oh thanks for posting that
Dave ----
 
Reply
Old Nov 12, 2016 | 08:25 PM
  #20  
kr98664's Avatar
kr98664
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1,167
Originally Posted by rbond
​​​​
This Temperature Gauge worm-hole I'm in has me very curious about the gauge... and what it's REALLY telling me in run mode. And as usual... there are too many variables!

I may do a test on my temp sender and see the Ohm to Temp relationship...
Does your truck have the oil pressure gauge or the idiot light? If it has the gauge, that circuit can be used to troubleshoot the temp gauge.

The oil pressure, coolant temp, and fuel gauges are all the same electrically. They just have different markings on the face.

Disconnect the wires from the oil pressure and coolant temp sensors. Use a pair of jumper wires to connect the oil pressure circuit to the temp gauge, and vice versa.

Fire up the engine. The oil pressure gauge will now display the signal from the coolant temp sensor. The coolant temp gauge will now display the signal from the oil pressure sender. That should let you quickly figure out what component is at fault.
 
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2016 | 06:25 AM
  #21  
ArdWrknTrk's Avatar
ArdWrknTrk
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 38
From: EXTREME southwest CT
Club FTE Silver Member

These gauges are thermal (spring relaxes when heated up) so i can see why The Bible says not to just ground the terminal, but in practice it works just fine if only done momentarily.

As usual, Gary has a great writeup on the ICVR, gauge testing and a solid state replacement.

Some members do have some of the Rotunda testers. Subford, 85lebaront2 and GaryLewis come to mind.
 
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2016 | 11:24 AM
  #22  
rbond's Avatar
rbond
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 217
Likes: 2
From: the Mtns of Santa Cruz
clever, KR... good one!

and Jim... I've been searching Gary's site and the EVTM pages (I'm actually waiting on delivery of my own copy but haven't seen his ICVR stuff yet... I'll head back there.

And the crazy in me would love to get my hands on the impossible-to-read hard copy of the electrical schem... any hidden corners of the internet that you know of that I haven't found yet?
 
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2016 | 12:00 PM
  #23  
rbond's Avatar
rbond
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 217
Likes: 2
From: the Mtns of Santa Cruz
Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
Warning not to put 12 volts to the sender or sender wire/gauge.......No S**t!


So the bible said to first use "Rotunda Tester" that no one has in their toolbox.


Then use resisters to check gauge calibration and if not right replace the IVR and if that does not fix it replace the gauge.


For us trying to see if wiring & gauge work or if bad sender grounding the wire works. Besides the gauges are not that dead on to worry if calibrated or not.


oh thanks for posting that
Dave ----
Glad to post what I can...
speaking of posting... I found Gary's post https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ervations.html

I'm now an official geek.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jpilcher
New Member Introductions
0
Apr 15, 2017 01:37 PM
roller_steve
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
Jan 7, 2017 12:05 AM
FLgargoyle
1968-Present E-Series Van/Cutaway/Chassis
2
Nov 29, 2016 03:39 PM
Oscar Hernandez Jr.
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
11
Oct 11, 2016 08:43 PM
madizon1420
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
1
Apr 15, 2016 06:36 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:03 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE