mechanical temp gauge gone bad?

[331 stang91]

I have a auto meter mechanical temp gauge. It says I'm running just over 130? I know my car isn't running that cool so I'm woundering if anyone has had this happen before? I would think that a macanical gauge would last for a longggg time

 

[HISSIN50]

where do you have the gauge's probe mounted?

you can pull the sender bulb and place it in a pot with water of some given temp (known by using a turkey thermometer) and see how close they are.

if the capillary tube was not kinked, it should have not gone south.

good luck.

 

[331 stang91]

Thata a good idea thanks!

 

[331 stang91]

I'f its not the gauge any suggestions for what my problem could be?

 

[88stangmangt]

the guage is the only thing it could be.....stick it in some boiling water and use a cooking guage.....that will tell you right away.

 

[89MustangGX]

BTW -- AutoMeter has a 1 year warranty on their parts I believe, but in my experience, no matter how old it is, if you send it back to them they will take care of you...most of the time by just sending you a new gauge.

I haven't sent anything back in quite a while now -- but hopefully it still holds true.

 

[331 stang91]

Thanks for the advise appreciate it !

 

[jerryD]

you can also put your hand on the upper radiator hose and feel if it is warm or cold.

 

[Zero_chance]

A guy at work with me said he had a thermostat that was stuck open all the time which resulted in the car never getting to full operating temp. He only had stock gauges though.