Temp gauge question

[niveketak]

Hi Arcturus, it is possible to do it in situ although putting the new one in might be a bit of a trial and the screws are tiny. Ron wants some pics of it being done which might be a bit difficult but I have a decent small camera for under the dash shots and no doubt my wife will enjoy taking picks of a beached whale across the front seats. Will report back when it is installed. Huke is kindly sending me the gauge without me sending him the old one first so I can carry on using the old girl.

[niveketak]

All installed this afternoon, images attached. For anyone who is contemplating this, I did it without removing the dash, I have no idea whether this is easier or not but the wiring behind the dash is fairly busy. I attached the wires to the new gauge before installation as shown which made it a bit more difficult to get into the hole and start the first screw but was easier than wiring it afterwards. Sender comes in two parts, outer collar and inner sender which make it easier to use a socket to screw it in. By the way JP you were right there was a very small skin of oil in the hole which I managed to extract, a leak at the back of the rocker cover. The terminal connections are very small and care is clearly needed not to over tighten them or the sender for that matter. The aperture can be seen on the under dash image with the V showing though.

For those with eagle eyes and criticising natures, the awful wiring has now been remedied and replaced with new along with some better connections in places and rerouting in others. I managed to blow the tiny ignition fuse when I caught an unprotected live wire under the dash. I don't have a replacement like that so will have to contact Simon at Brookhouse for one as they are not available here for some reason.

Haven't tested it yet will do that tomorrow.

One note of caution, don't pick the hottest day of the year to do it like I did, bad move sweat in your eyes as you try and align a tiny screw is no fun.

[simonvolvo]

Originally Posted by niveketak

I managed to blow the tiny ignition fuse when I caught an unprotected live wire under the dash. I don't have a replacement like that so will have to contact Simon at Brookhouse for one as they are not available here for some reason.

A lesson I’ve learnt very early: disconnect your battery when working on the electrics.

A cheap alternative to a new fuse (I assume you mean the stubby 25 amp fuse): remove the metal part of a standard length 25 amp fuse and, after some creative bending, fit it to the old ceramic core.

[Derek UK]

I see anti freeze and not oil. That's a good sign.
+1 re the battery. A noisy short when your head is under the dash can really make you jump. Might give you a nasty injury too.

[niveketak]

Making excuses here but it was so hot my brain wasn't functioning correctly. I disconnected it to remove the old gauge but the reconnected as I needed to move the car. Then...... age is a terrible thing sometimes.

There was literally a small skin of oil where it had leaked from the rocker gasket around the sensor and when I took the old sensor out it clearly dropped into the hole.

[arcturus]

Looks like there is more space in Amazon than my PV. I think I would need to remove driver seat and steering wheel and put a load of cushions on the floor. Not as young and slim as you appear to be.
Hey, just had a thought. Why don't you come here and do mine. Get some surfing in at the same time.

[niveketak]

Sounds like a plan but you were clearly not referring to me as my days of being young are about to hit the big 60 and I am only slimmer than I was by 15 kg definitely not slim, must have been a good camera angle.

I did have a big chunk of foam to rest my head on in-between bouts of frustration at dropping the screw for the umpteenth time just out of reach. Actually got completely stuck one time as the passenger door had swung shut and I couldn't use the sill to extract myself.

[Alf ista]

I managed to replace mine in situ. I found the most comfortable way was to use a few milk crates which are about sill height, with some plywood on top. Put them on the floor beside the car, with the door open, so you can lie down with your head and upper body on a few cushions in the footwell . Much more comfortable than being on the seats and better space for your arms etc.

[niveketak]

I am going to give that a try today with some boxes as yesterdays maiden run to try it out resulted in the needle falling off into the speedometer binnacle!!!!

No criticism of the gauge intended, I must have caught the needle installing the gauge. Will take it out again this morning and see what's happened.

[niveketak]

Correction to the above, the needle hadn't fallen off just need better glasses and to look in the right place. Currently investigating some dodgy wiring which may be the culprit.