1956 ford temperature gauge

B

bill h

Senior Member
Does anybody has the specs (resistance values) for this gauge. replaced sender same problem.With key off temp gauge is all the way to hot and when key is turned on on it goes to cold like it should. Gauge never moves from this position . Would like to check gauge. Thanks
 
Don't think it is the gauge because it is moving once you turn the key on. Try shorting the sender wire to earth and see what happens. If it moves it is your sender, if it doesn't try earthing the gauge on the terminal which goes to the sender. This will suggest the wire is broken somewhere. Also try earthing the body of the sender to the battery negative or chassis ground.
 
Hi Bill H.
Mine acts exactly the same way. Key off and it will go to max temp. Key on and it drops to min and then starts reading. Then the reading is correct.
Somehow and somewhere I think I read that this behaviour is normal, correct.
Please inform.
I'll be watching the thread.
 
The original temp gauge is like a bi metal gauge and when it has no power to it goes to hot then when power supplied it goes cold and then reads temp as voltage changes, the new modern type gauge is a powered type gauge (12v neg earth) and when no power is supplied goes to cold, these new gauges are sold with the sender, as this type use a different range of voltage to measure temp and are not interchangeable with the old ones....I have had both types of gauges.

Cheers
 
With the original system (King-Seeley guages) the contacts in the sender open when the coolant temperature rises above a specified level, usually around 212F to 220F. With the sender contacts open, cutting off the voltage to the guage, the guage pegs at full hot. The guage won't work with any other type of sender.
 
Does anybody know the proper colors for the wires to the temp and oil switches.Wiring was apart just want to make sure the right wire is going to the right place. Thanks
 
The oil pressure switch white with red stripe. The temperature gauge sender is red with white stripe.
 
Bill, just a rookie thought: are you sure your car is running hot enough to get the gauge working?
I ask this because my 223 on cold days and driving short distances doesnt even seem to read. And you are in Canada...
From what Blackpearl said, my sender and gauge are working properly.
Last week we had 30º plus and it went, i'd say, just about 1/4 of the way, going uphill for 2 or 3 min. Then it backed off a little.
Hope you get around it.
Regards
 
My gauge reads hot when key is off and goes to cold when key on. This is normal. When running it does not move at all. I took off the wire at the sender and grounded it and it doesn't move. This weekend i will recheck the ground wire and make sure there is no breaks. If i can see it under the dash i will run a new wire. I will remove the sender to make sure it says 12 volt. It is the proper 2 clip sender but could be a 55 sender (6 volt). I'm thinking gauge because the needle doesn't move when grounded but we will see. Thanks
 
Tried new ground wire no difference. Gauge goes from hot to cold and stays there. Ran car until hot gauge did not more at all. Tried a different sender even though I knew it was the wrong one. There was a difference. Gauge stayed hot with key off with key on it took a long time to come off hot and then only came down to half. Ordered a new switch to try. Old switch is not marked 12 volt so it could be a 6 volt switch. Only marking on switch is number 205. Does that have a meaning Thanks
 
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