Temp Gauge going Haywire...

[2_Liter_Turbo]

Just got an 89 Camry Auto, and the temperature guage will work sometimes, but most of the time it will just read "H". I'm guessing it's the sending unit, but before I go and replace parts, are their any known issues like this? Could it be the actual cluster. Sorry, I'm new to Toyota's, and I don't have any kind of manual right now to test it with my multimeter.

[Thraxeh]

probably the sender wire shorting to ground somewhere...

[Tommy]

the sender for the gauge is located on the water inlet on the driver's side of the engine, near the distributer. The sender is on the bottom side, has a single white wire running to it that connects to a spade plug on the end of the sender. Its about $20 at any parts store. Ask for a temperature gauge sender.

[2_Liter_Turbo]

Originally Posted by Tommy

the sender for the gauge is located on the water inlet on the driver's side of the engine, near the distributer. The sender is on the bottom side, has a single white wire running to it that connects to a spade plug on the end of the sender. Its about $20 at any parts store. Ask for a temperature gauge sender.

Thanks, do you know of any way to test it?

[Tommy]

Repair manual didnt have a test procedure for it, sorry.

95% chance that thats the problem, other 5% would be a short in the wire from the sender to the cluster.

Go to the junk yard and snag one, throw the guy a dollar and call it a day. Just becareful if you have to take the inlet off, they like to crack and ruin your day.

[Doctor J]

Disconnect the wire from sender. If the gage reads cold right now the problem is the sender.
Normally it should have high resistance when engine is cold.

[2_Liter_Turbo]

Sweet thanks guys, I'll check it later this afternoon.