Temperature gauge

[1Builder]

'90 AE92 temperature gauge is acting strange.
I start it and all's well for 10 mins. but then it jumps all the way up to "H" but is NOT hot.
I've even popped the hood while it's running and pulled the single lead sender wire to the gauge and the gauge reads half way with no power going to it.
Soon as I shut it down, the gauge works as it should for another 10 mins. and does the same thing in a never ending cycle.Every once in a while while driving it will go back to normal for a bit then goes to the half way mark.

Think it's the gauge or something else?

[90 GP]

Sounds like a grounding issue in the cluster. Also remember reading there is a voltage regulator within cluster that could be causing problems too. Any burned out bulbs in cluster ?

[1Builder]

Thanks for that 90 GP.
I might just go to the local yard and pick up a different cluster and hook it up.

And, I did just replace ALL the bulbs in it. This car was given to me with all of the dash lights burnt. Even the heater console and ash try light was pooched.

[eberbs1]

RCU Auto Parts in Sooke has a few AE92's, they should have a cluster for a good price.

[1Builder]

I know Roland quite well

[1Builder]

$12 for a cluster and that did it.

I've pulled the bad cluster so many times checking it that I had the bad one out, replaced with the new(er) one and everything back together in less than 20mins.

That's not bad considering it took me half a day the first time

[90 GP]

Might want to have the charging system checked out. Usually done free at autozone/advance. Your alternator or specifically the voltage reg in it might be on the way out causing overcharging. All those bulbs burned out is usually the result. Could of also fried the voltage reg in that cluster.

[1Builder]

Thanks for the heads up on that.