Temperature gauge problem

G

GeordieP6

New Member
Hi All,
Just acquired a 2200SC which I plan to use regularly. I have an issue with the temperature gauge however. As soon as I turn the ignition on it goes straight up & off the scale past the red and stays there. I have changed the sender unit in the side of the engine block but that's made no difference. The car isn't overheating as it does it even when its been sat in the garage for a few days, its as soon as you turn ignition to on.

Anyone have any ideas? Voltage regulator perhaps? The fuel gauge is working fine and reading correctly its just the temp gauge.

I've no idea how to get to the back of the temp gauge, I cant see how you take the instrument binnacle off.

Thanks in advance, I'm learning about P6's as I've not had one before but I'm not alien to classics as I also have 2 Triumph Heralds!
 
GeordieP6 said:
I've no idea how to get to the back of the temp gauge, I cant see how you take the instrument binnacle off.
Click to expand...
Hi, and welcome to the forum.

I don't know enough about the model variants to know which type of instrument panel you might have, (strip speedo or round speedo), but to remove the binnacle of the round speedo type, carry out the following:

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Pull the two control knobs off, to the left of the dash....

2.jpg

....and unscrew the retaining rings.

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The panel can now be removed to reveal two screws....

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....to remove.

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At the other end of the dash, pull off the cover....

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....to reveal the two smaller screws....

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....to remove.

The dash may now be carefully pulled forward, allowing the multi-wire connectors, clock wire, back-light dimming control wires, tacho wires, earth wire, and speedo cable to be unplugged as necessary. If you have the strip speedo, then no doubt others will be along soon to assist.

On the round speedo type, the regulator sits on the back of the two gauges, but since it is used for both fuel and temp gauges, it would appear not to be at fault, if your fuel gauge seems OK.

If you remove the wire from the temp sender, does the reading stay at zero, or still go off the scale. If off the scale, then there would appear to be a short to the chassis somewhere on that wire.

P.S. Pictures of you car are most welcome by all.
 
Hi Phil,

Thanks for all of the info, my car has the strip speedo. I'm sure there are similar fixings on the side like yours so I will have a look. It must be something unique to the temp gauge itself as the fuel gauge is fine.

I will post some pics once its been painted! Its a very solid rust free car that's been rebuilt in the past, its just all of the paint has cracked on most panels so its going in for a respray next month!

Cheers!
 
I think the strip speedos are held in by screw hidden behind the plastic cover that makes up the row of indicator lights along the top of the binnacle. There are a couple of clips to lift to get the black plastic cover off first.
 
Before you start pulling the dash out, try to identify where the fault is.
With the sender unit is disconnected the gauge should read nothing.
If it still goes full deflection then possibly the the wire to the sender is grounding somewhere.

Jim.
 
Ok, well I disconnected the sender & the gauge still goes off the scale. Looks like its seeing a short somewhere. Thing is its not that easy to trace back as it looks like it disappears into the main loom!
 
It's unlikely to have shorted within the loom, most probable point is at either end, If the instrument cluster has been removed, it's quite easy to pinch the wires when putting it back (don't ask how I know :) ) so if all seems well within the engine compartment, that's the next place I'd look.
 
Well I've managed to fix it by loosening the binnacle, reaching around the back, moving a few wires & hey presto its ok now! Not the most technical of fixes but its working, must have been a trapped wire.

Thanks for all your advice guys

Geordie
 
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