Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Information => Trans Am Tech => Electrical => Topic started by: BHerbert on January 10, 2022, 03:28:04 PM
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Has anyone ever seen a 100*-210*-250* temperature gauge? That is what I have in my 79 Trans Am and I'm questioning the originality of it.
I have a new Lectric limited sending unit, made sure the wiring works, and put in a new 180* thermostat, yet it only reads just a tick above 100*.
Thinking of possibly replacing the gauge itself and seeing if it reads better.
Thoughts?
Bob
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Should be 100-220-260
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That's what see on every other TA. Not sure why mine is this way. Is it from a different year? Canadian car? All the other gauges seem correct.
I've only had the car about 2 months.
Photo attached, not sure if you can see the numbers or not.
Thanks
BH
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I think I answered my own question. Here is a link for sale for a 73 Firebird gauges.
It has the 100-210-250 temp gauge.
https://www.fatmansgarage.com/products/1970-1981-pontiac-firebird-formula-dash-gauge-cluster-speedometer-tach-70-71-72
Looks like I may be ordering a correct gauge.
One other question:
I see many temp gauges are for 70-78. Looks like a redesign/type font change in 1980, but would a 78 gauge work in a 79? Did they change the temp gauges for 79? I know the quartz clock was a mid year upgrade in 79, but were the other gauges changed?
Thanks for any input.
BH
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Apart from being the wrong gauge, it may also be faulty as well. I don't know if the senders changed or if the new one would cause it to operate differently. They are cheap to pick up a few used ones with good faces to test. Depending on your setup you could test them directly off the sender and ground the unit without having to fully install the gauge cluster and pull the circuit board sheet off each time.
The font and layout was updated when they standardised them and started to introduce the logos for each feature or fault. Some featured both, making it cluttered and harder to read, until fully switched over.
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Aus78 - thanks for the reply. That's kinda what I was thinking. a 73 gauge with e new 79 sender may not calibrate correctly.
Although pulling the bezel and cluster and replacing the gauge does seem like a lot of work with the potential of little reward, I like the idea of testing it outside of the dash.
I did the jumper wire test and the wiring and current gauge is good, so that's a relief. I'm just not sure exactly how to test a gauge that's not installed.
Also - any difference between a 79 temp gauge compared to 70 - 78?
Thanks again.
BH