My temperature gauge has stopped working. This is annoying. I want to replace it, but I have a problem: I don't know whether it is the temperature sender or the gauge which is at fault. I am on a budget and don't want to replace any more parts than I have to. The gauge/sender is the one-wire type, with just one wire coming from the sender to the gauge. Does anyone know a test that will show me whether it is the sender or the gauge thats broken?

Jonny,
Check this link out hope it will help, Ken M seemed to have the most logical response.
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/002301.html
I put in a new mech gauge along side the idiot light.

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Fred
Madness takes it's toll, please have exact change.
'70 Chevelle
www.geocities.com/motorcity/shop/9385/1970Chevelle.html (http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/shop/9385/1970Chevelle.html)

With the key in the ON position, take the wire off of the sender and ground it to the engine (any unpainted bolt, etc) The gauge goes to full COLD when grounded and full HOT when open (no ground). If this happens, replace the sender. If the gauge doesn't move, check that the wire is good all the way to the gauge, if so, replace the gauge. Also note that the gauge itself requires 12 Volts and ground. Normally three wires, the green one is sensor, black ground and orange is 12vdc. (Most are this way) Most failures are the senders. If you have an Ohm meter you can test the sender by measuring the resistance to ground while cold and hot. It should change and be fairly linear.

[This message has been edited by d1_bradley (edited 07-22-99).]