15 replies to this topic

[stinky]

Model: Austin Mini 1275
Year:1982
Description of problem: My temp gauge has been wired in but i am assuming its been done incorrectly!

I have 4 wires going into the rear of it 2 are labled Ignition and Light. There is then one that run into the loom and the other one is connected to nothing. what should the other 2 cables be?? i assume one goes to the connection on the engine block! and would the other one be a ground cable??



Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem? nope!

im stuck with where the last cable needs to be going!!

[Guess-Works.com]

So it's a smiths temperature gauge ???

[Ethel]

The sensor in the block is the gauge's earth, but there might be one for the light if it doesn't earth through the case.

[stinky]

im not sure what the gauge is originally becuase it has a custom face to it

im getting a constant cold reading at the moment, so something isnt working somewhere but i cant work it out

[Ethel]

try earthing the spare wire, the needle moves it's the sensor's wire.

[stinky]

it didnt move

[Guess-Works.com]

Right... back to basics...

A temperature gauge is no different to a volt meter, it's wired between two points and measures the potential difference between the two points. The sender ( the thing in the head ) changes resistance according to temperature. This is a matched pair to the gauge.

One side of the gauge is normally connected to a 10v +ve regulated supply ( in the case of a std mini temp gauge ) or an ignition live feed if the gauge has a built in regulator. The sender is earthed through the block.

Other wires to the gauge are probably illumination or such like.

[dklawson]

Photographs of what you have (front and back) would be very helpful. Failing that, you'll need to provide as much descriptive information (of the wires and gauge) as possible.

[stinky]

yea thats what ive got

the previous owner has labled one with ign (10v +) and another with Light which is obviously for the illumination.

one then goes to the block but its this 4th wire that i cant work out

[stinky]

ill go get pics

[stinky]

ok after looking closer the 2 labeled wires are both for the light one is + and one is -

so im guessing now that i am missing the ign wiring!!! but really dont know where to wire it to now

[stinky]

[stinky]

the yellow one is the one that not connected to anythign

[Guess-Works.com]

don't worry about the ignition...

The +ve (maybe green) wire needs to be connected to the volt regulator, this is normally the oblong ( 1cm by 3cm ish ) block on the back of the main instruments (speedo), the other line is connected to the sender on the head.

The regulated +10v is already ignition switched live.

[stinky]

right ill have a look at that

find it hard to see the back of the speedo though lol so many other wires!!