Fixing Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge Chevy C10

In this video I set out to fix the engine coolant temperature gauge on my 1975 Chevy C10. I go through the normal diagnosis by quickly testing the temp gauge, the wiring, and the temp sensor. Once the temp gauge is working again we find another issue to fix.

[@PITTBULL0]

Thank you for this vid im working on a 74 c10 right now and this was super helpful!

[@bluesxt]

Glad to help!

[@teezjoint2]

Great video bro. Was helpful 👌🏾

[@jimcabezola3051]

This is interesting! I would've miss looking at (or for...) the thermostat, too. Instead of taking the time to check for the condition of the actual sensor, I would've seen the broken switch housing and bought an all-new switch. With your method, you now KNOW beyond doubt that the switch...though mangled...is a functional one. Looking forward to the thermostat video. If there is a thermostat present, it would be fun to see the boiling water test to confirm it's broken. Mahalo.

[@bluesxt]

First I have to convince my wife to let me put a dirty thermostat into one of our pots haha

[@anthonygallardo84]

​@@bluesxt was it the thermostat after all having the same issue with my gauge I bought a new sensor coolant and it still does the same

[@bluesxt]

@@anthonygallardo84 it was in-fact a stuck open thermostat

[@anthonygallardo84]

@@bluesxt thank you for the information I appreciate it

[@roninscholar4515]

how would a new sensor possibly fix your plug?

[@bluesxt]

Not sure I understand what you’re asking

[@MrBlake-cz4km]

Do you think bad coolant would cause it to read but lower than it actually is?

[@MrBlake-cz4km]

I even replaced the thermostat and it still read around that same level

[@bluesxt]

@@MrBlake-cz4km no “bad” coolant won’t cause this. If your gauge is constantly reading low, your truck may not be getting properly warmed up, which could be a problem. If you test your gauge and your gauge works as I did in this video, and you’ve replaced the thermostat already, either your engine coolant temp sensor is bad, or it is the wrong sensor that is outputting a different resistance range than your gauge is expecting.

[@MrBlake-cz4km]

@@bluesxt yea probably the sensor, I was asking cause I’ve got like 4 different brands of all vehicle coolant mixtures in it

[@bluesxt]

@@MrBlake-cz4km gotcha, mixing coolant can normally cause issues with the modern cars that have sensors for when your coolant level is too low. Btw, not all coolants are compatible with each other :)

[@MrBlake-cz4km]

@@bluesxtI just don’t wanna do the sensor unless I need to, there’s there metal cover I don’t know how to get off that’s blocking one side of the sensor from getting a socket on it.