Help! My Car's Temperature Gauge Isn't working!

Question

My water temperature gauge isn't working at all it just stays still at the bottom. I have a 1988 Lincoln Town Car, it has a 5.0L V-8 Windsor Small Block,

And I don't know how specific I can get, it just simply doesn't move it stays still at the bottom like if the car's engine was turned off. Even if

I drive it for hours it doesn't work.

Sometimes it goes up a little bit if I'm driving it for a while.

Is it the Water Temperature Sending Unit I have to be replacing here?

Answer 1

That right. but be sure to tell them that it's for the temp gauge ,when you go to the auto parts store for a new one.

Answer 2

9 out of 10 times its the temperature sending unit that fails, especially when you consider that it sees extreme temperature swings. Not to mention it has been in service for 20 years (although likely has been changed). These sensors are thermo resistors, meaning the internal resistance varies with temperature changes. Knowing this, and that the gauge works off ground, you can test both the gauge operation and the sensor.

Jump the gauge lead to the engine ground, and turn the key on. It should peg all the way to hot, then when you disconnect the jumper, drop back down. Next, ohm out the sensor, you should get some sort of resistance. If none at all, replace the sensor.