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1989 Suzuki Vitara temp gauge

Tiny
KRISUZUKI
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 SUZUKI VITARA
  • 250,000 MILES
I've got myself a softtop vitara. The temp gauge was not working. I've replaced the sender, the gauge is now working, but not coming up off cold. Heater works, and it has coolent. What might my nxt approach be. I don't think its the thermostat, cause the heater works, and the car operates well. The hoses heat up and is not overheatig. So the gauge works, and sender operates. I've tried looking up forums about the topic and have found it to be common, but have found no definitive answers, please help with any knowledge you might have on the topic. 1.6 / 8 valve. 5 spd. Jlx 1989 swb
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Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 2:19 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
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Earth the sender wire with the ignition on, the gauge should go full deflection, let me know what yours does.
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Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 2:26 AM
Tiny
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  • 6 POSTS
Thanx for the response. So eart the end of the sensor wire as in, not the sender itself. I've disconnect the plug and run a wire from that to the body. Or from the Seder tab to body, or still with the plug on the sender still.
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Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 3:02 AM
Tiny
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I've tried earthing sender wire, with the ignition on, notrrunning, I don't think I'm doing it correctly, I'm getting no responses from the gauge. Its not doing anything in this case.
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Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 3:41 AM
Tiny
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If there is no deflection with the sender wire on a good earth and the ignition on, the gauge will be faulty or there is a wiring fault from the sender to the gauge, my money is on a faulty gauge.
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Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 4:39 AM
Tiny
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Thanx for that, I think I need to have another go with a better earthing. Ill try when I've got better light tomorrow. If I get a response ill get back to you, other wise ill explore gauge. Thanks again.
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Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 7:50 AM
Tiny
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So I got a good earth, and yes, the gauge triped out to the hot.
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Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 9:18 AM
Tiny
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The sender may be the wrong one or faulty, also do not use any sealant on the thread as it must be a good earth and ensure that the terminal is tight in the sender.
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Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 4:55 PM
Tiny
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  • 6 POSTS
Thanx for that. No I've used no sealant, and the sender is brand-new. The gauge wasn't registering at all. Scince I've replaced the sender, it now comes up to cold, just doesn't heat past that. I ordered sender from a parts book at an auto one, so I'm guessing there's not much chance of it being the wrong size, but next week I pick up users manual, so ill check the info from that, hopefully it lists the correct part in there. I understand its a bit difficult to prognose somthing with out being hands on, you've been a great help, thanx again for your onsite. I will respond when its fixed, let you know what it ends up being.
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Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 5:12 PM
Tiny
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The circuit has been proved to be sound, so that leave a suspect sender, let me know what you find. By the way, make sure that the sender is for a swing gauge and not a temp light as they will be different as well.
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Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 6:46 PM

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