Gauges work intermitently

Tiny
GILY
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 CHEVROLET CORSICA
  • 3.1L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 114,765 MILES
Son overheated the engine, spun a bearing, the temperature gauge was half way when he overheated it. Got a used 3.1 and installed it. Ran it last night in the garage with the front of the car on jack stands, gas gauge was working. Volt meter was working, temperature gauge was working, oil pressure gauge was working. Speedometer was working.
This morning I set the car down and started the car all gauges are not working and the fan does not come on to cool the car. Please help.
Sunday, May 21st, 2017 AT 9:59 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check fuses first under hood and in car you may have blown one that controls cooling fan. If you did not change the sensor from other engine check wiring it is at left rear of engine and has a purple and yellow wire leading to it. Also, check items in picture.
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Sunday, May 21st, 2017 AT 10:29 AM
Tiny
GILY
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I am checking the fuses and items in the picture.
But, this all worked last night. Now the amp meter is all the way down and does not move. The gas gauge is up top past full, oil pressure gauge is around 80 and does not move. Temperature gauge only goes up about 1/4 inch, speedometer goes not move.

I will let you know if I find a fuse.
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Sunday, May 21st, 2017 AT 10:49 AM
Tiny
GILY
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I found fuse 9 20 amp was fried. Sent my son to buy a few. I will update when he gets back. Thank you.
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Sunday, May 21st, 2017 AT 11:07 AM
Tiny
GILY
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Okay, gauges seem to work. But I took the car down the street and the gas gauge was bouncing up and down. From full to empty. As I do not trust the temperature gauge right now. My laser temperature gauge say's 251 on the head. I think I may need a radiator cap. The top hose was very tight to squeeze felt like more then 18 psi.
Do you have a wiring diagram for the number 9 fuse circuit? So I can try to figure out what is overloading it?
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Sunday, May 21st, 2017 AT 12:07 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
I am assuming that there may be aground off someplace and that the number 9 fuse is continuing to blow. Picture shows what circuits it goes to however since it worked okay before and you replaced engine look for pinched wires and maybe a loose ground at lower left of engine where stuff grounds. It also powers gauges so that may be your problem.
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Sunday, May 21st, 2017 AT 1:12 PM
Tiny
GILY
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Replaced the radiator cap. The car ran fine last night again. We will be taking off the ground wires that connect to the transmission and clean the bolt and all the ground wires so we get a good connection.

The cap may have been the cause of the overheat that blew up the old engine. But when it blew the temperature gauge read normal operating level. While I was watching it boil over and hearing the spun baring. I know that my son pushed it to far but he only knows to watch the gauge.

I will let you know after we get the ground wires clean and run it for a while. Thanks for all your help. I was a bit crazy and frustrated yesterday and needed someone else to bang heads with. This site is great, I really appreciate the help.
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Monday, May 22nd, 2017 AT 5:56 AM

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