New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

[Quickstop [UK]]

Been trying to diagnose the coolant sensor/gauge problem I have with it indicating low all the time.
#
The options are a replacement sensor, gauge or cluster.

Service manual saya that I need to replace the whole cluster though - I am guessing there are no too many of them around though.

Has anyone experienced this problem? How much is a new gauge cluster - can I even get them?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[The_Butcher]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

Been trying to diagnose the coolant sensor/gauge problem I have with it indicating low all the time.
#
The options are a replacement sensor, gauge or cluster.

Service manual saya that I need to replace the whole cluster though - I am guessing there are no too many of them around though.

Has anyone experienced this problem? How much is a new gauge cluster - can I even get them?

Thanks,

Mark

go to your gm dealer and give him the VIN# and ask about the gauge and the price

i go before to my gm dealer and ask him about the gauge he told me that he want the VIN#. i give the VIN# and then he told to look into the monitor and say is it the gauge that you have ?? it was the gauge of the saudi ty , but i don't thik that they have any more, so you should try ur luck
im also have a saudi ty :tup:

good luck with ur search

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

Been trying to diagnose the coolant sensor/gauge problem I have with it indicating low all the time.
#
The options are a replacement sensor, gauge or cluster.

Service manual saya that I need to replace the whole cluster though - I am guessing there are no too many of them around though.

Has anyone experienced this problem? How much is a new gauge cluster - can I even get them?

Thanks,

Mark

I have this problem in my Ty but I believe it to be the sender. The saudi trucks had a standard s10 gauge cluster, there are many of them around and I don't think they're expensive to have rebuilt

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

I think it is the sender too. Will diagnose it properly when I get back from exercise next week.

If S10 then there is hope!

Thanks guys (shukr'an!!)

mark

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

Not good news.

I did the test with the sender unit and grounded the 5v supply from the ECM like it says in the manual.

2 things could be wrong -

1) The gauge is being shorted out somewhere else

2) The gauge is F****D.

I am not so sure about 2) because when I turn the ignition, the gauge moves. It moves DOWN, suggesting that it is still being grounded, so I guess I am going to need to look a little further into where the problem might be.

In the meantime, how hard is it to remove the cluster to examine the gauge and see if it is indeed the gauge.

I was thinking I might be able to rebuild it.

The worrying thing is that I had a code 14 - engine above 135 degrees or a short, and like I said, it doesn't seem like a short.

I am nervous driving a long way with a gauge not working and an overheating engine. Guess I'll just have to keep the speed down and the radiator full.

So how much for an S10 cluster/gauge and how difficult to get the cluster off and examine it?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[BBW808]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

If you have a 160 (or lower than stock) thermostat, your guage will barely move. Even with the reg Sy Ty cluster, on all of the trucks with a cooler thermostat the guage barely moves from rest with the ingition off. Looks like you've done all the checks to make sure that your guage is workin. The other thing you can do it hook it up to diacom/datamaster, or even a scan tool, and it will tell you the coolant temp. Then you can double check the reading. HTH.

Also, I can get you a guage cluster as well, if you need it. LMK.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

How much?

Would it work with my Saudi Ty?

Or could I just put in a regular Ty cluster?

My gauge is stock, but it has registered a code 14 meaning that it has gotten very hot. I never had that before but the other day after I did some work I forgot to fill the radiator.

I got down the highway and got a CEL and then panicked realising what I had done. I drove real slow to cool it down and then topped it up.

After that, the light was gone, so I think the ECM is ok and the problem is the gauge. Question is - why has it failed?

Is that common?

I would have thought not.

Thanks in advance,

mark

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

I have not heard of them failing but GM is known for having gauges do funny things. The cluster is easy to remove... the panel around it is held on by 4 or 6 screws, and then the cluster is held into its bracket by 4 sheetmetal nuts. There is a whole rats nest of wires back there.. I would personally suggest pulling the cluster and running some voltage through that circuit to see what it does. If it works normally, then you have a wiring problem. If it doesn't, it will be the gauge.
I think the Saudi trucks have a different gauge calibration then the US ones ... not 100% sure though

 

[BBW808]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

The Saudi guage cluster is the same as a Canadian S10-s15 cluster. All the measurements are metric. And it should bolt right in. Like JJ said, if you pull the headlight and ac controls out, there's 4 screws and two bolts holding it in. You could swap a reg Ty cluster in it, but you will need the harness plugs, the brackets to mount and the "doghouse" bezel to go with it. I can get you either set up. A good Metric cluster,or I have a full Ty cluster, surround and harness available. The question is which one do you want, and how to proceed. HTH

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

BBW808

Mate that sounds great. I am going to poull my cluster and run some diagnostics. I'll get back to you.

What sort of prioce are we talking - obviously shipping comes on top...?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

Tom,

I pulled my cluster and like you said, it was a relatively easy job (apart from the immobiliser wiring!)

I did not get to dismantle it though. Can you actually take the cluster apart? I will need to do that to get at the gauge itself.

The gauge moved when I touched it, so it is not sticking. When I turned on the ignition, the needle moved below 40C which it would seeing as ambient here is about +5 at the moment.

When I tried the test though , shorting the ECM sensor lead to ground, it should have gone high, but it did not. (I stuck a paper clip in the sensor leads and shorted it that way)

So it still looks like the gauge. How much for the cluster you have? I would like to try and see if it is the gauge first though if at all possible. How can I do that?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

There are two coolant sensors on these trucks.. the one that regulates the gauge is between the 3 and 5 pistons on the driver's head (completely independent of the computer)... the one on the manifold is for the computer only. Which one did you perform the test at?

 

[George Blake]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

That gauge will read zero if there is no fluid against the probe/sender. Low fluid means no reading. Make sure you have fluid in it.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

I tested the one that the ECM runs off I think, at the front of the engine next to the radiatior hose. When I shorted it I heard a motor sound or something.

I read up on the one betweeen the 3 and 5 and theought that was just a coolant switch. I couldn't find anything more in the manual though.

As far as coolant levels, I have been topping up the engine regularly after I took the turbo off. I am pretty sure it has all burped out now.

How can I test for the gauge sender being ok? Is it the same test as the other one? Where does it get its 5v from then if not the ECM?

Thanks guys,

Mark

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

that gauge sender is 12 volts. All you need to do to test it is unplug it from the sensor, ground it to the head and check your gauge. It should max out if you ground it that way. Having a buddy help with this one is useful. You can also just measure the resistance. IIRC the range should be between 0 and around 5k ohms (don't quote I may have it wrong)

 

[VermontTy]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

As mentioned above, the gauge and ECM get separate temperature readings. The one on the intake manifold is for the ECM and will be used to provide fueling and timing per the tables in your chip.

The sensor on the drivers side head runs STRAIGHT to the gauges with one single green wire. No splices, no stops, just straight from the plug on the sensor to the plug on the back of the cluster.

Using a multimeter, check the resistance of the wire from end to end. If approximately zero ohms, try checking resistance from the wire to the intake manifold to see if you are shorting to ground. Another option is to take a length of wire and run it from the sensor to the plug for the gauges, making a new path.

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

As mentioned above, the gauge and ECM get separate temperature readings. The one on the intake manifold is for the ECM and will be used to provide fueling and timing per the tables in your chip.

The sensor on the drivers side head runs STRAIGHT to the gauges with one single green wire. No splices, no stops, just straight from the plug on the sensor to the plug on the back of the cluster.

Using a multimeter, check the resistance of the wire from end to end. If approximately zero ohms, try checking resistance from the wire to the intake manifold to see if you are shorting to ground. Another option is to take a length of wire and run it from the sensor to the plug for the gauges, making a new path.

Thats a green wire? Mine was too greasy to tell :lol: ... I guess that electrical engineering stuff is good for something.

Definitely another good method

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

could you post a pic of where the sensor is on the drivers side? The only ones that I know of are on the front next to the radiator, and on the pass side which is the coolant switch.

I didn't see in the manual.

Thanks for this guys.

Mark

 

[VermontTy]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

I hadn't put the sensor in yet, but the red arrow points to the location for it.

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: New Gauge / Gauge Cluster

could you post a pic of where the sensor is on the drivers side? The only ones that I know of are on the front next to the radiator, and on the pass side which is the coolant switch.

I didn't see in the manual.

Thanks for this guys.

Mark

You can see it right between the #3 and #5 primaries just above the flange. I didn't think there was one on the passengers side too ... I thought that was an L35 knock sensor bung?

Gosh darn it Adam, why'd you have to go an post first like that? :lol: