Temperature gauge blues...

[Doughnut]

My temperature gauge does not work, usually after driving around for 10 minutes the gauge reads 1/2 (half) scale, but now it stays just before the blue section, but weirdly, when you turn the key to the "on" position the temp sensor bounces to life and moves just before the blue section which is where it stays.
The gauge was working fine before i did these things :
changed a few hoses in around the inlet from the air box, including replacing some hose clamps.
I removed the negative to ground section of wire to replace because it was looking abit battered up from war, so i disconnected the earth and reconected it, before this gauge problem has happened.

Anyone who shows me the light would be apricated.

 

[selavia]

My gas gauge does this nonsense sometimes. I hate to admit it, but if I give the dash an ole' loving tap, the gauge goes back to where it should be. My thermostate gauge did that as well, but I fixed it. In my case it was a loose cable in the back of the cluster. Wack your dash board once; if it goes back to normal, probably a wire issue.

 

[AWD_Guy]

Mine works, but it does the 'bouncy dance' like you describe when I turn the car off. My Left dash light (one for the gas tank and speedo) goes off and on also. I do what the above poster said...give it a little tap and the light turns back on. I suspect there is some loose wiring back there.

 

[Doughnut]

cheers for the replys, i will hit my old bimmer up tomorow

 

[Doughnut]

for future referance...
I gave my cluster a good whack and my gauge is fine, I first checked the gauges operation by earthing the wire from the gauge to the sender unit, if the temp gauge bounces to full life (in the red) your sender unit is more than likely rooted.
Alway check the actual gauge before going out and buying a new temp sensor.

peace.

 

[spanners]

Hmmm, sound familiar.
a couple of taps on the cluster and it rights itself.
Sometimes the lights on the cluster go out and a swift right jab to the black stuff sorts it!