Help. I just swapped in a new motor for my 1996 Legacy GT and the engine temp gauge is not working. I checked the resistance and the ground at the block temp sender (single blade sensor just to the passenger's side of the alternator and this seens to be in spec. Any ideas? The manual calls for then checking the gauge with something with a known resistance (it gives exact specs). Has anyone done this? I hate to replace the gauge if its not broken. I am also considering the possibility that the ground for the gauge is bad. Any ideas? Thanks!

do you know if the gauge or sending unit worked before the change or is this a new ride to you?

Are you sure you checked the right sender? I know this sounds silly but I just had a local guy bring one over the other day and he was looking at the wrong sender.

the ground for the gauge is the sender unit

 

Get the wire color unit location from someone with

a FSM

Thanks for the replies. The gauge was working before the motor swap and, according to the manual, I believe the sender is correct and it has a good ground. I wish I knew the procedure for testing the gauge. Any tips on replacing it?

The sender isnt below the alternator thats the oil idiot light. Your temp sender is on the "water pipe" below the intake manifold on the passenger side, again single prong. I bet its just not plugged in.

I believe the word idiot applies to more than the dash light in this case. Shawn you are correct. The irony is that while you were posting your reply I was fishing about under the intake manifold and found the sender and its attendant wire. The sender seems to function a great deal better with the wire actually attached to it as opposed to just being in the vicinity of it. Imagine! DOH!