Temperature guage

[vervepipes]

What voltage readings should I be getting from the sender using a voltmeter to verify is my sender or guage is at fault for no reading on the dash?

[bake74]

     Are you talking about the temperature Gage ?  I could be wrong, but I believe the temperature gage's in our trucks work off of heat from the probe that goes into the water jacket to the gage that operates a bi-metal coil, so the hotter the probe gets the more the bi-metal coil expands and moves your needle inside the gage.
     I will be corrected if wrong, but I believe that is the way my 74 is, unless you have the electronic version.

[vervepipes]

it very well could be mechanical, I don't know enough about the system to troubleshoot it.

[muddpuppy01]

86 should be electric

[vervepipes]

It is electric indeed, I found the green wire tucked away neatly at the firewall, probably to avoid it getting cut by the fan or burnt by the exhaust leak... The sender however is of the newer style, with a nipple type connection instead of spade.  I tried wrapping wire around it and twisting it using lockwire pliers, but still no reading at the guage.  I'll have to buy the proper sender since it's the wrong one regardless, but I hope it solves the problem and that it isnt a broken gauge, there arent any salvage yards anywhere near here, like 100 KM at least I think.

[Dr_Snooz]

The nipple connector is the right one for the gauge sender, if memory serves. The wire should have a spade connector that slides across the top of the nipple. There are two temp senders. One runs the gauge and the other runs the auxiliary fan. The gauge sender is on the driver's side. The auxiliary fan is on the passenger side. The parts stores don't know which is which, so getting the right one is a challenge. I have found new OEM style gauges for sale. I'm not sure if Chris sells them here, but if he doesn't, PM me and I'll help you find them.

[vervepipes]

never thought of it sliding on, looking at pics online I assumed it was the wrong one.  What is this aux fan you speak of? I didn't find any sender at all on the passenger side, just seemed like a blanking plug.

[Irish_Alley]

didnt know the trucks came with a electric fan. thought there was only two well three types one is for a dummy light (in the head) one if for the gauge instead of the light(in the head) and the other is for the ecm (in the intake)