Re: Temperature gauge not working
Posted by HH56 On 2025/3/23 8:46:34
If lube doesn't work, as Kev said you will need to remove the gauge and send it to someone for repair.
You would start by disconnecting the sensor bulb at the engine and carefully pull the entire tube and sensor back into the car taking care not to kink the tubing or damage the bulb. . If your car is one of the models that also has a mechanical oil gauge next to the mechanical temp gauge it may be on the same mounting plate. If that is the case, be extremely careful not to damage the oil gauge tubing when removing the temp gauge. To be safe, the oil line could also be disconnected and pulled into the car so as to allow the plate and gauges to be completely removed from the car and manipulated on a workbench without risk of damage to the tubes and gauges.
To remove the temp gauge only, the cluster mounting plate which usually holds two of the gauges will need to be removed from the dash so the gauge can be pulled off. The plate is typically held by 4 screws which mount the plate to the rest of the instrument cluster. Once the plate and gauges are completely accessible there is a large nut holding the temp gauge to the plate. Remove the nut and carefully pull the gauge with tubing and sensor attached thru the hole in the plate and prepare if for shipment. The hole in the plate should be large enough to let the engine end pull thru intact but some of the nuts holding the sensor to the cylinder head might be a tight squeeze.
Here is an old ebay photo of the rear of a cluster plate from a 41 with both the oil and temp gauges still attached. Someone cut the tubing off both gauges and effectively destroyed them. They could probably be repaired but at an unnecessary expense. I don't know which model 41 it came from so your plate may be slightly different in shape or the gauge layout may be different with fuel or ammeter being next to temp instead of oil. The red arrow points to the nuts which must be removed to free the gauges on that plate.
If you want to get an idea of what is involved in repairing the gauge, there is an article from many years ago where a fellow repaired his Plymouth gauge. The Packard gauge repair is no different but finding the components today is harder and the work is tedious. The repaired gauge would still need to be calibrated. It is much easier to just send it to someone who has the expertise and parts. Several on the forum have sent their gauges in and can give a recommendation for a good repair shop..
You would start by disconnecting the sensor bulb at the engine and carefully pull the entire tube and sensor back into the car taking care not to kink the tubing or damage the bulb. . If your car is one of the models that also has a mechanical oil gauge next to the mechanical temp gauge it may be on the same mounting plate. If that is the case, be extremely careful not to damage the oil gauge tubing when removing the temp gauge. To be safe, the oil line could also be disconnected and pulled into the car so as to allow the plate and gauges to be completely removed from the car and manipulated on a workbench without risk of damage to the tubes and gauges.
To remove the temp gauge only, the cluster mounting plate which usually holds two of the gauges will need to be removed from the dash so the gauge can be pulled off. The plate is typically held by 4 screws which mount the plate to the rest of the instrument cluster. Once the plate and gauges are completely accessible there is a large nut holding the temp gauge to the plate. Remove the nut and carefully pull the gauge with tubing and sensor attached thru the hole in the plate and prepare if for shipment. The hole in the plate should be large enough to let the engine end pull thru intact but some of the nuts holding the sensor to the cylinder head might be a tight squeeze.
Here is an old ebay photo of the rear of a cluster plate from a 41 with both the oil and temp gauges still attached. Someone cut the tubing off both gauges and effectively destroyed them. They could probably be repaired but at an unnecessary expense. I don't know which model 41 it came from so your plate may be slightly different in shape or the gauge layout may be different with fuel or ammeter being next to temp instead of oil. The red arrow points to the nuts which must be removed to free the gauges on that plate.
If you want to get an idea of what is involved in repairing the gauge, there is an article from many years ago where a fellow repaired his Plymouth gauge. The Packard gauge repair is no different but finding the components today is harder and the work is tedious. The repaired gauge would still need to be calibrated. It is much easier to just send it to someone who has the expertise and parts. Several on the forum have sent their gauges in and can give a recommendation for a good repair shop..
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