So we did a head gasket on swap on our 88 CRX and now the temp gauge doesn't move. We checked the cables we could see around the parts we moved but it didn't do anything. Any advice on what we should check?

 

I am making some assumptions. 1) the plug is actually connected to the sensor, 2) the coolant hoses are routed correctly, 3) You used the right head gasket and all coolant passages are open, 4) the gauge worked before you change the head gasket.

First, check the fuse #1 in the dash fuse box. If that is good, disconnect the temp sensor plug and connect a jumper wire to a good ground. Turn the car to "on". You dont need to actually start it. The needle should move on its own. Turn the car off before it gets to H or you can damage the gauge.

If the needle doesn't move, you have an open wire somewhere between the sender and the gauge, or the gauge crapped out on you.

If the needle does move, the sender could be bad. Check resistance from the sender to ground. 142 ohms is normal cold, start the car and let the cooling fans come on. Check the resistance again, 32-49 ohms is normal. If it is way off from that, replace the sender.

 

you didnt plug in the one wire sensor on the head under the dizzy sounds like to me

 

^ not plugged in/broken off brittle *** wire from 20 yrs of oil leaking onto it...

 

bleed air from coolant

 

If everything is plugged in and working properly, this will not cause the temp guage to not work.

 

This is where I would start.

 

did you put the ground lug back on.

it's located on the thermostat housing.

 

Ground is on. My dad's the one who actually did it while I was out of town. He tried to keep as much stuff together as possible. So where exactly is the plug you're talking about?

Ok did some looking around and I'm guessing you mean under the distributor. There's two plugs one's in the other has one wire and is hanging free, we couldn't find where it goes. The one that is plugged in we found the two wires going into it are exposed right before the plug. If that's the one you're talking about it could be shorting itself out?

 

the gauge sending unit has a one wire connector the wire is yellow with a green stripe - the sending unit is located on the end of the head below the distributor

also, on the end of the head is the coolant temp sensor for the ECU - it has a 2-wire connector with red with white stripe and green with white stripe wires

 

im having the similar issue. where the temp gauge isnt moving at all. i did notice the wire to the gauge sensor broke off. i also notice my fans didnt turn on and the car idles at around 1K-1.2K rpm. hopefully that fixes the gauge problem which will make the other issues go away.