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sbarnes77

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Ok, so I have a 1998 Chevy Silverado. The first problem I had was the oil pressure gauge would constantly bottom out, in which would cause my check gauges light to come on. Also, my temp gauge stopped going past the first solid line. These 2 gauges were always basically straight up and down. The oil pressure was right at 40 and would drop a little when stopping. The temp gauge was usually one tick mark below 210.

I started with the oil since I started noticing oil on the ground under the truck. Ok so I had an oil leak at the oil filter housing. I fixed that. Oil leak is gone and it's maintaining oil amount. I also replaced the oil pressure sensor. My oil gauge does the same thing. It reads low and bottoms out.

Temp issue. I started with thermostat thinking it was stuck open. No change. I changed BOTH temp sensors. No change in gauge. I then ordered a new cluster. Well guess what , those 2 gauges read the same as my original one did.

I did live data and my temp shows it's hanging about 193. Yet no matter what I do the gauge never shows that !! Nothing has fixed the two gauges reading right.

I am stumped. I have no idea what else to do!

I forgot about saying i did these things as well. I ran a coolant flush. I also went ahead and replaced the radiator since I had drained it and it was a little rusty and nasty looking. While everything was apart I also replaced the fan clutch. It had a little play in it.

It's so weird, according to live data my temp is ok. I just can't handle the temp gauge only half working. It also bothers me that I don't know if my oil pressure will be ok with the gauge not working. I have had this truck so long and would hate when something happens and I have to park it for good.

Any ideas out there. ?
 
Rent an oil pressure gauge and get a true reading.
You installed a new cluster or a used cluster?
 
It was a remanufactured Cluster from Dorman. All gauges read exactly what mine did. No changes.

I will look into renting one. Thanks
 
Not sure if BCM could be effecting temperature gauge.
The sensors you used were AC-Delco or other brand name?
 
Ok. So I have basically replaced everything. ( Water pump, radiator, all hoses, fan clutch, both sensors, thermostat)

I did a pressure test amd there are no leaks. I cranked it up. It got up to 197 degrees. The gauge was following suit and reading correctly. The the thermostat opened up amd of course the gauge dropped back down to the right about the first notch. And that's where it stayed. I continued to run the truck, the water in the radiator got hot (before it was staying cool ). I had the computer hooked up so I could watch the temperature of the coolant. The temperature never got above 180 and the gauge doesn't reflect that. It stays down to show about 150. However, I know it has the capability of going up. I have tried a different cluster and it does the same thing. I know before I started having issues it always ran close to 200 and the gauge was always almost basically straight up around the 210 mark.

Other issue, is when I crank it, it has 40 psi on oil pressure. Which the gauge reflects. The longer it runs, the oil pressure gauge also drops to like 20. Occasionally it drops all the way down and my check gauges light comes on.

At this point I don't know what I am chasing because sometimes I think the gauges aren't always working properly but then I tried the new cluster and it did the same thing. I am at a loss. Yes I have had a few mechanics look at it, they have no clue either. Any ideas ??
 
Were the mechanics at a Chevrolet dealer?
 
zora said:
Were the mechanics at a Chevrolet dealer?
Click to expand...
No because they kept saying it's the sensor that relays the info to the Dash. They act incompetent to say the least. I mean that's been replaced twice, because people insist it's that.

So this morning I cranked it up, I had the computer hooked up to it. I watched the temp rise on the computer matching what the dash says. UNTIL the thermostat opens. Once it opens the temp gauge inside drops to about 155 but computer reads 185-192.

You let it cool and crank again, and it does same thing
 
sbarnes77 said:
No because they kept saying it's the sensor that relays the info to the Dash. They act incompetent to say the least. I mean that's been replaced twice, because people insist it's that.

So this morning I cranked it up, I had the computer hooked up to it. I watched the temp rise on the computer matching what the dash says. UNTIL the thermostat opens. Once it opens the temp gauge inside drops to about 155 but computer reads 185-192.

You let it cool and crank again, and it does same thing
Click to expand...
Are you sure you were given the correct sensor?
Did you look it up yourself before buying it?
Have you considered a AC-Delco sensor?
 
I gave up today. I just turned it off. I had to walk away. Because my engine light came on and I scanned it. Fault codes were

P0118: Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Circuit High Voltage

P1115: Engine Coolant Temperature
(ECT) Sensor Circuit Intermittent High Voltage
I am going to let it sit over the weekend. I have so much to do. I am going to follow all the wires and make sure nothing is broken , corroded, etc sometime next week.
 
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