<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">The regulator Gary refers to is the "instrument stabilizer" that is mounted under the dash, not the regulator associated with the generator (or externally regulated alternator). </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">If the instrument stabilizer is not properly grounded then the fuel and temperature gauges will read high. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">-Theo</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Aug 22, 2025, at 7:34 PM, gharlowe--- via Tigers <tigers@autox.team.net> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Standard Smiths gauge. However, I’m running GM one-wire alternator, so not using the stock voltage regulator. – G.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Gary Winblad <winbladgary@gmail.com> <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, August 22, 2025 5:47 PM<br><b>To:</b> Donald Antilla <fast427@sbcglobal.net><br><b>Cc:</b> Stu <sabre2tgr@gmail.com>; gharlowe@comcast.net; tigers@autox.team.net<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Tigers] Don's follow up comment Temp Gauge Reading High<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">No, the Smiths type does not require the case be grounded... except for the night light.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">The two terminals are<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">1. about 10V (pulsed, 10V average from the regulator)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">2. to the sensor which completes the circuit by going to ground.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">And it doesn't matter which terminal is which.. Inside is a heating wire, non-polaized.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Gary W.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Fri, Aug 22, 2025 at 2:40<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span>PM Donald Antilla via Tigers <<a href="mailto:tigers@autox.team.net">tigers@autox.team.net</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in"><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Graham: Please pardon my ignorance, but will you let me know if you have a classic Smiths gauge setup, or a Ford type?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">My comment prior about grounding the case assumes you have a Smith’s type system. In that case, you do need to ground your indicator case or- as happened to me- you get flakey readings.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Don </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><div id="m_4089556418688194260mail-editor-reference-message-container"><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in;border-color:currentcolor currentcolor"><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="color:black">From: </span></b><span style="color:black">Tigers <<a href="mailto:tigers-bounces@autox.team.net" target="_blank">tigers-bounces@autox.team.net</a>> on behalf of Stu <<a href="mailto:sabre2tgr@gmail.com" target="_blank">sabre2tgr@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Date: </b>Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 7:37</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black">PM<br><b>To: </b><a href="mailto:gharlowe@comcast.net" target="_blank">gharlowe@comcast.net</a> <<a href="mailto:gharlowe@comcast.net" target="_blank">gharlowe@comcast.net</a>><br><b>Cc: </b><a href="mailto:tigers@autox.team.net" target="_blank">tigers@autox.team.net</a> <<a href="mailto:tigers@autox.team.net" target="_blank">tigers@autox.team.net</a>><br><b>Subject: </b>Re: [Tigers] Temp Gauge Reading High</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">A high reading indicates there is a higher current flowing through the gauge, so a poor connection is unlikely. Is your tank near empty or full? A bad regulator might make less of a difference if the gauge is near empty.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The voltage regulator gets its ground through it's mounting screw. It would not be a first if there's a bit of corrosion under there. In a quiet place, turn on the key, don't start it, and you should be able to hear the stock voltage regulator ticking away..<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">For some more hints, here's a link to my old article on gauge troubleshooting. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><a href="http://www.tigersunited.com/techtips/BrennanGauge/rt-BrennanGauge1.asp" target="_blank">TigersUnited.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Both gauges have the same innards, so you can swap leads and see what happens with the pointer angles. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Stu<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">On Thu, Aug 21, 2025 at 5:57<span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span>PM gharlowe--- via Tigers <<a href="mailto:tigers@autox.team.net" target="_blank">tigers@autox.team.net</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;border-color:currentcolor currentcolor currentcolor rgb(204,204,204)"><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hey all –<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">It’s been quiet here so hoping to T-up an easy discussion. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">My temp gauge is reading about 25 degrees high. I noticed it after a shop installed a new clutch, which required the engine to be removed, coolant drained, etc., but nothing that should have affected how the gauge reads. Running on a cool day, temps were reading around 215-220 degrees. To ensure I wasn’t actually in danger of overheating, I checked various water-cooled locations with an infrared thermometer. Highest reading was right at the water neck/thermostat housing (191 deg F). The fuel gauge is reading accurately. I understand the under-dash instrument stabilizer can affect both instruments, but in this case, only one gauge is off. I plan to check the ground to the temp gauge and clean contact points at the engine sending unit and at the gauge. Any other suggestions? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Thanks and I hope all is well out there!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Graham Harlowe<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">B382001466<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt">_______________________________________________<br><br><a href="mailto:tigers@autox.team.net" target="_blank">tigers@autox.team.net</a><br><br>Donate: <a href="http://www.team.net/donate.html" target="_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>Archive: <a href="http://www.team.net/pipermail/tigers" target="_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/tigers</a> <a href="http://autox.team.net/archive" target="_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe: <a href="http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/tigers/sabre2tgr@gmail.com" target="_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/tigers/sabre2tgr@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">_______________________________________________<br><br><a href="mailto:tigers@autox.team.net" target="_blank">tigers@autox.team.net</a><br><br>Donate: <a href="http://www.team.net/donate.html" target="_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>Archive: <a href="http://www.team.net/pipermail/tigers" target="_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/tigers</a> <a href="http://autox.team.net/archive" target="_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe: <a href="http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/tigers/winbladgary@gmail.com" target="_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/tigers/winbladgary@gmail.com</a><br><br><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span></span><br><span>tigers@autox.team.net</span><br><span></span><br><span>Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html</span><br><span>Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/tigers http://autox.team.net/archive</span><br><span></span><br><span>Unsubscribe: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/tigers/tsmit@shaw.ca</span><br><span></span><br><span></span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>