Oil Temp Guage Working Intermittently

[joelittel]

Last night on the way home my oil temp gauge stopped working, the needle dropped all the way down as if the engine was cold. Once I got home I turned the car off and left it in the drive way for 20 minutes. When I started it back up to put it in the garage the oil temp gauge seemed to be working fine again.

Any thoughts on how to fix this?

[tartan18]

I had the same problem with my oil pressure gauge -- it turned out to be a bad ground. A bit of sanding with 300 grit and some dielectric grease was all it took. Likely the same fix with your oil temp gauge.

[GeorgeT]

Last night on the way home my oil temp gauge stopped working, the needle dropped all the way down as if the engine was cold. Once I got home I turned the car off and left it in the drive way for 20 minutes. When I started it back up to put it in the garage the oil temp gauge seemed to be working fine again.

Any thoughts on how to fix this?

Don't think Spiders have oil temp. gauges, only coolant temp. gauges and oil pressure gauges (in older models). That aside, I agree it's probably a bad ground or loose wire.

[joelittel]

I apologize, I misspoke. I am talking about the temp gauge in the center of my instrument cluster on my '80.

Thanks for the advice, I will look into the ground.

[joelittel]

Replaced the sensor and my problems went away. Simple fix.

[btoran]

where is the sensor located?

[joelittel]

On top of the engine between spark plugs 2 & 3, I believe. I could be wrong about the plug numbers but my sensor was the one closest to the fire wall on top of the engine, between the cam towers, and two plugs away from the fire wall.